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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $472 per month in Isfahan vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $799 per month in Isfahan vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,126 per month in Isfahan vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

Isfahan is about 72% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Isfahan sits 66% below the global median, while Medellin is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Isfahan
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.04 $3.04
$8.03 COP 25.3K
-62.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.68 $10.68
$48.26 COP 152.0K
-77.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.04 $3.04
$9.77 COP 30.8K
-68.88%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.76 $0.76
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.01 $1.01
$2.91 COP 9,167
-65.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 $0.52
$1.94 COP 6,122
-73.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 $0.51
$1.52 COP 4,792
-66.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.09 COP 9,740
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.74 COP 18.1K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Isfahan
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.52 $0.52
$1.36 COP 4,296
-61.76%
White Bread (500g)
$0.45 $0.45
$2.39 COP 7,519
-81.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.04 $2.04
$1.70 COP 5,356
20.00%
Eggs
$1.53 $1.53
$2.87 COP 9,038
-46.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.77 $2.77
$9.94 COP 31.3K
-72.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.46 $2.46
$10.78 COP 34.0K
-77.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.29 $10.29
$14.73 COP 46.4K
-30.14%
Apples (1kg)
$0.68 $0.68
$4.09 COP 12.9K
-83.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.31 $1.31
$1.57 COP 4,950
-16.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.01 $1.01
$2.13 COP 6,695
-52.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.56 $0.56
$2.21 COP 6,972
-74.66%
Potato (1kg)
$0.59 $0.59
$2.05 COP 6,447
-71.22%
Onion (1kg)
$0.49 $0.49
$1.50 COP 4,737
-67.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.58 $0.58
$1.19 COP 3,747
-51.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.19 $0.19
$1.16 COP 3,647
-83.62%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$0.48 $0.48
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 $0.51
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 $0.76
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.08 $2.08
$3.90 COP 12.3K
-46.67%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$14.44 COP 45.5K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.58 COP 4,987
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.83 COP 8,905
-
🚌 Getting Around
Isfahan
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 $0.29
$1.17 COP 3,679
-75.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.44 $12.44
$77.7 COP 244.8K
-84.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 $0.48
$1.28 COP 4,045
-62.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 $0.31
$2.09 COP 6,589
-85.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.04 $2.04
$8.62 COP 27.1K
-76.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 $0.89
$1.30 COP 4,088
-31.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$67.9K $67.9K
$27.7K COP 87.1M
145.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$58.5K $58.5K
$35.5K COP 111.8M
64.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Isfahan
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$10.27 $10.27
$176 COP 554.5K
-94.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.03 $2.03
$13.37 COP 42.1K
-84.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.42 $7.42
$29.89 COP 94.1K
-75.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Isfahan
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$13.39 $13.39
$44.76 COP 141.0K
-70.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.53 $13.53
$17.06 COP 53.7K
-20.69%
Cinema Ticket
$0.99 $0.99
$6.20 COP 19.5K
-84.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Isfahan
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$71.8 $71.8
$793 COP 2.5M
-90.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$515 $515
$9,019 COP 28.4M
-94.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Isfahan
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.18 $18.18
$85.6 COP 269.6K
-78.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.37 $24.37
$58.5 COP 184.1K
-58.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.3 $85.3
$136 COP 429.3K
-37.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$37.50 $37.50
$103 COP 324.7K
-63.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Isfahan
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$287 $287
$1,060 COP 3.3M
-72.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$198 $198
$680 COP 2.1M
-70.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,302 $1,302
$2,012 COP 6.3M
-35.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$449 $449
$1,169 COP 3.7M
-61.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,189 $1,189
$4,111 COP 12.9M
-71.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$754 $754
$1,701 COP 5.4M
-55.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Isfahan
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$205 $205
$665 COP 2.1M
-69.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
26.8
10.94
144.97%

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

Last update for Isfahan: August 30, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $287 in Isfahan versus $1,060 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 224% 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 $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $101 vs $303 – 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 263% 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 and in Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $709 per month in Isfahan and $2,574 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 and in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Isfahan and $48.00 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 $472 in Isfahan and $1,716 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 in Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Isfahan, where all-in costs run around $472, than in Medellin at $1,716. 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 $472 versus $1,716 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 to 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.

Isfahan vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities