Cost of Living Comparison Between Tabuk and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Tabuk and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,221 per month in Tabuk vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,862 per month in Tabuk vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,503 per month in Tabuk vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

Tabuk is about 29% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Tabuk sits 11% below the global median, while Medellin is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tabuk
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.34 SAR 27.57
$8.03 COP 25.3K
-8.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.86 SAR 120
$48.26 COP 152.0K
-33.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.78 SAR 29.21
$9.77 COP 30.8K
-20.37%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.29 SAR 4.85
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 SAR 6.16
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.14 SAR 11.81
$2.91 COP 9,167
7.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 SAR 2.77
$1.94 COP 6,122
-61.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 SAR 0.97
$1.52 COP 4,792
-82.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.09 COP 9,740
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.74 COP 18.1K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tabuk
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.98 SAR 7.43
$1.36 COP 4,296
45.59%
White Bread (500g)
$0.86 SAR 3.22
$2.39 COP 7,519
-64.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.68 SAR 10.06
$1.70 COP 5,356
57.65%
Eggs
$2.97 SAR 11.15
$2.87 COP 9,038
3.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.18 SAR 45.73
$9.94 COP 31.3K
22.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.83 SAR 25.66
$10.78 COP 34.0K
-36.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.05 SAR 49.01
$14.73 COP 46.4K
-11.41%
Apples (1kg)
$1.98 SAR 7.45
$4.09 COP 12.9K
-51.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 SAR 6.20
$1.57 COP 4,950
5.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 SAR 6.71
$2.13 COP 6,695
-15.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.22 SAR 8.32
$2.21 COP 6,972
0.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.70 SAR 6.39
$2.05 COP 6,447
-17.07%
Onion (1kg)
$2.08 SAR 7.82
$1.50 COP 4,737
38.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.98 SAR 7.42
$1.19 COP 3,747
66.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 SAR 2.11
$1.16 COP 3,647
-51.72%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$2.88 SAR 10.81
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 SAR 6.39
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 SAR 7.77
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.75 SAR 25.34
$3.90 COP 12.3K
73.08%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$14.44 COP 45.5K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.58 COP 4,987
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.83 COP 8,905
-
🚌 Getting Around
Tabuk
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.09 SAR 4.08
$1.17 COP 3,679
-6.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$36.27 SAR 136
$77.7 COP 244.8K
-53.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.97 SAR 11.14
$1.28 COP 4,045
132.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.82 SAR 6.84
$2.09 COP 6,589
-12.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.37 SAR 50.2
$8.62 COP 27.1K
55.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.61 SAR 2.30
$1.30 COP 4,088
-53.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$45.5K SAR 170.8K
$27.7K COP 87.1M
64.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.1K SAR 79.2K
$35.5K COP 111.8M
-40.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tabuk
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$99.4 SAR 373
$176 COP 554.5K
-43.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.39 SAR 140
$13.37 COP 42.1K
179.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.3 SAR 286
$29.89 COP 94.1K
155.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tabuk
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$82.9 SAR 311
$44.76 COP 141.0K
85.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.30 SAR 140
$17.06 COP 53.7K
118.64%
Cinema Ticket
$13.11 SAR 49.24
$6.20 COP 19.5K
111.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tabuk
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$338 SAR 1,269
$793 COP 2.5M
-57.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,501 SAR 31.9K
$9,019 COP 28.4M
-5.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tabuk
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.8 SAR 191
$85.6 COP 269.6K
-40.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.2 SAR 226
$58.5 COP 184.1K
2.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.7 SAR 359
$136 COP 429.3K
-29.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.1 SAR 334
$103 COP 324.7K
-13.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tabuk
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$336 SAR 1,263
$1,060 COP 3.3M
-68.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$371 SAR 1,393
$680 COP 2.1M
-45.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$620 SAR 2,326
$2,012 COP 6.3M
-69.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$611 SAR 2,296
$1,169 COP 3.7M
-47.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,388 SAR 8,968
$4,111 COP 12.9M
-41.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,398 SAR 5,248
$1,701 COP 5.4M
-17.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tabuk
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,707 SAR 6,409
$665 COP 2.1M
156.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.47
10.94
-50.00%

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

Last update for Tabuk: August 29, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $336 in Tabuk versus $1,060 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 157% higher in Tabuk, 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 $32.00 in Tabuk versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $223 vs $303 – making Tabuk 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
Tabuk vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Tabuk?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 41%, 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 $1,832 per month in Tabuk and $2,574 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 Tabuk, 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 Tabuk or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Tabuk and $48.00 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 Tabuk and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,221 in Tabuk and $1,716 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 living in Tabuk or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Tabuk, where all-in costs run around $1,221, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Tabuk it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tabuk or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tabuk – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Tabuk 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 Tabuk. 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.

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