Cost of Living Comparison Between Sabah Al Salem and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Sabah Al Salem and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,432 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,446 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,460 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Sabah Al Salem is about 15% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sabah Al Salem and Medellin sit above the global median – Sabah Al Salem by 5%, Medellin by 23%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.32 KWD 2.55

$8.02 COP 25.0K

3.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.6 KWD 21.98

$47.87 COP 149.4K

49.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.25 KWD 2.84

$9.89 COP 30.8K

-6.47%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.28 KWD 1.01

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 KWD 0.97

Cappuccino

$6.62 KWD 2.03

$3.13 COP 9,767

111.50%

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

$0.48 KWD 0.15

$1.91 COP 5,954

-74.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 KWD 0.15

$1.51 COP 4,712

-68.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 COP 9,747

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 COP 17.9K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 KWD 0.61

$1.44 COP 4,509

37.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 KWD 0.41

$2.49 COP 7,759

-46.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.13 KWD 0.65

$1.77 COP 5,535

20.34%

Eggs

$3.02 KWD 0.93

$2.96 COP 9,235

2.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.32 KWD 2.25

$10.07 COP 31.4K

-27.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.38 KWD 1.65

$10.12 COP 31.6K

-46.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.15 KWD 3.12

$14.30 COP 44.6K

-29.02%

Apples (1kg)

$2.51 KWD 0.77

$4.14 COP 12.9K

-39.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.86 KWD 0.57

$1.61 COP 5,019

15.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.32 KWD 0.41

$2.25 COP 7,007

-41.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 KWD 0.47

$2.25 COP 7,028

-31.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.31 KWD 0.40

$2.04 COP 6,375

-35.78%

Onion (1kg)

$0.95 KWD 0.29

$1.54 COP 4,790

-38.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.65 KWD 0.51

$1.17 COP 3,651

41.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 KWD 0.15

$1.31 COP 4,077

-63.36%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.01 KWD 0.93

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 KWD 0.29

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 KWD 0.44

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.79 KWD 0.86

$3.90 COP 12.2K

-28.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 43.7K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 COP 5,439

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 COP 8,956

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 KWD 0.23

$1.22 COP 3,792

-38.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$115 KWD 35.24

$80.5 COP 251.1K

42.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 KWD 0.94

$1.31 COP 4,084

132.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.50 KWD 1.07

$2.19 COP 6,825

59.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.39 KWD 4.42

$8.71 COP 27.2K

65.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.33 KWD 0.10

$1.37 COP 4,260

-75.91%

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

$21.8K KWD 6,696

$27.8K COP 86.9M

-21.65%

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

$21.9K KWD 6,719

$35.8K COP 111.6M

-38.82%

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

$39.29 KWD 12.06

$177 COP 553.2K

-77.84%

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

$24.66 KWD 7.57

$13.88 COP 43.3K

77.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.81 KWD 11.92

$29.72 COP 92.8K

30.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$128 KWD 39.36

$44.88 COP 140.1K

185.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.17 KWD 12.02

$17.12 COP 53.4K

128.80%

Cinema Ticket

$11.39 KWD 3.50

$6.65 COP 20.7K

71.28%

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

$277 KWD 85.1

$813 COP 2.5M

-65.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,546 KWD 2,317

$9,187 COP 28.7M

-17.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.94 KWD 11.65

$89.5 COP 279.3K

-57.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.10 KWD 12.31

$59.0 COP 184.0K

-32.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 KWD 29.56

$138 COP 431.2K

-30.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.3 KWD 27.71

$102 COP 318.7K

-11.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$725 KWD 223

$1,062 COP 3.3M

-31.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$555 KWD 170

$663 COP 2.1M

-16.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,811 KWD 556

$1,888 COP 5.9M

-4.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,352 KWD 415

$1,027 COP 3.2M

31.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,022 KWD 928

$678 COP 2.1M

345.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

10.94

-40.31%

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

Last update for Sabah Al Salem: September 15, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $725 in Sabah Al Salem versus $1,062 in Medellin. 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 346% higher in Sabah Al Salem, 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 $72.0 in Sabah Al Salem versus $48.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $188 in Sabah Al Salem vs $305 in Medellin – so Sabah Al Salem 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

Sabah Al Salem vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 17%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,148 per month in Sabah Al Salem and $2,521 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sabah Al Salem, 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 $72.0 in Sabah Al Salem and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,432 in Sabah Al Salem and $1,681 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sabah Al Salem, where all-in costs run around $1,432, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Sabah Al Salem it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sabah Al Salem – 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 Sabah Al Salem. 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.