Cost of Living Comparison Between Shaab and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Shaab and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,360 per month in Shaab vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,273 per month in Shaab vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,186 per month in Shaab vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.

Shaab is about 17% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Shaab sits 1% below the global median, while Medellin is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.13 KWD 4.03

$8.04 COP 24.8K

63.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.1 KWD 19.96

$48.29 COP 148.6K

34.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.65 KWD 2.65

$9.42 COP 29.0K

-8.17%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.14 KWD 0.96

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.94 KWD 1.52

Cappuccino

$5.40 KWD 1.65

$2.94 COP 9,040

83.67%

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

$0.70 KWD 0.21

$1.86 COP 5,735

-62.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 KWD 0.11

$1.46 COP 4,479

-76.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 COP 9,882

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.71 COP 17.6K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 KWD 0.51

$1.44 COP 4,428

15.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.52 KWD 0.47

$2.40 COP 7,389

-36.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.96 KWD 0.60

$1.70 COP 5,228

15.29%

Eggs

$2.06 KWD 0.63

$2.89 COP 8,896

-28.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.47 KWD 1.37

$10.06 COP 30.9K

-55.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.58 KWD 2.02

$9.97 COP 30.7K

-34.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.40 KWD 3.19

$14.20 COP 43.7K

-26.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.45 KWD 0.75

$3.98 COP 12.3K

-38.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 KWD 0.57

$1.58 COP 4,878

17.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 KWD 0.56

$2.15 COP 6,624

-15.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 KWD 0.46

$2.30 COP 7,078

-34.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 KWD 0.43

$2.00 COP 6,169

-30.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 KWD 0.45

$1.51 COP 4,646

-1.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 KWD 0.70

$1.20 COP 3,701

90.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 KWD 0.17

$1.28 COP 3,946

-57.81%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.15 KWD 0.96

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 KWD 0.32

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.44 KWD 0.44

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.82 KWD 0.86

$3.84 COP 11.8K

-26.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 43.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 COP 5,256

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 COP 8,440

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 KWD 0.26

$1.25 COP 3,834

-32.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.9 COP 239.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.81 KWD 1.47

$1.31 COP 4,016

267.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.17 KWD 0.97

$2.17 COP 6,680

46.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.44 KWD 5.04

$8.29 COP 25.5K

98.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.33 KWD 0.10

$1.36 COP 4,172

-75.74%

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

$21.1K KWD 6,484

$27.5K COP 84.5M

-23.02%

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

$20.4K KWD 6,249

$36.5K COP 112.4M

-44.22%

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

$65.7 KWD 20.16

$169 COP 519.2K

-61.04%

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

$22.73 KWD 6.97

$13.57 COP 41.8K

67.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.56 KWD 9.37

$28.32 COP 87.2K

7.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.2 KWD 29.49

$45.71 COP 140.7K

110.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.22 COP 53.0K

Cinema Ticket

$11.43 KWD 3.50

$6.65 COP 20.5K

71.88%

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

$304 KWD 93.1

$803 COP 2.5M

-62.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,545 KWD 2,927

$9,190 COP 28.3M

3.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.16 KWD 11.70

$87.4 COP 268.8K

-56.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.02 KWD 12.27

$59.4 COP 182.7K

-32.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100.0 KWD 30.65

$139 COP 427.5K

-28.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.1 KWD 27.00

$102 COP 314.0K

-13.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$720 KWD 221

$1,071 COP 3.3M

-32.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$590 KWD 181

$653 COP 2.0M

-9.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,750 KWD 536

$1,925 COP 5.9M

-9.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,326 KWD 407

$1,048 COP 3.2M

26.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,123 COP 12.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,697 COP 5.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,181 KWD 975

$655 COP 2.0M

385.69%

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 Shaab: September 7, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $720 in Shaab versus $1,071 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 386% higher in Shaab, 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 $65.0 in Shaab versus $48.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $186 in Shaab vs $300 in Medellin – so Shaab 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

Shaab vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 21%, 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 $2,040 per month in Shaab and $2,462 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Shaab, 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 $65.0 in Shaab and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 61% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Shaab, where all-in costs run around $1,360, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Shaab it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Shaab – 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 Shaab. 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.