🙂A single person spends $728 per month in Umm As-summaq vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,356 per month in Umm As-summaq vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,985 per month in Umm As-summaq vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Umm As-summaq is about 27% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Umm As-summaq and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Umm As-summaq45% lower, Medellin25% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Umm As-summaq
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.52JOD 4.62
$5.91COP 18.6K
10.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.19JOD 34.82
$32.96COP 103.8K
49.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.01JOD 3.55
$7.43COP 23.4K
-32.57%
Cappuccino
$4.15JOD 2.94
$1.65COP 5,207
151.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52JOD 0.37
$1.10COP 3,468
-52.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37JOD 0.26
$0.78COP 2,458
-52.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.73JOD 4.06
$1.72COP 5,412
233.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.88JOD 4.87
$3.18COP 10.0K
116.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Umm As-summaq
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28JOD 0.91
$1.10COP 3,474
16.36%
White Bread(500g)
$0.34JOD 0.24
$1.26COP 3,962
-73.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.44JOD 1.02
$1.38COP 4,349
4.35%
Eggs
$2.56JOD 1.81
$2.18COP 6,858
17.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$2.74JOD 1.94
$4.49COP 14.1K
-38.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.46JOD 4.57
$5.79COP 18.2K
11.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.19JOD 7.92
$8.97COP 28.2K
24.75%
Apples(1kg)
$1.38JOD 0.97
$2.32COP 7,308
-40.52%
Banana(1kg)
$0.74JOD 0.53
$1.06COP 3,352
-30.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.39JOD 0.99
$1.52COP 4,774
-8.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.27JOD 0.19
$1.36COP 4,270
-80.15%
Potato(1kg)
$0.33JOD 0.24
$1.13COP 3,552
-70.80%
Onion(1kg)
$0.29JOD 0.21
$1.17COP 3,689
-75.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.61JOD 0.43
$0.90COP 2,838
-32.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63JOD 0.45
$0.90COP 2,823
-30.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.51JOD 2.49
$2.23COP 7,034
57.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.85JOD 11.93
$12.12COP 38.2K
39.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.78JOD 3.39
$1.19COP 3,743
301.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.54JOD 3.92
$2.48COP 7,815
123.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Umm As-summaq
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.74JOD 0.52
$0.85COP 2,687
-12.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.62COP 131.0K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.68JOD 0.48
$1.42COP 4,459
-52.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29JOD 0.21
$1.95COP 6,141
-85.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.12JOD 5.04
$7.89COP 24.8K
-9.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43JOD 1.02
$0.99COP 3,118
44.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8KJOD 19.0K
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
52.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.6KJOD 22.4K
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
18.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Umm As-summaq
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$106JOD 74.9
$83.0COP 261.4K
27.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.73JOD 11.85
$9.70COP 30.5K
72.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.46JOD 22.28
$23.52COP 74.1K
33.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Umm As-summaq
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.43JOD 28.62
$25.26COP 79.5K
60.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.91JOD 24.72
$19.10COP 60.1K
82.77%
Cinema Ticket
$11.15JOD 7.89
$3.95COP 12.4K
182.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Umm As-summaq
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$271JOD 192
$316COP 994.2K
-14.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,400JOD 3,823
$5,975COP 18.8M
-9.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Umm As-summaq
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.0JOD 43.88
$60.0COP 188.9K
3.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.5JOD 40.00
$31.82COP 100.2K
77.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116JOD 81.8
$102COP 320.1K
13.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.8JOD 56.5
$107COP 338.3K
-25.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Umm As-summaq
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$380JOD 269
$475COP 1.5M
-20.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$374COP 1.2M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$459JOD 325
$849COP 2.7M
-45.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$356JOD 252
$719COP 2.3M
-50.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,675JOD 1,186
$3,265COP 10.3M
-48.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,441COP 4.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Umm As-summaq
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$855JOD 606
$624COP 2.0M
36.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.67
13.43
-50.34%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Umm As-summaq: July 25, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $380 in Umm As-summaq versus $475 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 37% higher in Umm As-summaq, 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 $49.00 in Umm As-summaq versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 vs $193 – making Medellin 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
Umm As-summaq vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Umm As-summaq?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 38%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $1,091 per month in Umm As-summaq and $1,504 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 Umm As-summaq, 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 Umm As-summaq or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Umm As-summaq 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 Umm As-summaq and in Medellin?
Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Umm As-summaq or in Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Umm As-summaq, where all-in costs run around $728, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Umm As-summaq it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Umm As-summaq or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Umm As-summaq – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Umm As-summaq 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 Umm As-summaq. 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.
Umm As-summaq vs other spots: cost of living compared