😐A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $728 in Umm As-summaq, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $1,377 in Umm As-summaq, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $2,027 in Umm As-summaq, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 42% more than Umm As-summaq, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Medellin and Umm As-summaq are more affordable than the global median – Medellin23% lower, Umm As-summaq46% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Umm As-summaq
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COP 21.4K
$6.50JOD 4.61
-8.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COP 118.2K
$50.1JOD 35.54
-34.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COP 26.0K
$4.88JOD 3.46
47.54%
Cappuccino
$1.70COP 6,140
$4.15JOD 2.94
-59.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,966
$0.48JOD 0.34
129.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COP 2,605
$0.34JOD 0.24
111.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COP 6,022
$5.73JOD 4.06
-70.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COP 11.2K
$7.08JOD 5.02
-56.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Umm As-summaq
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,809
$1.31JOD 0.93
-19.08%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COP 4,497
$0.33JOD 0.24
278.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COP 5,022
$1.39JOD 0.98
-
Eggs
$2.26COP 8,168
$2.48JOD 1.76
-8.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COP 15.6K
$2.80JOD 1.99
54.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COP 21.1K
$6.53JOD 4.63
-10.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COP 31.9K
$11.39JOD 8.07
-22.48%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COP 8,099
$1.43JOD 1.02
56.64%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COP 3,882
$0.73JOD 0.52
47.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 5,522
$1.42JOD 1.01
7.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,950
$0.29JOD 0.21
372.41%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 4,078
$0.33JOD 0.24
242.42%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COP 4,036
$0.29JOD 0.21
286.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 3,057
$0.64JOD 0.46
32.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 3,281
$0.63JOD 0.44
44.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COP 8,414
$3.63JOD 2.58
-35.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COP 40.2K
$17.02JOD 12.06
-34.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 4,309
$4.85JOD 3.44
-75.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COP 8,553
$5.53JOD 3.92
-57.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Umm As-summaq
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,838
$0.70JOD 0.50
12.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COP 148.5K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COP 5,184
$0.75JOD 0.53
92.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COP 6,901
$0.27JOD 0.19
607.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COP 28.9K
$7.18JOD 5.09
11.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COP 3,385
$1.43JOD 1.01
-34.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
$26.6KJOD 18.9K
-32.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
$32.0KJOD 22.7K
-16.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Umm As-summaq
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COP 303.1K
$106JOD 75.4
-21.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COP 34.7K
$16.91JOD 11.99
-43.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COP 87.2K
$32.03JOD 22.71
-24.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Umm As-summaq
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COP 93.4K
$40.99JOD 29.06
-36.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COP 68.7K
$34.91JOD 24.75
-45.46%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COP 14.1K
$11.13JOD 7.89
-64.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Umm As-summaq
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COP 1.1M
$270JOD 192
13.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COP 21.4M
$5,373JOD 3,809
10.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Umm As-summaq
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COP 209.1K
$61.8JOD 43.83
-6.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 114.9K
$57.2JOD 40.56
-44.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COP 360.6K
$116JOD 82.2
-13.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 386.8K
$81.9JOD 58.1
30.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Umm As-summaq
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COP 1.8M
$383JOD 272
26.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COP 1.3M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COP 3.0M
$457JOD 324
80.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COP 2.6M
$350JOD 248
104.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COP 10.6M
$1,666JOD 1,181
75.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COP 5.1M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Umm As-summaq
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COP 2.0M
$733JOD 520
-25.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
6.67
101.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Last update for Umm As-summaq: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $383 in Umm As-summaq. 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 34% higher in Umm As-summaq, 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 $50.0 in Umm As-summaq. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $207 – 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 Umm As-summaq: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Umm As-summaq cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 42%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,550 per month in Medellin and $1,091 in Umm As-summaq. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Umm As-summaq, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or Umm As-summaq?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $50.0 in Umm As-summaq. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and Umm As-summaq?
Interestingly, groceries are about 9% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Medellin or Umm As-summaq?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Umm As-summaq, where all-in costs run around $728, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Umm As-summaq it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Umm As-summaq more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Umm As-summaq – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Umm As-summaq?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Umm As-summaq. 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.