🙂A single person spends $476 per month in Shibin Al Kawm vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $755 per month in Shibin Al Kawm vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,033 per month in Shibin Al Kawm vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Shibin Al Kawm is about 53% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Shibin Al Kawm and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Shibin Al Kawm64% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shibin Al Kawm
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.50E£182
$5.99COP 21.4K
-41.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.08E£835
$32.86COP 117.2K
-51.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.77E£248
$7.09COP 25.3K
-32.72%
Cappuccino
$1.45E£75.1
$1.71COP 6,105
-15.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31E£16.28
$1.10COP 3,918
-71.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.11E£5.95
$0.78COP 2,776
-85.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.22E£63.3
$1.68COP 5,987
-27.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92E£152
$3.07COP 10.9K
-4.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shibin Al Kawm
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.80E£41.42
$1.09COP 3,899
-26.61%
White Bread(500g)
$0.74E£38.57
$1.26COP 4,500
-41.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.65E£33.79
$1.38COP 4,914
-52.90%
Eggs
$1.38E£71.6
$2.19COP 7,813
-36.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.83E£199
$4.40COP 15.7K
-12.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.41E£229
$5.63COP 20.1K
-21.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.39E£487
$8.89COP 31.7K
5.62%
Apples(1kg)
$1.49E£77.1
$2.34COP 8,334
-36.32%
Banana(1kg)
$0.59E£30.38
$1.06COP 3,771
-44.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.40E£20.51
$1.50COP 5,365
-73.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.39E£20.40
$1.38COP 4,915
-71.74%
Potato(1kg)
$0.41E£21.22
$1.15COP 4,104
-64.35%
Onion(1kg)
$0.44E£22.60
$1.16COP 4,148
-62.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.22E£11.37
$0.89COP 3,176
-75.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.20E£10.19
$0.84COP 2,992
-76.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.93E£100
$2.28COP 8,131
-15.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.71E£296
$10.64COP 37.9K
-46.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36E£70.8
$1.20COP 4,276
13.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59E£135
$2.47COP 8,809
4.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Shibin Al Kawm
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.17E£8.78
$0.86COP 3,051
-80.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.40COP 147.6K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.52E£27.07
$1.47COP 5,255
-64.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42E£22.03
$1.96COP 6,997
-78.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.01E£105
$7.74COP 27.6K
-74.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.31E£15.93
$0.95COP 3,403
-67.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4KE£1.8M
$18.1KCOP 64.6M
95.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5KE£1.7M
$26.5KCOP 94.4M
26.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shibin Al Kawm
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$11.49E£596
$82.3COP 293.2K
-86.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.60E£291
$9.50COP 33.9K
-41.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.19E£529
$24.23COP 86.4K
-57.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shibin Al Kawm
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.57E£1,172
$25.89COP 92.3K
-12.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.00COP 67.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.02E£157
$3.93COP 14.0K
-23.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shibin Al Kawm
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$90.0E£4,673
$309COP 1.1M
-70.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,855E£96.3K
$5,965COP 21.3M
-68.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shibin Al Kawm
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.26E£1,415
$58.7COP 209.1K
-53.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.49E£2,568
$32.35COP 115.3K
52.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108E£5,619
$103COP 365.7K
5.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.82E£2,586
$108COP 386.5K
-54.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shibin Al Kawm
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$191E£9,912
$476COP 1.7M
-59.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$101E£5,216
$379COP 1.4M
-73.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$303E£15.7K
$838COP 3.0M
-63.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$175E£9,074
$724COP 2.6M
-75.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$674E£35.0K
$2,791COP 9.9M
-75.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$410E£21.3K
$1,211COP 4.3M
-66.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shibin Al Kawm
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$512COP 1.8M
-
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $191 in Shibin Al Kawm 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $16.00 in Shibin Al Kawm versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $128 vs $188 – 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 113%, 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 $714 per month in Shibin Al Kawm 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 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 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 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 Shibin Al Kawm or Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Shibin Al Kawm, where all-in costs run around $476, than in Medellin at $1,013. 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