Cost of Living Comparison Between Isfahan and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Isfahan and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $478 per month in Isfahan vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $833 per month in Isfahan vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,188 per month in Isfahan vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Isfahan is about 53% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Isfahan and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Isfahan 64% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Isfahan
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.02 $3.02
$5.99 COP 21.4K
-49.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.65 $10.65
$32.86 COP 117.2K
-67.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.03 $3.03
$7.09 COP 25.3K
-57.26%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.03 $1.03
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 $2.06
-
-
Cappuccino
$0.82 $0.82
$1.71 COP 6,105
-52.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 $0.48
$1.10 COP 3,918
-56.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 $0.94
$0.78 COP 2,776
20.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.68 COP 5,987
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.07 COP 10.9K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Isfahan
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.55 $0.55
$1.09 COP 3,899
-49.54%
White Bread (500g)
$0.42 $0.42
$1.26 COP 4,500
-66.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.28 $2.28
$1.38 COP 4,914
65.22%
Eggs
$1.50 $1.50
$2.19 COP 7,813
-31.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.81 $2.81
$4.40 COP 15.7K
-36.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.11 $3.11
$5.63 COP 20.1K
-44.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.98 $9.98
$8.89 COP 31.7K
12.26%
Apples (1kg)
$0.63 $0.63
$2.34 COP 8,334
-73.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.41 $1.41
$1.06 COP 3,771
33.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.05 $1.05
$1.50 COP 5,365
-30.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.56 $0.56
$1.38 COP 4,915
-59.42%
Potato (1kg)
$0.61 $0.61
$1.15 COP 4,104
-46.96%
Onion (1kg)
$0.48 $0.48
$1.16 COP 4,148
-58.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.58 $0.58
$0.89 COP 3,176
-34.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.21 $0.21
$0.84 COP 2,992
-75.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$0.52 $0.52
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 $0.51
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 $0.77
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.08 $2.08
$2.28 COP 8,131
-8.77%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$10.64 COP 37.9K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.20 COP 4,276
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.47 COP 8,809
-
🚌 Getting Around
Isfahan
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 $0.29
$0.86 COP 3,051
-66.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$13.06 $13.06
$41.40 COP 147.6K
-68.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.52 $0.52
$1.47 COP 5,255
-64.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 $0.31
$1.96 COP 6,997
-84.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.97 $1.97
$7.74 COP 27.6K
-74.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$0.95 COP 3,403
-11.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$67.9K $67.9K
$18.1K COP 64.6M
274.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$59.8K $59.8K
$26.5K COP 94.4M
125.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Isfahan
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$14.84 $14.84
$82.3 COP 293.2K
-81.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$1.87 $1.87
$9.50 COP 33.9K
-80.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.62 $7.62
$24.23 COP 86.4K
-68.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Isfahan
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$13.36 $13.36
$25.89 COP 92.3K
-48.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.70 $10.70
$19.00 COP 67.7K
-43.68%
Cinema Ticket
$1.09 $1.09
$3.93 COP 14.0K
-72.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Isfahan
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$71.9 $71.9
$309 COP 1.1M
-76.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$579 $579
$5,965 COP 21.3M
-90.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Isfahan
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.06 $18.06
$58.7 COP 209.1K
-69.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.12 $24.12
$32.35 COP 115.3K
-25.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.8 $85.8
$103 COP 365.7K
-16.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.61 $36.61
$108 COP 386.5K
-66.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Isfahan
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$291 $291
$476 COP 1.7M
-38.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$193 $193
$379 COP 1.4M
-49.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$899 $899
$838 COP 3.0M
7.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$532 $532
$724 COP 2.6M
-26.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,200 $1,200
$2,791 COP 9.9M
-56.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$717 $717
$1,211 COP 4.3M
-40.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Isfahan
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$207 $207
$512 COP 1.8M
-59.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
26.86
13.43
100.00%

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

Last update for Isfahan: June 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $291 in Isfahan 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 147% higher in Medellin, 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 $11.00 in Isfahan versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $105 vs $188 – making Isfahan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Isfahan vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Isfahan or Medellin?
Medellin costs about 112% more than Isfahan, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Isfahan vs Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $717 per month in Isfahan 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, Isfahan or Medellin?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Isfahan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Isfahan vs Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Isfahan and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Isfahan compared to Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $478 in Isfahan and $1,013 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Isfahan or Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Isfahan, where all-in costs run around $478, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Isfahan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Isfahan or Medellin?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Isfahan costs $478 versus $1,013 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Isfahan 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 Isfahan or Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Isfahan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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