😐A single person spends $1,163 per month in Unaizah vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,764 per month in Unaizah vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,365 per month in Unaizah vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Unaizah costs about 16% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both Unaizah and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Unaizah13% lower, Medellin25% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Unaizah
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.68SAR 25.10
$5.91COP 18.6K
13.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.60SAR 152
$32.96COP 103.8K
23.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.15SAR 26.86
$7.43COP 23.4K
-3.77%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.57SAR 5.89
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31SAR 4.90
-
-
Cappuccino
$4.18SAR 15.70
$1.65COP 5,207
153.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74SAR 2.77
$1.10COP 3,468
-32.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28SAR 1.06
$0.78COP 2,458
-64.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.72COP 5,412
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.18COP 10.0K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Unaizah
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.54SAR 5.80
$1.10COP 3,474
40.00%
White Bread(500g)
$0.29SAR 1.07
$1.26COP 3,962
-76.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.30SAR 8.63
$1.38COP 4,349
66.67%
Eggs
$2.53SAR 9.50
$2.18COP 6,858
16.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.09SAR 22.87
$4.49COP 14.1K
35.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.70SAR 17.66
$5.79COP 18.2K
-18.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.79SAR 48.03
$8.97COP 28.2K
42.59%
Apples(1kg)
$2.25SAR 8.43
$2.32COP 7,308
-3.02%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56SAR 5.86
$1.06COP 3,352
47.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.74SAR 6.52
$1.52COP 4,774
14.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.60SAR 6.02
$1.36COP 4,270
17.65%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28SAR 4.79
$1.13COP 3,552
13.27%
Onion(1kg)
$2.58SAR 9.69
$1.17COP 3,689
120.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23SAR 4.62
$0.90COP 2,838
36.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66SAR 2.47
$0.90COP 2,823
-26.67%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.60SAR 9.77
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72SAR 6.46
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03SAR 7.64
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.83SAR 25.66
$2.23COP 7,034
206.28%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$12.12COP 38.2K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.19COP 3,743
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.48COP 7,815
-
🚌 Getting Around
Unaizah
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.05SAR 3.93
$0.85COP 2,687
23.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.78SAR 149
$41.62COP 131.0K
-4.42%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.71SAR 10.18
$1.42COP 4,459
90.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.84SAR 6.92
$1.95COP 6,141
-5.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.08SAR 49.10
$7.89COP 24.8K
65.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.60SAR 2.24
$0.99COP 3,118
-39.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.5KSAR 99.6K
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
50.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.9KSAR 82.3K
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
-18.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Unaizah
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$104SAR 392
$83.0COP 261.4K
25.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.13SAR 124
$9.70COP 30.5K
241.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.5SAR 272
$23.52COP 74.1K
208.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Unaizah
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.3SAR 200
$25.26COP 79.5K
111.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.48SAR 133
$19.10COP 60.1K
85.76%
Cinema Ticket
$15.56SAR 58.4
$3.95COP 12.4K
293.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Unaizah
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$354SAR 1,329
$316COP 994.2K
12.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,930SAR 26.0K
$5,975COP 18.8M
15.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Unaizah
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.9SAR 225
$60.0COP 188.9K
-0.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.1SAR 229
$31.82COP 100.2K
91.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.7SAR 303
$102COP 320.1K
-20.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.3SAR 309
$107COP 338.3K
-23.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Unaizah
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$448SAR 1,681
$475COP 1.5M
-5.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$380SAR 1,426
$374COP 1.2M
1.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$840SAR 3,156
$849COP 2.7M
-1.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$622SAR 2,337
$719COP 2.3M
-13.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,481SAR 9,315
$3,265COP 10.3M
-24.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,517SAR 5,696
$1,441COP 4.5M
5.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Unaizah
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,500SAR 9,389
$624COP 2.0M
300.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.42
13.43
-67.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Unaizah: July 27, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $448 in Unaizah 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 300% higher in Unaizah, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Unaizah versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $175 in Unaizah vs $193 in Medellin – so Unaizah 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
Unaizah vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Unaizah?
Yes – Unaizah is pricier by about 16%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. 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 $1,745 per month in Unaizah 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 Medellin, 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 Unaizah or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Unaizah and $33.00 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 Unaizah and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,163 in Unaizah and $1,003 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 Unaizah or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Unaizah at $1,163. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Unaizah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Unaizah or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Unaizah 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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Unaizah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.