Cost of Living Comparison Between Taif and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Taif and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $916 per month in Taif vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,470 per month in Taif vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,023 per month in Taif vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Taif is about 11% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Taif and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Taif 31% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.30 SAR 19.91

$6.16 COP 20.1K

-13.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.54 SAR 152

$32.60 COP 106.1K

24.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.80 SAR 25.53

$7.34 COP 23.9K

-7.36%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 SAR 7.35

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 SAR 5.95

Cappuccino

$2.94 SAR 11.04

$1.72 COP 5,600

70.93%

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

$0.77 SAR 2.91

$1.05 COP 3,420

-26.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 SAR 1.06

$0.77 COP 2,515

-63.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,488

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 SAR 5.10

$1.05 COP 3,423

29.52%

White Bread (500g)

$0.28 SAR 1.05

$1.30 COP 4,236

-78.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.29 SAR 8.59

$1.40 COP 4,544

63.57%

Eggs

$2.58 SAR 9.70

$2.16 COP 7,047

19.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.26 SAR 27.28

$4.39 COP 14.3K

65.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.23 SAR 23.38

$5.88 COP 19.1K

5.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.61 SAR 39.86

$8.64 COP 28.1K

22.80%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 SAR 8.57

$2.28 COP 7,426

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 SAR 6.09

$1.11 COP 3,604

45.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.98 SAR 7.45

$1.53 COP 4,983

29.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.83 SAR 6.88

$1.35 COP 4,410

35.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.44 SAR 5.40

$1.13 COP 3,674

27.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.62 SAR 6.07

$1.13 COP 3,692

43.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 SAR 3.48

$0.85 COP 2,753

9.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 SAR 3.87

$0.91 COP 2,975

13.19%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.87 SAR 10.79

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 SAR 7.23

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 SAR 6.07

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.73 SAR 25.26

$2.34 COP 7,630

187.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 SAR 4.08

$0.84 COP 2,728

29.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.58 SAR 149

$40.57 COP 132.1K

-2.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.62 SAR 9.85

$1.42 COP 4,623

84.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.02 SAR 7.58

$1.92 COP 6,235

5.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.06 SAR 49.03

$7.66 COP 24.9K

70.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 SAR 2.37

$0.99 COP 3,223

-36.36%

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

$20.0K SAR 75.1K

$18.0K COP 58.7M

10.85%

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

$20.6K SAR 77.2K

$26.6K COP 86.7M

-22.77%

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

$75.3 SAR 283

$80.8 COP 263.1K

-6.87%

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

$28.59 SAR 107

$9.95 COP 32.4K

187.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.9 SAR 323

$24.18 COP 78.7K

255.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 SAR 288

$25.08 COP 81.7K

205.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.83 SAR 142

$19.15 COP 62.3K

97.55%

Cinema Ticket

$17.16 SAR 64.4

$3.98 COP 13.0K

331.16%

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

$263 SAR 986

$305 COP 993.5K

-13.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,622 SAR 21.1K

$6,059 COP 19.7M

-7.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.70 SAR 149

$58.1 COP 189.2K

-31.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.96 SAR 158

$32.20 COP 104.8K

30.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.7 SAR 292

$101 COP 327.9K

-22.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.39 SAR 178

$108 COP 350.8K

-56.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$215 SAR 808

$477 COP 1.6M

-54.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$172 SAR 644

$376 COP 1.2M

-54.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$437 SAR 1,642

$845 COP 2.7M

-48.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$347 SAR 1,302

$730 COP 2.4M

-52.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,332 SAR 8,755

$3,215 COP 10.5M

-27.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,352 SAR 5,076

$1,372 COP 4.5M

-1.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,814 SAR 6,812

$617 COP 2.0M

194.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.6

13.43

-65.75%

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

Last update for Taif: July 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $215 in Taif 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.

Salaries run about 194% higher in Taif, 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 $41.00 in Taif versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $182 in Taif vs $193 in Medellin – so Taif 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

Taif vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 13%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,374 per month in Taif and $1,546 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Taif, 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 $41.00 in Taif and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $916 in Taif and $1,031 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Taif, where all-in costs run around $916, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Taif it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Taif – 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 Taif. 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.