šA single person spends $1,356 per month in Qairawan vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.
šA couple spends around $2,202 per month in Qairawan vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.
šA family of three spends $3,048 per month in Qairawan vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.
šQairawan costs about 31% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
šQairawan sits 1% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below ā they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
š½ Eating Out
Qairawan
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.64KWDĀ 2.35
$5.92COPĀ 21.5K
29.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.4KWDĀ 17.97
$32.75COPĀ 119.1K
78.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.46KWDĀ 2.60
$7.20COPĀ 26.2K
17.50%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.51KWDĀ 0.77
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58KWDĀ 1.10
-
-
Cappuccino
$5.38KWDĀ 1.66
$1.70COPĀ 6,186
216.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62KWDĀ 0.19
$1.10COPĀ 3,996
-43.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33KWDĀ 0.10
$0.72COPĀ 2,625
-54.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.67COPĀ 6,067
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.10COPĀ 11.3K
-
š Groceries & Markets
Qairawan
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44KWDĀ 0.44
$1.06COPĀ 3,837
35.85%
White Bread(500g)
$1.06KWDĀ 0.33
$1.25COPĀ 4,531
-15.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.66KWDĀ 0.51
$1.39COPĀ 5,060
19.42%
Eggs
$1.97KWDĀ 0.61
$2.26COPĀ 8,229
-12.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.46KWDĀ 1.37
$4.33COPĀ 15.8K
3.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.59KWDĀ 2.03
$5.84COPĀ 21.2K
12.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.85KWDĀ 3.03
$8.83COPĀ 32.1K
11.55%
Apples(1kg)
$2.27KWDĀ 0.70
$2.24COPĀ 8,159
1.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68KWDĀ 0.52
$1.08COPĀ 3,911
55.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.57KWDĀ 0.48
$1.53COPĀ 5,563
2.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.40KWDĀ 0.43
$1.37COPĀ 4,987
2.19%
Potato(1kg)
$1.23KWDĀ 0.38
$1.13COPĀ 4,109
8.85%
Onion(1kg)
$1.14KWDĀ 0.35
$1.12COPĀ 4,067
1.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.66KWDĀ 0.51
$0.85COPĀ 3,080
95.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42KWDĀ 0.13
$0.91COPĀ 3,305
-53.85%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.01KWDĀ 0.31
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37KWDĀ 0.42
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.86KWDĀ 0.88
$2.33COPĀ 8,477
22.75%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$11.13COPĀ 40.5K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.19COPĀ 4,342
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.37COPĀ 8,617
-
š Getting Around
Qairawan
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88KWDĀ 0.27
$0.79COPĀ 2,859
11.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.78KWDĀ 13.48
$41.13COPĀ 149.6K
6.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26KWDĀ 1.00
$1.44COPĀ 5,223
126.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.26KWDĀ 1.00
$1.91COPĀ 6,952
70.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.14KWDĀ 4.97
$8.02COPĀ 29.2K
101.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.36KWDĀ 0.11
$0.94COPĀ 3,410
-61.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.2KKWDĀ 6,236
$17.9KCOPĀ 65.2M
12.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4KKWDĀ 5,968
$26.8KCOPĀ 97.4M
-27.67%
š§¾ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Qairawan
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$63.3KWDĀ 19.51
$84.0COPĀ 305.4K
-24.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.95KWDĀ 5.53
$9.60COPĀ 34.9K
86.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.75KWDĀ 7.93
$24.16COPĀ 87.9K
6.58%
š Sport & Entertainment
Qairawan
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$93.5KWDĀ 28.78
$25.88COPĀ 94.1K
261.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$47.23KWDĀ 14.55
$19.04COPĀ 69.3K
148.06%
Cinema Ticket
$11.22KWDĀ 3.45
$3.92COPĀ 14.2K
186.22%
š§ø Childcare & Education
Qairawan
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$288KWDĀ 88.6
$306COPĀ 1.1M
-6.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,052KWDĀ 1,864
$5,919COPĀ 21.5M
2.26%
šš Clothing & Footwear
Qairawan
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.80KWDĀ 13.18
$57.9COPĀ 210.6K
-26.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.07KWDĀ 13.26
$31.82COPĀ 115.7K
35.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.8KWDĀ 27.34
$99.9COPĀ 363.3K
-11.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.7KWDĀ 25.47
$107COPĀ 389.7K
-22.83%
š Accommodation & Living
Qairawan
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$782KWDĀ 241
$487COPĀ 1.8M
60.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$605KWDĀ 186
$368COPĀ 1.3M
64.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,555KWDĀ 479
$826COPĀ 3.0M
88.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,314KWDĀ 405
$716COPĀ 2.6M
83.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,925COPĀ 10.6M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,407COPĀ 5.1M
-
šµ Salaries & Financials
Qairawan
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$546COPĀ 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.14
13.43
-46.84%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input ā minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Qairawan: April 26, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
š A central one-bedroom costs $782 in Qairawan versus $487 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
šA mid-range dinner for two costs $58.0 in Qairawan versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story ā $168 in Qairawan vs $190 in Medellin ā so Qairawan 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
Qairawan vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Qairawan?
Yes ā Qairawan is pricier by about 31%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. 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 $2,033 per month in Qairawan and $1,550 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled ā not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Qairawan vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,356 in Qairawan and $1,034 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category ā it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Qairawan or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,034, than in Qairawan at $1,356. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Qairawan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Qairawan or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin ā lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Qairawan or Medellin?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison ā central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Qairawan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.