Cost of Living Comparison Between Ankara and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Ankara and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

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 – Ankara 6% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ankara
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.67 ₺445
$5.99 COP 21.3K
61.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.89 ₺1,745
$32.86 COP 116.9K
15.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.95 ₺412
$7.09 COP 25.2K
26.23%
Cappuccino
$3.19 ₺147
$1.71 COP 6,093
86.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21 ₺55.8
$1.10 COP 3,910
10.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38 ₺17.67
$0.78 COP 2,771
-51.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.21 ₺148
$1.68 COP 5,976
91.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 ₺175
$3.07 COP 10.9K
23.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ankara
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.94 ₺43.44
$1.09 COP 3,892
-13.76%
White Bread (500g)
$0.65 ₺30.15
$1.26 COP 4,492
-48.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.31 ₺106
$1.38 COP 4,905
67.39%
Eggs
$2.30 ₺106
$2.19 COP 7,799
5.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.37 ₺432
$4.40 COP 15.7K
112.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.87 ₺270
$5.63 COP 20.0K
4.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.66 ₺905
$8.89 COP 31.6K
121.15%
Apples (1kg)
$1.47 ₺67.5
$2.34 COP 8,319
-37.18%
Banana (1kg)
$2.28 ₺105
$1.06 COP 3,764
115.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.30 ₺59.9
$1.50 COP 5,355
-13.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.54 ₺71.1
$1.38 COP 4,906
11.59%
Potato (1kg)
$0.74 ₺34.04
$1.15 COP 4,097
-35.65%
Onion (1kg)
$0.57 ₺26.31
$1.16 COP 4,141
-50.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 ₺49.62
$0.89 COP 3,170
21.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40 ₺18.36
$0.84 COP 2,986
-52.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.14 ₺98.6
$2.28 COP 8,116
-6.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.73 ₺494
$10.64 COP 37.9K
0.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.11 ₺97.3
$1.20 COP 4,268
75.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14 ₺145
$2.47 COP 8,793
27.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Ankara
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.63 ₺29.18
$0.86 COP 3,045
-26.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.40 ₺433
$41.40 COP 147.3K
-77.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.91 ₺42.01
$1.47 COP 5,245
-38.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.60 ₺27.85
$1.96 COP 6,984
-69.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.31 ₺290
$7.74 COP 27.5K
-18.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ₺56.8
$0.95 COP 3,397
29.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.7K ₺2.0M
$18.1K COP 64.5M
135.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.9K ₺2.0M
$26.5K COP 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
$82.3 COP 292.7K
2.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.99 ₺506
$9.50 COP 33.8K
15.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.09 ₺649
$24.23 COP 86.2K
-41.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ankara
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.5 ₺2,555
$25.89 COP 92.1K
114.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.44 ₺665
$19.00 COP 67.6K
-24.00%
Cinema Ticket
$6.21 ₺286
$3.93 COP 14.0K
58.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ankara
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$617 ₺28.4K
$309 COP 1.1M
99.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.9K ₺638.8K
$5,965 COP 21.2M
132.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ankara
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 ₺2,705
$58.7 COP 208.7K
0.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.93 ₺2,023
$32.35 COP 115.1K
35.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 ₺4,800
$103 COP 365.1K
1.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.3 ₺4,435
$108 COP 385.8K
-11.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ankara
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$741 ₺34.1K
$476 COP 1.7M
55.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$515 ₺23.7K
$379 COP 1.3M
35.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,093 ₺50.3K
$838 COP 3.0M
30.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$702 ₺32.3K
$724 COP 2.6M
-3.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,700 ₺78.3K
$2,791 COP 9.9M
-39.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,162 ₺53.5K
$1,211 COP 4.3M
-4.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ankara
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,076 ₺49.5K
$512 COP 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.

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