😐A single person spends $1,266 per month in Ankara vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,842 per month in Ankara vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,418 per month in Ankara vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Ankara costs about 25% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Ankara and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Ankara6% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ankara
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.67₺445
$5.99COP 21.3K
61.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.89₺1,745
$32.86COP 116.9K
15.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.95₺412
$7.09COP 25.2K
26.23%
Cappuccino
$3.19₺147
$1.71COP 6,093
86.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21₺55.8
$1.10COP 3,910
10.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38₺17.67
$0.78COP 2,771
-51.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21₺148
$1.68COP 5,976
91.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79₺175
$3.07COP 10.9K
23.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ankara
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.94₺43.44
$1.09COP 3,892
-13.76%
White Bread(500g)
$0.65₺30.15
$1.26COP 4,492
-48.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.31₺106
$1.38COP 4,905
67.39%
Eggs
$2.30₺106
$2.19COP 7,799
5.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.37₺432
$4.40COP 15.7K
112.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.87₺270
$5.63COP 20.0K
4.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.66₺905
$8.89COP 31.6K
121.15%
Apples(1kg)
$1.47₺67.5
$2.34COP 8,319
-37.18%
Banana(1kg)
$2.28₺105
$1.06COP 3,764
115.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.30₺59.9
$1.50COP 5,355
-13.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.54₺71.1
$1.38COP 4,906
11.59%
Potato(1kg)
$0.74₺34.04
$1.15COP 4,097
-35.65%
Onion(1kg)
$0.57₺26.31
$1.16COP 4,141
-50.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08₺49.62
$0.89COP 3,170
21.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40₺18.36
$0.84COP 2,986
-52.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.14₺98.6
$2.28COP 8,116
-6.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.73₺494
$10.64COP 37.9K
0.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.11₺97.3
$1.20COP 4,268
75.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14₺145
$2.47COP 8,793
27.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Ankara
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.63₺29.18
$0.86COP 3,045
-26.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.40₺433
$41.40COP 147.3K
-77.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.91₺42.01
$1.47COP 5,245
-38.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.60₺27.85
$1.96COP 6,984
-69.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.31₺290
$7.74COP 27.5K
-18.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23₺56.8
$0.95COP 3,397
29.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.7K₺2.0M
$18.1KCOP 64.5M
135.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.9K₺2.0M
$26.5KCOP 94.2M
62.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ankara
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.6₺3,897
$82.3COP 292.7K
2.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.99₺506
$9.50COP 33.8K
15.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.09₺649
$24.23COP 86.2K
-41.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ankara
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.5₺2,555
$25.89COP 92.1K
114.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.44₺665
$19.00COP 67.6K
-24.00%
Cinema Ticket
$6.21₺286
$3.93COP 14.0K
58.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ankara
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$617₺28.4K
$309COP 1.1M
99.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.9K₺638.8K
$5,965COP 21.2M
132.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ankara
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7₺2,705
$58.7COP 208.7K
0.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.93₺2,023
$32.35COP 115.1K
35.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104₺4,800
$103COP 365.1K
1.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.3₺4,435
$108COP 385.8K
-11.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ankara
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$741₺34.1K
$476COP 1.7M
55.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515₺23.7K
$379COP 1.3M
35.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,093₺50.3K
$838COP 3.0M
30.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$702₺32.3K
$724COP 2.6M
-3.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,700₺78.3K
$2,791COP 9.9M
-39.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,162₺53.5K
$1,211COP 4.3M
-4.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ankara
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,076₺49.5K
$512COP 1.8M
110.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
48.4
13.43
260.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ankara: May 30, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $741 in Ankara versus $476 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 110% higher in Ankara, 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 $38.00 in Ankara versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $236 vs $188 – 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
Ankara vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ankara or Medellin?
Ankara costs about 25% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ankara vs Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,899 per month in Ankara and $1,519 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ankara or Medellin?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Ankara and Medellin?
Kindergarten costs $617 per month in Ankara and $309 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Ankara or Medellin?
Groceries cost about 25% more in Ankara, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Ankara or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Ankara at $1,266. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ankara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ankara or Medellin?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,013 versus $1,266 in Ankara. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Ankara compared to 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.
Should I move to Ankara or Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ankara makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.