Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Umluj Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Umluj

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $1,203 in Umluj, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,846 in Umluj, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $2,489 in Umluj, rent included.

Medellin is about 17% cheaper than Umluj, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Medellin and Umluj are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Umluj 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$6.57 SAR 24.67

-10.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$44.50 SAR 167

-25.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$7.94 SAR 29.83

-6.42%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 SAR 6.36

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 SAR 6.85

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$3.74 SAR 14.03

-55.88%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$0.80 SAR 3.00

37.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.29 SAR 1.07

168.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.71 SAR 6.41

-35.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$0.94 SAR 3.51

34.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$2.28 SAR 8.56

-39.47%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$2.44 SAR 9.16

-10.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$6.84 SAR 25.67

-34.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$7.63 SAR 28.65

-24.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$12.88 SAR 48.37

-30.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$2.25 SAR 8.46

3.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$1.65 SAR 6.21

-35.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$1.72 SAR 6.47

-11.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$1.55 SAR 5.81

-12.26%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$1.25 SAR 4.69

-9.60%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$1.28 SAR 4.81

-8.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$1.19 SAR 4.49

-24.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.56 SAR 2.10

60.71%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.73 SAR 10.24

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 SAR 6.44

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 SAR 7.51

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$7.06 SAR 26.51

-68.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$1.08 SAR 4.06

-21.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$40.31 SAR 151

3.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$2.69 SAR 10.11

-47.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$1.88 SAR 7.07

3.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$13.34 SAR 50.1

-40.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$0.65 SAR 2.44

52.31%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$26.5K SAR 99.4K

-33.53%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$21.9K SAR 82.4K

22.13%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$107 SAR 402

-22.38%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$34.12 SAR 128

-71.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$71.5 SAR 269

-67.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$87.1 SAR 327

-70.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$36.17 SAR 136

-47.19%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$15.56 SAR 58.4

-74.61%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$353 SAR 1,324

-10.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$6,914 SAR 26.0K

-13.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$60.0 SAR 225

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$59.7 SAR 224

-46.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$79.9 SAR 300

27.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$82.1 SAR 308

30.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$438 SAR 1,644

8.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$380 SAR 1,428

-1.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$836 SAR 3,139

1.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$621 SAR 2,331

15.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$2,392 SAR 8,983

36.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

$1,226 SAR 4,605

17.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$4,239 SAR 15.9K

-85.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

4.42

203.85%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Umluj: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $438 in Umluj. 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 579% higher in Umluj, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $44.00 in Umluj. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $196 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Umluj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Umluj is pricier by about 20%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,805 in Umluj. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, 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 $44.00 in Umluj. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $1,203 in Umluj. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Umluj at $1,203. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Umluj it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Medellin – 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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Umluj makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.