🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $650 in Malatya versus $1,681 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $983 in Malatya versus $2,445 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,316 in Malatya versus $3,210 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Malatya costs roughly 61% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Malatya is 53% below, Medellin is 23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Malatya
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.91₺240
$8.02COP 25.4K
-38.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.30₺1,234
$47.87COP 152.0K
-47.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.31₺357
$9.89COP 31.4K
-26.09%
Cappuccino
$1.65₺80.5
$3.13COP 9,937
-47.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91₺44.53
$1.91COP 6,058
-52.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22₺10.71
$1.51COP 4,794
-85.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.40₺117
$3.12COP 9,917
-23.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43₺167
$5.75COP 18.3K
-40.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Malatya
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.85₺41.40
$1.44COP 4,587
-40.97%
White Bread(500g)
$0.76₺36.87
$2.49COP 7,894
-69.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.70₺132
$1.77COP 5,631
52.54%
Eggs
$1.91₺93.3
$2.96COP 9,396
-35.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.97₺389
$10.07COP 32.0K
-20.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.42₺118
$10.12COP 32.1K
-76.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.99₺828
$14.30COP 45.4K
18.81%
Apples(1kg)
$1.46₺71.1
$4.14COP 13.1K
-64.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56₺76.0
$1.61COP 5,106
-3.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.86₺41.83
$2.25COP 7,129
-61.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.74₺35.90
$2.25COP 7,150
-67.11%
Potato(1kg)
$0.44₺21.31
$2.04COP 6,486
-78.43%
Onion(1kg)
$0.39₺18.85
$1.54COP 4,873
-74.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.56₺27.20
$1.17COP 3,715
-52.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44₺21.61
$1.31COP 4,148
-66.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.92₺93.8
$3.90COP 12.4K
-50.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.17₺398
$14.01COP 44.5K
-41.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01₺97.8
$1.74COP 5,534
15.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30₺112
$2.87COP 9,112
-19.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Malatya
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.28₺13.45
$1.22COP 3,858
-77.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$80.5COP 255.5K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.87₺42.60
$1.31COP 4,155
-33.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.46₺22.34
$2.19COP 6,944
-79.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$8.71COP 27.7K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26₺61.6
$1.37COP 4,334
-8.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.4K₺1.9M
$27.8KCOP 88.4M
37.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.3K₺1.8M
$35.8KCOP 113.6M
4.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malatya
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$30.46₺1,485
$177COP 562.9K
-82.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.38₺506
$13.88COP 44.1K
-25.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.74₺524
$29.72COP 94.4K
-63.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Malatya
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.03₺1,757
$44.88COP 142.5K
-19.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.12COP 54.4K
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.62₺176
$6.65COP 21.1K
-45.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Malatya
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$813COP 2.6M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$9,187COP 29.2M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Malatya
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$15.25₺744
$89.5COP 284.1K
-82.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$14.37₺701
$59.0COP 187.2K
-75.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$54.9₺2,675
$138COP 438.8K
-60.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.66₺1,788
$102COP 324.2K
-64.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Malatya
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$325₺15.9K
$1,062COP 3.4M
-69.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$220₺10.7K
$663COP 2.1M
-66.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$425₺20.7K
$1,888COP 6.0M
-77.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$304₺14.8K
$1,027COP 3.3M
-70.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,183COP 13.3M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,675COP 5.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Malatya
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$954₺46.5K
$678COP 2.2M
40.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
47
10.94
329.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Malatya: September 15, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $325 in Malatya and $1,062 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Malatya pays 41% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $25.00 in Malatya vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $186 vs $305 per month, with Malatya 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
Malatya vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Malatya and in Medellin?
Malatya and Medellin differ by about 159% in total monthly costs ($650 vs $1,681 including rent). Malatya is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Malatya or Medellin?
Average pay runs 41% higher in Malatya, 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 Malatya and in Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $325 in Malatya versus $1,062 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Malatya – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $48.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Malatya or Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $650 per month in Malatya versus $1,681 in Medellin – a 159% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $650 in Malatya versus $1,681 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Malatya but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Malatya the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Malatya 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 Malatya or Medellin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Malatya 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: Malatya or Medellin?
Expats usually find Malatya gentler on the wallet – expenses run 159% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.