Cost of Living Comparison Between Izmir and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Izmir and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,243 in Izmir versus $1,031 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,871 in Izmir versus $1,599 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,500 in Izmir versus $2,167 in Medellin.

Living in Izmir is roughly 21% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Izmir 7% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Izmir
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.97 ₺376
$6.16 COP 20.1K
29.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.57 ₺1,820
$32.60 COP 106.1K
18.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.06 ₺380
$7.34 COP 23.9K
9.81%
Cappuccino
$3.20 ₺151
$1.72 COP 5,599
86.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 ₺66.7
$1.05 COP 3,420
34.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 ₺24.54
$0.77 COP 2,515
-32.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.80 ₺179
$1.69 COP 5,487
124.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.98 ₺235
$3.17 COP 10.3K
57.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Izmir
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 ₺51.2
$1.05 COP 3,423
2.86%
White Bread (500g)
$0.94 ₺44.47
$1.30 COP 4,236
-27.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.61 ₺123
$1.40 COP 4,544
86.43%
Eggs
$2.56 ₺121
$2.16 COP 7,046
18.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.48 ₺542
$4.39 COP 14.3K
161.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.50 ₺307
$5.88 COP 19.1K
10.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.03 ₺1,039
$8.64 COP 28.1K
154.98%
Apples (1kg)
$1.42 ₺66.9
$2.28 COP 7,425
-37.72%
Banana (1kg)
$2.79 ₺132
$1.11 COP 3,603
151.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 ₺72.3
$1.53 COP 4,982
-
Tomato (1kg)
$1.88 ₺88.8
$1.35 COP 4,410
39.26%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 ₺41.02
$1.13 COP 3,674
-23.01%
Onion (1kg)
$0.71 ₺33.55
$1.13 COP 3,692
-37.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.96 ₺45.30
$0.85 COP 2,753
12.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₺29.89
$0.91 COP 2,975
-30.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22 ₺105
$2.34 COP 7,629
-5.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.15 ₺573
$12.37 COP 40.3K
-1.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.09 ₺98.7
$1.20 COP 3,909
74.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25 ₺153
$2.49 COP 8,104
30.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Izmir
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.62 ₺29.24
$0.84 COP 2,727
-26.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.87 ₺1,504
$40.57 COP 132.1K
-21.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 ₺148
$1.42 COP 4,623
121.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.60 ₺28.44
$1.92 COP 6,235
-68.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.96 ₺234
$7.66 COP 24.9K
-35.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 ₺55.4
$0.99 COP 3,223
18.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.3K ₺2.1M
$18.0K COP 58.7M
145.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$45.3K ₺2.1M
$26.6K COP 86.7M
70.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Izmir
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$100 ₺4,733
$80.8 COP 263.1K
24.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.45 ₺540
$9.95 COP 32.4K
15.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.39 ₺632
$24.18 COP 78.7K
-44.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Izmir
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.71 ₺2,251
$25.08 COP 81.6K
90.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.99 ₺849
$19.15 COP 62.3K
-6.06%
Cinema Ticket
$7.46 ₺352
$3.98 COP 13.0K
87.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Izmir
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$432 ₺20.4K
$305 COP 993.4K
41.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.5K ₺591.4K
$6,059 COP 19.7M
106.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Izmir
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.9 ₺2,447
$58.1 COP 189.2K
-10.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.09 ₺1,703
$32.20 COP 104.8K
12.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.4 ₺4,406
$101 COP 327.9K
-7.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 ₺5,298
$108 COP 350.8K
4.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Izmir
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$646 ₺30.5K
$477 COP 1.6M
35.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$459 ₺21.7K
$376 COP 1.2M
22.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,075 ₺50.7K
$845 COP 2.7M
27.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$748 ₺35.3K
$730 COP 2.4M
2.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,538 ₺72.5K
$3,215 COP 10.5M
-52.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,057 ₺49.9K
$1,372 COP 4.5M
-23.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Izmir
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,133 ₺53.4K
$617 COP 2.0M
83.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
39.1
13.43
191.14%

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

Last update for Izmir: July 11, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $646 in Izmir and $477 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Izmir pays 84% 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: $39.00 in Izmir vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $270 vs $193 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
Izmir vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Izmir or Medellin?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 21% lower than in Izmir. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Izmir or in Medellin?
Average pay runs 84% higher in Izmir, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Izmir compared to Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $646 in Izmir versus $477 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Izmir compared to Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $1,243 per month in Izmir versus $1,031 in Medellin – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Izmir compared to Medellin?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 27% less than in Izmir. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Izmir or in Medellin?
At $1,031 in Medellin versus $1,243 in Izmir, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Izmir. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Izmir or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,031 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
How safe is Izmir compared to Medellin?
Safety-wise, Izmir 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Izmir. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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