Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between the United Arab Emirates and Medellin
For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,589 a month against $2,227 in the United Arab Emirates, rent and utilities included – about $7,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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United Arab Emirates Living Index110Cost of Living Index in the United Arab EmiratesLearn more -
Medellin Living Index77Cost of Living Index in MedellinLearn more
😐 Solo nomad: The United Arab Emirates is 19.6% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 40.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: The United Arab Emirates is 19.8% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 43.5% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
United Arab Emirates
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.40 AED 34.51
$8.01 COP 25.5K
17.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.5 AED 222
$46.55 COP 148.3K
29.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.69 AED 35.60
$9.43 COP 30.1K
2.76%
Cappuccino
$5.34 AED 19.63
$2.91 COP 9,277
83.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 AED 3.86
$1.75 COP 5,585
-40.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 AED 1.70
$1.32 COP 4,218
-65.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$11.80 AED 43.33
$3.13 COP 9,969
277.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.35 AED 45.35
$5.55 COP 17.7K
122.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United Arab Emirates
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 AED 6.33
$1.41 COP 4,495
21.99%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 AED 5.38
$2.44 COP 7,777
-40.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.14 AED 7.85
$1.63 COP 5,191
31.29%
Eggs
$3.22 AED 11.82
$2.82 COP 8,990
14.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.60 AED 38.92
$9.69 COP 30.9K
9.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.82 AED 32.38
$9.32 COP 29.7K
-5.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.55 AED 42.44
$13.46 COP 42.9K
-14.19%
Apples (1kg)
$2.46 AED 9.04
$4.00 COP 12.8K
-38.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 AED 6.51
$1.48 COP 4,719
19.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.68 AED 6.18
$2.12 COP 6,768
-20.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 AED 4.99
$2.25 COP 7,178
-39.56%
Potato (1kg)
$1.07 AED 3.92
$1.91 COP 6,092
-43.98%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 AED 3.88
$1.62 COP 5,160
-34.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.49 AED 5.46
$1.15 COP 3,658
29.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 AED 2.06
$1.26 COP 4,021
-55.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.09 AED 22.38
$3.82 COP 12.2K
59.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.52 AED 49.66
$13.11 COP 41.8K
3.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.43 AED 8.94
$1.60 COP 5,083
51.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 AED 10.14
$2.26 COP 7,188
22.12%
🚌 Getting Around
United Arab Emirates
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.62 AED 5.94
$1.17 COP 3,731
38.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$47.10 AED 173
$75.0 COP 239.0K
-37.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 AED 11.93
$1.27 COP 4,056
155.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.60 AED 2.22
$2.05 COP 6,531
-70.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.32 AED 30.57
$8.20 COP 26.1K
1.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 AED 3.48
$1.27 COP 4,046
-25.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.9K AED 165.0K
$26.8K COP 85.3M
67.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K AED 82.2K
$34.4K COP 109.6M
-34.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United Arab Emirates
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$198 AED 726
$162 COP 516.9K
21.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.4 AED 196
$13.12 COP 41.8K
307.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$91.3 AED 335
$28.09 COP 89.5K
225.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United Arab Emirates
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$73.8 AED 271
$44.33 COP 141.2K
66.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$33.45 AED 123
$16.33 COP 52.0K
104.84%
Cinema Ticket
$13.77 AED 50.6
$6.09 COP 19.4K
126.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United Arab Emirates
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$570 AED 2,094
$764 COP 2.4M
-25.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.2K AED 44.8K
$8,904 COP 28.4M
36.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United Arab Emirates
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.2 AED 225
$85.0 COP 270.8K
-27.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 AED 213
$57.5 COP 183.2K
0.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.5 AED 365
$132 COP 419.8K
-24.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100 AED 368
$95.8 COP 305.1K
4.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United Arab Emirates
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,553 AED 5,704
$1,028 COP 3.3M
51.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,092 AED 4,011
$604 COP 1.9M
80.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,731 AED 10.0K
$1,802 COP 5.7M
51.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,022 AED 7,427
$993 COP 3.2M
103.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,628 AED 20.7K
$3,921 COP 12.5M
43.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,849 AED 10.5K
$1,639 COP 5.2M
73.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United Arab Emirates
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,827 AED 10.4K
$626 COP 2.0M
351.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.63
10.94
-57.68%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for the United Arab Emirates: October 3, 2026
Last update for Medellin: October 6, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
United Arab Emirates $1.1K 48.3%
Medellin $604 38.3% 44.7% $488
Monthly Utilities & Internet
United Arab Emirates $342 15.2%
Medellin $203 12.9% 40.6% $139
Groceries & Markets
United Arab Emirates $263 11.6%
Medellin $288 18.3% 9.7% $25
Eating Out
United Arab Emirates $258 11.4%
Medellin $166 10.6% 35.6% $92
Clothing & Footwear
United Arab Emirates $143 6.4%
Medellin $166 10.6% 16% $23
Sport & Entertainment
United Arab Emirates $101 4.5%
Medellin $57 3.6% 44.3% $45
Getting Around
United Arab Emirates $60 2.7%
Medellin $91 5.8% 52.4% $31
Accommodation & Living
United Arab Emirates $2K 45%
Medellin $993 31.9% 50.9% $1K
Monthly Utilities & Internet
United Arab Emirates $396 8.8%
Medellin $217 7% 45.3% $179
Groceries & Markets
United Arab Emirates $599 13.3%
Medellin $664 21.3% 10.9% $65
Eating Out
United Arab Emirates $801 17.8%
Medellin $560 18% 30.2% $242
Clothing & Footwear
United Arab Emirates $319 7.1%
Medellin $370 11.9% 16% $51
Sport & Entertainment
United Arab Emirates $236 5.3%
Medellin $129 4.2% 45.2% $107
Getting Around
United Arab Emirates $123 2.7%
Medellin $185 5.9% 50.3% $62
Good to know
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
🇨🇴 Medellin
Weather
Population
9,890,400
2,486,723
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- United Arab Emirates Medellin 13,610 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
- United Arab Emirates
- 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
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