😐A single person spends $1,165 per month in Sakakah vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,656 per month in Sakakah vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,147 per month in Sakakah vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Sakakah costs about 15% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both Sakakah and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Sakakah13% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sakakah
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.70SAR 21.39
$5.99COP 21.4K
-4.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.82SAR 168
$32.86COP 117.4K
36.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.88SAR 29.56
$7.09COP 25.3K
11.14%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.15SAR 8.07
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62SAR 6.07
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.65SAR 13.70
$1.71COP 6,115
113.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70SAR 2.64
$1.10COP 3,924
-36.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31SAR 1.18
$0.78COP 2,781
-60.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.68COP 5,997
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.07COP 11.0K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sakakah
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64SAR 6.16
$1.09COP 3,906
50.46%
White Bread(500g)
$0.98SAR 3.69
$1.26COP 4,508
-22.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.39SAR 8.96
$1.38COP 4,922
73.19%
Eggs
$2.50SAR 9.39
$2.19COP 7,827
14.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.78SAR 25.43
$4.40COP 15.7K
54.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.27SAR 27.27
$5.63COP 20.1K
29.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.25SAR 49.71
$8.89COP 31.8K
49.04%
Apples(1kg)
$2.16SAR 8.11
$2.34COP 8,349
-7.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59SAR 5.98
$1.06COP 3,777
50.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.72SAR 6.46
$1.50COP 5,374
14.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.60SAR 6.02
$1.38COP 4,924
15.94%
Potato(1kg)
$1.27SAR 4.78
$1.15COP 4,111
10.43%
Onion(1kg)
$1.28SAR 4.81
$1.16COP 4,155
10.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19SAR 4.47
$0.89COP 3,182
33.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59SAR 2.21
$0.84COP 2,997
-29.76%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.97SAR 11.16
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68SAR 6.32
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04SAR 7.65
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.89SAR 25.88
$2.28COP 8,145
202.19%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$10.64COP 38.0K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.20COP 4,284
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.47COP 8,824
-
🚌 Getting Around
Sakakah
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.10SAR 4.13
$0.86COP 3,056
27.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.76SAR 149
$41.40COP 147.9K
-3.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.61SAR 9.79
$1.47COP 5,264
77.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.84SAR 6.92
$1.96COP 7,009
-6.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.36SAR 50.1
$7.74COP 27.6K
72.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.58SAR 2.19
$0.95COP 3,409
-38.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8KSAR 100.6K
$18.1KCOP 64.7M
47.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.9KSAR 82.3K
$26.5KCOP 94.6M
-17.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sakakah
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$105SAR 392
$82.3COP 293.7K
27.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.71SAR 127
$9.50COP 33.9K
254.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.8SAR 273
$24.23COP 86.5K
200.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sakakah
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.1SAR 226
$25.89COP 92.4K
132.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.30SAR 132
$19.00COP 67.9K
85.79%
Cinema Ticket
$15.38SAR 57.7
$3.93COP 14.0K
291.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sakakah
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$357SAR 1,339
$309COP 1.1M
15.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,040SAR 26.4K
$5,965COP 21.3M
18.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sakakah
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.4SAR 227
$58.7COP 209.5K
2.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.0SAR 229
$32.35COP 115.5K
88.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.1SAR 293
$103COP 366.4K
-23.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.7SAR 303
$108COP 387.2K
-25.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sakakah
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$225SAR 846
$476COP 1.7M
-52.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$384SAR 1,441
$379COP 1.4M
1.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$344SAR 1,291
$838COP 3.0M
-58.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$301SAR 1,131
$724COP 2.6M
-58.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,070SAR 7,767
$2,791COP 10.0M
-25.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,481SAR 5,559
$1,211COP 4.3M
22.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sakakah
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$918SAR 3,446
$512COP 1.8M
79.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.42
13.43
-67.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sakakah: May 30, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $225 in Sakakah versus $476 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 79% higher in Sakakah, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Sakakah versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $196 vs $188 – 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
Sakakah vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Sakakah?
Yes – Sakakah is pricier by about 15%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. 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 $1,747 per month in Sakakah and $1,519 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 Medellin, 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 Sakakah or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Sakakah and $33.00 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 Sakakah vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,165 in Sakakah and $1,013 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Sakakah or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Sakakah at $1,165. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sakakah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Sakakah or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Sakakah 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 – 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, Sakakah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.