Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tabuk and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Tabuk: $1,234 a month against $1,614 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $4,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Tabuk
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
$1,234
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,614
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tabuk and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Tabuk and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,234 per month in Tabuk vs $1,614 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Tabuk $1,234
  • Medellin $1,614

A couple spends around $1,834 per month in Tabuk vs $2,402 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Tabuk $1,834
  • Medellin $2,402

A family of three spends $2,434 per month in Tabuk vs $3,190 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Tabuk $2,434
  • Medellin $3,190

Tabuk is about 24% cheaper than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Tabuk sits 9% below the global median, while Medellin is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tabuk
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.64 SAR 28.66
$7.93 COP 25.2K
-3.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.43 SAR 118
$46.13 COP 146.3K
-31.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.79 SAR 29.22
$9.50 COP 30.1K
-18.00%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.35 SAR 5.07
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 SAR 5.87
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.21 SAR 12.05
$3.11 COP 9,866
3.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 SAR 2.93
$1.83 COP 5,800
-57.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 SAR 0.97
$1.38 COP 4,360
-81.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.05 COP 9,672
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.50 COP 17.4K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tabuk
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.01 SAR 7.55
$1.45 COP 4,600
38.62%
White Bread (500g)
$0.92 SAR 3.46
$2.36 COP 7,496
-61.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.74 SAR 10.28
$1.68 COP 5,328
63.10%
Eggs
$2.87 SAR 10.77
$2.86 COP 9,077
0.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.52 SAR 46.97
$10.19 COP 32.3K
22.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.78 SAR 25.45
$9.53 COP 30.2K
-28.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.65 SAR 47.46
$14.04 COP 44.5K
-9.90%
Apples (1kg)
$1.99 SAR 7.48
$4.07 COP 12.9K
-51.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 SAR 6.25
$1.50 COP 4,742
11.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.76 SAR 6.60
$2.17 COP 6,891
-18.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.21 SAR 8.31
$2.31 COP 7,310
-4.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.69 SAR 6.35
$1.93 COP 6,113
-12.44%
Onion (1kg)
$2.10 SAR 7.88
$1.64 COP 5,196
28.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.90 SAR 7.12
$1.13 COP 3,571
68.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 SAR 2.28
$1.25 COP 3,954
-51.20%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$2.86 SAR 10.71
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 SAR 6.76
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 SAR 7.76
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.57 SAR 24.65
$3.99 COP 12.6K
64.66%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$13.35 COP 42.3K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.70 COP 5,384
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.37 COP 7,525
-
🚌 Getting Around
Tabuk
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.05 SAR 3.94
$1.21 COP 3,827
-13.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$36.33 SAR 136
$76.5 COP 242.5K
-52.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.60 SAR 9.76
$1.32 COP 4,179
96.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.82 SAR 6.81
$2.14 COP 6,774
-14.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.43 SAR 50.4
$8.47 COP 26.8K
58.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.66 SAR 2.46
$1.30 COP 4,114
-49.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.9K SAR 164.7K
$28.0K COP 88.7M
56.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.8K SAR 78.1K
$35.4K COP 112.3M
-41.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tabuk
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 SAR 385
$172 COP 545.6K
-40.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.35 SAR 140
$13.37 COP 42.4K
179.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$77.0 SAR 289
$28.73 COP 91.1K
168.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tabuk
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$82.2 SAR 308
$45.24 COP 143.5K
81.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.04 COP 54.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.53 SAR 50.8
$6.28 COP 19.9K
115.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tabuk
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$424 SAR 1,592
$770 COP 2.4M
-44.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,651 SAR 32.5K
$9,011 COP 28.6M
-4.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tabuk
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.90 SAR 157
$86.4 COP 274.0K
-51.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.5 SAR 204
$57.1 COP 181.1K
-4.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.3 SAR 357
$137 COP 432.9K
-30.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.8 SAR 326
$97.9 COP 310.4K
-11.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tabuk
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$343 SAR 1,286
$1,055 COP 3.3M
-67.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$380 SAR 1,427
$616 COP 2.0M
-38.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$638 SAR 2,396
$1,892 COP 6.0M
-66.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$615 SAR 2,308
$1,023 COP 3.2M
-39.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,358 SAR 8,848
$4,059 COP 12.9M
-41.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,359 SAR 5,100
$1,678 COP 5.3M
-19.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tabuk
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,712 SAR 6,423
$652 COP 2.1M
162.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.54
10.94
-49.36%

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

Last update for Tabuk: October 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tabuk
$380
Medellin
$616 62% $236
Groceries & Markets
Tabuk
$223
Medellin
$295 31.9% $71
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tabuk
$217
Medellin
$214 1.2% $2.7
Eating Out
Tabuk
$127
Medellin
$168 32.4% $41
Clothing & Footwear
Tabuk
$125
Medellin
$170 35.7% $45
Sport & Entertainment
Tabuk
$109
Medellin
$58 47.1% $51
Getting Around
Tabuk
$52
Medellin
$93 78.7% $41

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $343 in Tabuk versus $1,055 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 162% 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 $31.00 in Tabuk versus $46.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $223 vs $295 – making Tabuk the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇸🇦 Tabuk
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
03:15 3:15 AM
19:15 7:15 PM
8 h behind Tabuk
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
512,629
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Saudi Riyal SAR ر.س
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to SAR – Saudi Riyal Converter

Saudi Riyal exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 3.75 SAR (1 SAR = 0.266 USD). 1 EUR = 4.22 SAR (1 SAR = 0.237 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tabuk Medellin 11,800 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Tabuk
  • Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 31%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in utilities.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,851 per month in Tabuk and $2,421 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 $31.00 in Tabuk and $46.00 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 $1,234 in Tabuk and $1,614 in Medellin. That's a gap of about 31%.
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 $1,234, than in Medellin at $1,614. 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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