Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Yanbu Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Yanbu

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $994 in Yanbu, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,525 in Yanbu, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $2,056 in Yanbu, rent included.

Medellin costs about 1% more than Yanbu, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$6.51 SAR 24.44

-9.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$37.99 SAR 143

-13.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$6.51 SAR 24.46

14.13%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.03 SAR 7.64

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 SAR 5.94

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$3.59 SAR 13.49

-54.04%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$0.75 SAR 2.83

46.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.23 SAR 0.86

239.13%

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

$1.67 SAR 6.28

-34.13%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$0.87 SAR 3.28

44.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$2.24 SAR 8.42

-38.39%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$2.72 SAR 10.20

-19.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$6.04 SAR 22.68

-25.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$7.76 SAR 29.14

-25.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$12.21 SAR 45.86

-26.54%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$2.07 SAR 7.77

12.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$1.64 SAR 6.17

-35.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$1.38 SAR 5.19

10.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$1.54 SAR 5.80

-11.69%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$1.28 SAR 4.79

-11.72%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$0.96 SAR 3.59

21.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$1.09 SAR 4.11

-17.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.56 SAR 2.09

60.71%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.29 SAR 4.85

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 SAR 4.92

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 SAR 6.36

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$6.47 SAR 24.30

-65.53%

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

$1.05 SAR 3.93

-19.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$33.24 SAR 125

25.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$3.28 SAR 12.31

-56.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$0.78 SAR 2.94

150.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$15.10 SAR 56.7

-47.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$0.62 SAR 2.31

59.68%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$26.2K SAR 98.3K

-32.75%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$21.6K SAR 81.0K

24.19%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$105 SAR 396

-21.30%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$22.77 SAR 85.5

-57.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$69.1 SAR 259

-65.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$95.9 SAR 360

-73.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$35.52 SAR 133

-46.23%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$13.30 SAR 49.95

-70.30%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$323 SAR 1,214

-2.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$3,791 SAR 14.2K

57.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$22.81 SAR 85.6

163.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$21.00 SAR 78.9

51.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$66.3 SAR 249

53.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$47.66 SAR 179

125.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$314 SAR 1,177

51.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$244 SAR 915

53.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$585 SAR 2,198

45.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$412 SAR 1,546

74.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$3,487 SAR 13.1K

-82.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

3.3

306.97%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Yanbu: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $314 in Yanbu. 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 458% higher in Yanbu, 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 $38.00 in Yanbu. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $189 in Yanbu – so Yanbu 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 Yanbu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 1%, 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 $1,490 in Yanbu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Yanbu, 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 $38.00 in Yanbu. 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 $994 in Yanbu. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Yanbu, where all-in costs run around $994, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Yanbu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Yanbu – 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 Yanbu. 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.