🙂A single person spends $464 per month in Shibin Al Kawm vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $757 per month in Shibin Al Kawm vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,050 per month in Shibin Al Kawm vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Shibin Al Kawm is about 55% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Shibin Al Kawm and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Shibin Al Kawm65% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shibin Al Kawm
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.65E£186
$6.16COP 20.1K
-40.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.90E£811
$32.60COP 106.1K
-51.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.71E£241
$7.34COP 23.9K
-35.83%
Cappuccino
$1.49E£76.2
$1.72COP 5,599
-13.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31E£16.01
$1.05COP 3,420
-70.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.10E£5.17
$0.77COP 2,515
-87.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.17E£59.6
$1.69COP 5,487
-30.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02E£154
$3.17COP 10.3K
-4.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shibin Al Kawm
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.82E£41.73
$1.05COP 3,423
-21.90%
White Bread(500g)
$0.79E£40.18
$1.30COP 4,236
-39.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.66E£33.90
$1.40COP 4,544
-52.86%
Eggs
$1.39E£71.2
$2.16COP 7,046
-35.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.00E£204
$4.39COP 14.3K
-8.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.34E£222
$5.88COP 19.1K
-26.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.75E£498
$8.64COP 28.1K
12.85%
Apples(1kg)
$1.49E£76.1
$2.28COP 7,425
-34.65%
Banana(1kg)
$0.55E£27.92
$1.11COP 3,603
-50.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.42E£21.62
$1.53COP 4,982
-72.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.39E£20.02
$1.35COP 4,410
-71.11%
Potato(1kg)
$0.40E£20.64
$1.13COP 3,674
-64.60%
Onion(1kg)
$0.41E£20.81
$1.13COP 3,692
-63.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.24E£12.28
$0.85COP 2,753
-71.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.19E£9.78
$0.91COP 2,975
-79.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.97E£100
$2.34COP 7,629
-15.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.95E£304
$12.37COP 40.3K
-51.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.41E£71.8
$1.20COP 3,909
17.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64E£135
$2.49COP 8,104
6.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Shibin Al Kawm
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.19E£9.86
$0.84COP 2,727
-77.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$40.57COP 132.1K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.55E£28.18
$1.42COP 4,623
-61.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42E£21.54
$1.92COP 6,235
-78.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.00E£102
$7.66COP 24.9K
-73.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.33E£16.89
$0.99COP 3,223
-66.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.9KE£1.8M
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
93.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3KE£1.7M
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
24.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shibin Al Kawm
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$11.16E£570
$80.8COP 263.1K
-86.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.62E£287
$9.95COP 32.4K
-43.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.96E£508
$24.18COP 78.7K
-58.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shibin Al Kawm
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.26E£1,136
$25.08COP 81.6K
-11.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.15COP 62.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.00E£153
$3.98COP 13.0K
-24.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shibin Al Kawm
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$87.4E£4,460
$305COP 993.4K
-71.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,876E£95.8K
$6,059COP 19.7M
-69.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shibin Al Kawm
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.05E£1,381
$58.1COP 189.2K
-53.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.27E£2,515
$32.20COP 104.8K
53.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108E£5,527
$101COP 327.9K
7.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$51.1E£2,608
$108COP 350.8K
-52.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shibin Al Kawm
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$189E£9,659
$477COP 1.6M
-60.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$99.3E£5,070
$376COP 1.2M
-73.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$315E£16.1K
$845COP 2.7M
-62.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$179E£9,156
$730COP 2.4M
-75.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$696E£35.5K
$3,215COP 10.5M
-78.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$425E£21.7K
$1,372COP 4.5M
-69.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shibin Al Kawm
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$617COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17
13.43
26.58%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Shibin Al Kawm: July 11, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $189 in Shibin Al Kawm versus $477 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 $16.00 in Shibin Al Kawm versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $131 vs $193 – making Shibin Al Kawm 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
Shibin Al Kawm vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Shibin Al Kawm?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 122%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $696 per month in Shibin Al Kawm and $1,546 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 Shibin Al Kawm, 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 Shibin Al Kawm or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $16.00 in Shibin Al Kawm and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Shibin Al Kawm and in Medellin?
Groceries cost about 47% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Shibin Al Kawm or in Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Shibin Al Kawm, where all-in costs run around $464, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Shibin Al Kawm it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Shibin Al Kawm or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Shibin Al Kawm – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Shibin Al Kawm. 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.
Shibin Al Kawm vs other spots: cost of living compared