😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,309 in Ioannina versus $1,028 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,015 in Ioannina versus $1,586 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,722 in Ioannina versus $2,144 in Medellin.
😐Living in Ioannina is roughly 27% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Ioannina2% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ioannina
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.56€15.12
$6.00COP 20.6K
192.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.21€29.46
$32.84COP 112.5K
4.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.67€8.33
$7.42COP 25.4K
30.32%
Cappuccino
$3.86€3.33
$1.65COP 5,659
133.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28€1.97
$1.07COP 3,663
113.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55€0.48
$0.76COP 2,607
-27.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.53€3.90
$1.72COP 5,908
163.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.77€4.97
$3.20COP 11.0K
80.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ioannina
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.47€1.27
$1.05COP 3,597
40.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.24€1.07
$1.31COP 4,479
-5.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.39€2.06
$1.34COP 4,591
78.36%
Eggs
$3.45€2.97
$2.19COP 7,521
57.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.53€9.07
$4.41COP 15.1K
138.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.00€6.89
$5.69COP 19.5K
40.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.85€9.34
$8.52COP 29.2K
27.35%
Apples(1kg)
$2.06€1.77
$2.34COP 8,023
-11.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.87€1.61
$1.11COP 3,804
68.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.22€1.05
$1.52COP 5,210
-19.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.32€1.99
$1.37COP 4,680
69.34%
Potato(1kg)
$1.20€1.03
$1.15COP 3,950
4.35%
Onion(1kg)
$1.01€0.87
$1.18COP 4,043
-14.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06€0.91
$0.84COP 2,885
26.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86€0.74
$0.86COP 2,931
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46€4.70
$2.26COP 7,753
141.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.16€6.16
$11.60COP 39.8K
-38.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.93€1.66
$1.20COP 4,109
60.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69€2.31
$2.48COP 8,484
8.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Ioannina
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.59€1.37
$0.79COP 2,721
101.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.86€30.02
$40.83COP 139.9K
-14.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.54€3.91
$1.47COP 5,023
208.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.92COP 6,568
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.03€6.06
$7.77COP 26.6K
-9.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09€1.80
$1.01COP 3,464
106.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8K€21.3K
$17.7KCOP 60.5M
40.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K€22.8K
$26.5KCOP 90.7M
0.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ioannina
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$215€185
$81.1COP 277.9K
165.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.40€17.57
$9.43COP 32.3K
116.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.14€26.82
$23.86COP 81.8K
30.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ioannina
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.68€40.20
$25.99COP 89.1K
79.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$45.58€39.25
$18.71COP 64.1K
143.61%
Cinema Ticket
$9.20€7.92
$4.09COP 14.0K
124.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ioannina
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$350€301
$315COP 1.1M
11.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,344€7,185
$6,022COP 20.6M
38.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ioannina
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.4€60.6
$59.7COP 204.6K
17.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.99€32.71
$31.97COP 109.6K
18.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.1€68.1
$101COP 346.9K
-21.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115€99.2
$105COP 360.3K
9.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ioannina
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$409€352
$485COP 1.7M
-15.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$302€260
$365COP 1.3M
-17.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$704€606
$827COP 2.8M
-14.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$549€473
$730COP 2.5M
-24.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,077€2,649
$2,992COP 10.3M
2.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,594€2,234
$1,314COP 4.5M
97.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ioannina
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,124€968
$551COP 1.9M
104.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.68
13.43
-65.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ioannina: June 14, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $409 in Ioannina and $485 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ioannina pays 104% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $34.00 in Ioannina vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $242 vs $190 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.
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
Ioannina vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ioannina and Medellin?
Ioannina and Medellin differ by about 27% in total monthly costs ($1,309 vs $1,028 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Ioannina or Medellin?
Ioannina pays 104% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Ioannina and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $409 in Ioannina versus $485 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Ioannina and Medellin?
Childcare runs $350 in Ioannina versus $315 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 28% higher in Ioannina. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,028 in Medellin versus $1,309 in Ioannina, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Ioannina. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ioannina and 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.
Is Ioannina or Medellin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ioannina and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Ioannina or Medellin?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Ioannina. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.