Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Homs and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Homs: $524 a month against $1,639 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $13,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Homs, Syria
Medellin, Colombia
Homs
🇸🇾 Syria
$524
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Homs and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Homs and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $524 in Homs versus $1,639 in Medellin.

  • Homs $524
  • Medellin $1,639

Estimated couple costs with rent: $791 in Homs versus $2,413 in Medellin.

  • Homs $791
  • Medellin $2,413

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,058 in Homs versus $3,186 in Medellin.

  • Homs $1,058
  • Medellin $3,186

Living in Homs costs roughly 68% less than in Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Homs is 62% below, Medellin is 20% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Homs
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.09 SYP 375
$8.09 COP 25.4K
-61.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.94 SYP 1,450
$47.05 COP 148.0K
-74.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.80 SYP 827
$9.50 COP 29.9K
-28.42%
Cappuccino
$0.56 SYP 68.6
$3.01 COP 9,485
-81.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 SYP 265
$1.80 COP 5,660
21.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 SYP 63.4
$1.41 COP 4,443
-63.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.95 SYP 237
$3.18 COP 9,990
-38.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.05 SYP 492
$5.75 COP 18.1K
-29.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Homs
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.78 SYP 94.9
$1.51 COP 4,751
-48.34%
White Bread (500g)
$0.41 SYP 50.2
$2.38 COP 7,480
-82.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.58 SYP 192
$1.77 COP 5,573
-10.73%
Eggs
$1.56 SYP 190
$2.89 COP 9,093
-46.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.95 SYP 480
$10.19 COP 32.1K
-61.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.82 SYP 708
$9.87 COP 31.1K
-41.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.19 SYP 1,481
$13.99 COP 44.0K
-12.87%
Apples (1kg)
$0.56 SYP 68.2
$3.97 COP 12.5K
-85.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 SYP 174
$1.55 COP 4,883
-7.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.62 SYP 75.3
$2.18 COP 6,867
-71.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.34 SYP 40.71
$2.18 COP 6,870
-84.40%
Potato (1kg)
$0.54 SYP 65.9
$1.96 COP 6,174
-72.45%
Onion (1kg)
$0.82 SYP 99.3
$1.59 COP 5,000
-48.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.29 SYP 35.70
$1.15 COP 3,604
-74.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 SYP 79.9
$1.24 COP 3,911
-46.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.49 SYP 181
$3.96 COP 12.5K
-62.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.80 SYP 461
$13.68 COP 43.0K
-72.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 SYP 86.5
$1.66 COP 5,221
-57.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96 SYP 360
$2.26 COP 7,103
30.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Homs
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.20 SYP 24.77
$1.17 COP 3,674
-82.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.82 SYP 1,801
$77.4 COP 243.4K
-80.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.01 SYP 123
$1.27 COP 3,989
-20.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.47 SYP 179
$2.05 COP 6,442
-28.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.05 SYP 250
$8.55 COP 26.9K
-76.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 SYP 150
$1.35 COP 4,237
-8.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.9K SYP 1.6M
$34.1K COP 107.2M
-62.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.1K SYP 2.3M
$34.7K COP 109.1M
-44.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Homs
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$91.3 SYP 11.1K
$170 COP 533.7K
-46.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.40 SYP 1,142
$13.55 COP 42.6K
-30.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.45 SYP 5,643
$28.07 COP 88.3K
65.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Homs
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$10.20 SYP 1,239
$43.70 COP 137.5K
-76.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.19 COP 54.1K
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.36 SYP 651
$6.91 COP 21.7K
-22.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Homs
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$54.5 SYP 6,627
$797 COP 2.5M
-93.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$897 SYP 109.0K
$9,112 COP 28.7M
-90.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Homs
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$5.02 SYP 610
$84.7 COP 266.5K
-94.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.65 SYP 2,388
$58.0 COP 182.3K
-66.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$60.9 SYP 7,393
$135 COP 424.6K
-54.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$30.64 SYP 3,723
$97.9 COP 307.9K
-68.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Homs
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$127 SYP 15.4K
$1,208 COP 3.8M
-89.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$52.0 SYP 6,318
$642 COP 2.0M
-91.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$345 SYP 41.9K
$2,028 COP 6.4M
-82.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$137 SYP 16.7K
$1,012 COP 3.2M
-86.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,170 COP 13.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,910 COP 6.0M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Homs
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$73.3 SYP 8,904
$657 COP 2.1M
-88.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
14.25
10.94
30.26%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Homs: October 25, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Homs
$147
Medellin
$211 43.6% $64
Groceries & Markets
Homs
$147
Medellin
$297 102% $150
Eating Out
Homs
$81
Medellin
$170 111% $89
Clothing & Footwear
Homs
$52
Medellin
$169 223% $117
Accommodation & Living
Homs
$52
Medellin
$642 1134% $590
Getting Around
Homs
$24
Medellin
$94 290% $70
Sport & Entertainment
Homs
$21
Medellin
$58 175% $37

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $127 in Homs and $1,208 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays about 9 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $12 in Homs vs $47 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $147 vs $297 per month, with Homs cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇸🇾 Homs
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
20:45 8:45 PM
12:45 12:45 PM
8 h behind Homs
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
652,609
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to SYP – Syrian Pound Converter

Syrian Pound exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 122 SYP (1,000 SYP = 8.23 USD). 1 EUR = 135 SYP (1,000 SYP = 7.39 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 3,146 COP (10,000 COP = 3.18 USD). 1 EUR = 3,502 COP (10,000 COP = 2.86 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Homs Medellin 11,600 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Homs
  • Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Homs vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Homs cheaper than Medellin?
Homs is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 213% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Homs or Medellin?
On paper, salaries run 89% lower in Homs. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Homs and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $127 in Homs versus $1,208 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $55 in Homs versus $797 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Homs and in Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 102% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Homs or in Medellin?
At $524 in Homs versus $1,639 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Homs but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Homs the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Homs or in Medellin?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Homs gentler on the wallet – expenses run 68% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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