Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Taif Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Taif

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $922 in Taif, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,467 in Taif, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $2,011 in Taif, rent included.

Medellin costs about 10% more than Taif, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Medellin and Taif are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Taif 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$5.25 SAR 19.69

14.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

$40.17 SAR 151

-18.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$6.71 SAR 25.18

5.66%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.06 SAR 7.72

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 SAR 5.94

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

$2.92 SAR 10.96

-41.44%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 COP 3,924

$0.72 SAR 2.70

52.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

$0.26 SAR 0.97

200.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$1.37 SAR 5.14

-20.44%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$0.26 SAR 0.96

384.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$2.36 SAR 8.88

-41.53%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$2.56 SAR 9.61

-14.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$7.38 SAR 27.70

-40.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$5.99 SAR 22.49

-6.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

$10.73 SAR 40.25

-17.15%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

$2.28 SAR 8.55

2.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

$1.59 SAR 5.96

-33.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

$2.02 SAR 7.59

-25.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$1.92 SAR 7.19

-28.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

$1.46 SAR 5.48

-21.23%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

$1.56 SAR 5.87

-25.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

$0.85 SAR 3.19

4.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$0.97 SAR 3.65

-13.40%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.88 SAR 10.81

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 SAR 7.20

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 SAR 6.14

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

$6.55 SAR 24.56

-65.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

$1.08 SAR 4.07

-20.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

$40.19 SAR 151

3.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

$2.72 SAR 10.21

-45.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

$2.04 SAR 7.67

-3.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$13.18 SAR 49.45

-41.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

$0.60 SAR 2.26

58.33%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.1K COP 64.7M

$19.7K SAR 74.0K

-8.07%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.5K COP 94.6M

$20.0K SAR 75.0K

32.53%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.3 COP 293.7K

$73.2 SAR 275

12.35%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$28.41 SAR 107

-66.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

$88.5 SAR 332

-72.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

$76.0 SAR 285

-65.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

$37.04 SAR 139

-48.70%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$17.58 SAR 66.0

-77.65%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$309 COP 1.1M

$264 SAR 991

17.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$5,548 SAR 20.8K

7.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

$38.85 SAR 146

50.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

$42.12 SAR 158

-23.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

$79.9 SAR 300

28.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

$46.88 SAR 176

131.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$214 SAR 804

122.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$173 SAR 649

119.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$433 SAR 1,626

93.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$349 SAR 1,309

107.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

$2,130 SAR 7,993

31.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$1,248 SAR 4,685

-2.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$2,031 SAR 7,622

-74.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

4.6

191.96%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Taif: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $214 in Taif. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 297% higher in Taif, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $40.00 in Taif. Groceries tell a different story – $188 in Medellin vs $181 in Taif – so Taif wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Medellin vs Taif: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 10%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $1,383 in Taif. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Taif, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $40.00 in Taif. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $922 in Taif. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Taif, where all-in costs run around $922, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Taif it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Taif – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Taif. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.