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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $916 in Taif, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,470 in Taif, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $2,023 in Taif, rent included.

Medellin costs about 13% more than Taif, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Medellin and Taif are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Taif 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$5.30 SAR 19.91

16.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

$40.54 SAR 152

-19.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

$6.80 SAR 25.53

7.94%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 SAR 7.35

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 SAR 5.95

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

$2.94 SAR 11.04

-41.50%

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

$0.77 SAR 2.91

36.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$0.28 SAR 1.06

175.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$1.36 SAR 5.10

-22.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$0.28 SAR 1.05

364.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$2.29 SAR 8.59

-38.86%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

$2.58 SAR 9.70

-16.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$7.26 SAR 27.28

-39.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$6.23 SAR 23.38

-5.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$10.61 SAR 39.86

-18.57%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

$2.28 SAR 8.57

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

$1.62 SAR 6.09

-31.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

$1.98 SAR 7.45

-22.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$1.83 SAR 6.88

-26.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$1.44 SAR 5.40

-21.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$1.62 SAR 6.07

-30.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$0.93 SAR 3.48

-8.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$1.03 SAR 3.87

-11.65%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.87 SAR 10.79

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 SAR 7.23

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 SAR 6.07

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

$6.73 SAR 25.26

-65.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

$1.09 SAR 4.08

-22.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

$39.58 SAR 149

2.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

$2.62 SAR 9.85

-45.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

$2.02 SAR 7.58

-4.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

$13.06 SAR 49.03

-41.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

$0.63 SAR 2.37

57.14%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

$20.0K SAR 75.0K

-9.79%

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

$20.6K SAR 77.2K

29.49%

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

$75.3 SAR 283

7.37%

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

$28.59 SAR 107

-65.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$85.9 SAR 323

-71.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

$76.7 SAR 288

-67.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

$37.83 SAR 142

-49.38%

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

$17.16 SAR 64.4

-76.81%

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

$305 COP 993.4K

$263 SAR 986

16.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

$5,622 SAR 21.1K

7.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

$39.70 SAR 149

46.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

$41.96 SAR 158

-23.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

$77.7 SAR 292

29.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

$47.39 SAR 178

127.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

$215 SAR 808

121.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

$172 SAR 644

119.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

$437 SAR 1,642

93.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

$347 SAR 1,301

110.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

$2,332 SAR 8,755

37.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

$1,352 SAR 5,076

1.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

$1,814 SAR 6,811

-66.00%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Taif: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $215 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 194% 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 $41.00 in Taif. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $182 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 13%, 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $1,374 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 $41.00 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 $1,031 in Medellin and $916 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 $916, than in Medellin at $1,031. 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.