Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Rabigh and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Rabigh: $959 a month against $1,692 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $8,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Rabigh, Saudi Arabia
Medellin, Colombia
Rabigh
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
$959
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,692
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Rabigh and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Rabigh and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $959 per month in Rabigh vs $1,692 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Rabigh $959
  • Medellin $1,692

A couple spends around $1,473 per month in Rabigh vs $2,471 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Rabigh $1,473
  • Medellin $2,471

A family of three spends $1,987 per month in Rabigh vs $3,249 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Rabigh $1,987
  • Medellin $3,249

Rabigh is about 43% cheaper than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Rabigh sits 29% below the global median, while Medellin is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rabigh
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.61 SAR 17.32
$8.34 COP 26.9K
-44.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.72 SAR 100
$46.53 COP 150.1K
-42.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.98 SAR 26.19
$9.47 COP 30.5K
-26.29%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.50 SAR 5.64
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 SAR 5.91
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.68 SAR 10.04
$3.13 COP 10.1K
-14.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67 SAR 2.50
$1.77 COP 5,696
-62.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 SAR 0.94
$1.42 COP 4,594
-82.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.15 COP 10.2K
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.70 COP 18.4K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rabigh
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.84 SAR 6.91
$1.53 COP 4,943
20.26%
White Bread (500g)
$1.01 SAR 3.80
$2.29 COP 7,389
-55.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.16 SAR 8.10
$1.94 COP 6,273
11.34%
Eggs
$2.66 SAR 9.97
$3.07 COP 9,889
-13.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.07 SAR 22.79
$9.99 COP 32.2K
-39.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.92 SAR 44.73
$10.45 COP 33.7K
14.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.76 SAR 47.90
$13.96 COP 45.0K
-8.60%
Apples (1kg)
$2.08 SAR 7.82
$4.05 COP 13.1K
-48.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 SAR 6.17
$1.53 COP 4,929
7.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.73 SAR 6.49
$2.10 COP 6,786
-17.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.47 SAR 5.51
$2.29 COP 7,397
-35.81%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 SAR 4.97
$2.11 COP 6,803
-37.44%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 SAR 5.61
$1.71 COP 5,512
-12.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 SAR 4.10
$1.17 COP 3,774
-6.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 SAR 2.71
$1.58 COP 5,096
-54.43%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$2.99 SAR 11.22
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.12 SAR 7.96
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 SAR 5.83
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.96 SAR 29.87
$3.91 COP 12.6K
103.58%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$14.04 COP 45.3K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.76 COP 5,682
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.71 COP 8,746
-
🚌 Getting Around
Rabigh
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.04 SAR 3.92
$1.18 COP 3,805
-11.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$36.96 SAR 139
$76.3 COP 246.0K
-51.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.46 SAR 9.24
$1.81 COP 5,827
35.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.70 SAR 10.13
$2.13 COP 6,867
26.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.59 SAR 51.0
$8.13 COP 26.2K
67.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.64 SAR 2.40
$1.28 COP 4,113
-50.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.9K SAR 97.0K
$34.4K COP 111.1M
-24.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.9K SAR 82.1K
$34.1K COP 110.1M
-35.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rabigh
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$67.6 SAR 254
$178 COP 573.2K
-61.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.15 SAR 132
$13.89 COP 44.8K
153.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.3 SAR 234
$30.74 COP 99.1K
102.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rabigh
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$80.0 SAR 300
$41.94 COP 135.3K
90.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.80 COP 54.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.44 SAR 58.0
$7.47 COP 24.1K
106.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rabigh
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$420 SAR 1,575
$790 COP 2.5M
-46.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,799 SAR 29.3K
$12.3K COP 39.7M
-36.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rabigh
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$13.60 SAR 51.0
$86.3 COP 278.4K
-84.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.6 SAR 209
$59.3 COP 191.1K
-6.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$40.18 SAR 151
$138 COP 446.2K
-70.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$52.7 SAR 198
$98.8 COP 318.7K
-46.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rabigh
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$337 SAR 1,265
$1,341 COP 4.3M
-74.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$241 SAR 903
$667 COP 2.2M
-63.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$612 SAR 2,296
$1,976 COP 6.4M
-69.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$431 SAR 1,619
$1,033 COP 3.3M
-58.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,983 SAR 7,443
$4,098 COP 13.2M
-51.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,363 SAR 5,117
$1,940 COP 6.3M
-29.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rabigh
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$646 COP 2.1M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.25
10.94
-52.01%

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

Last update for Rabigh: November 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Rabigh
$241
Medellin
$667 177% $427
Groceries & Markets
Rabigh
$218
Medellin
$307 40.7% $89
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rabigh
$165
Medellin
$222 34.7% $57
Sport & Entertainment
Rabigh
$111
Medellin
$57 48.7% $54
Eating Out
Rabigh
$94
Medellin
$173 84.4% $79
Clothing & Footwear
Rabigh
$73
Medellin
$172 136% $99
Getting Around
Rabigh
$57
Medellin
$93 63.7% $36

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $337 in Rabigh versus $1,341 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27 in Rabigh versus $47 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $218 vs $307 – making Rabigh the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇸🇦 Rabigh
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
06:43 6:43 AM
22:43 10:43 PM
8 h behind Rabigh
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
92,072
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Saudi Riyal SAR ر.س
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to SAR – Saudi Riyal Converter

Saudi Riyal exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 3.75 SAR (1 SAR = 0.266 USD). 1 EUR = 4.23 SAR (1 SAR = 0.237 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 3,225 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,631 COP (10,000 COP = 2.75 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Rabigh Medellin 12,220 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Rabigh
  • Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Rabigh vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rabigh cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 77%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,438 per month in Rabigh and $2,538 in Medellin. 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 Rabigh, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $337 there versus $1,341 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Rabigh or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $27 in Rabigh and $47 in Medellin. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Rabigh and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $959 in Rabigh and $1,692 in Medellin. That makes Rabigh about 43% cheaper.
Is Rabigh or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Rabigh – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Rabigh is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 43% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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