🙂A single person spends $450 per month in Mashhad vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $786 per month in Mashhad vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,122 per month in Mashhad vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Mashhad is about 56% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Mashhad and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Mashhad67% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mashhad
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.02$3.02
$5.95COP 20.8K
-49.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.84$19.84
$33.33COP 116.3K
-40.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.89$4.89
$7.23COP 25.2K
-32.37%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.52$0.52
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87$0.87
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.15$1.15
$1.63COP 5,687
-29.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40$0.40
$1.09COP 3,821
-63.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48$0.48
$0.73COP 2,548
-34.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.74COP 6,065
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.23COP 11.3K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mashhad
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.56$0.56
$1.05COP 3,662
-46.67%
White Bread(500g)
$0.25$0.25
$1.29COP 4,515
-80.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87$1.87
$1.32COP 4,617
41.67%
Eggs
$1.15$1.15
$2.27COP 7,927
-49.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$2.21$2.21
$4.35COP 15.2K
-49.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.48$2.48
$5.88COP 20.5K
-57.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.45$10.45
$8.61COP 30.0K
21.37%
Apples(1kg)
$0.85$0.85
$2.25COP 7,844
-62.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.23$1.23
$1.07COP 3,733
14.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.90$0.90
$1.52COP 5,322
-40.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.64$0.64
$1.42COP 4,964
-54.93%
Potato(1kg)
$0.48$0.48
$1.17COP 4,084
-58.97%
Onion(1kg)
$0.48$0.48
$1.17COP 4,077
-58.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.48$0.48
$0.89COP 3,096
-46.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.32$0.32
$0.90COP 3,146
-64.44%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$0.86$0.86
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.81$0.81
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92$0.92
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.65$2.65
$2.25COP 7,837
17.78%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$11.04COP 38.5K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.14COP 3,977
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.38COP 8,301
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mashhad
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18$0.18
$0.84COP 2,916
-78.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$4.43$4.43
$41.95COP 146.4K
-89.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.34$0.34
$1.41COP 4,912
-75.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.49$0.49
$1.90COP 6,634
-74.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.02$2.02
$7.75COP 27.0K
-73.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84$0.84
$1.01COP 3,509
-16.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$59.3K$59.3K
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
237.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$70.0K$70.0K
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
164.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mashhad
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$13.97$13.97
$83.7COP 292.1K
-83.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.30$2.30
$9.45COP 33.0K
-75.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.77$5.77
$24.11COP 84.1K
-76.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mashhad
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.68$18.68
$25.31COP 88.3K
-26.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.15$15.15
$19.14COP 66.8K
-20.85%
Cinema Ticket
$2.04$2.04
$4.10COP 14.3K
-50.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mashhad
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$45.17$45.17
$312COP 1.1M
-85.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$615$615
$5,993COP 20.9M
-89.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mashhad
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.71$22.71
$58.0COP 202.6K
-60.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.38$37.38
$32.56COP 113.6K
14.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.7$95.7
$99.6COP 347.7K
-3.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8$85.8
$109COP 378.8K
-20.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mashhad
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$213$213
$482COP 1.7M
-55.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$146$146
$379COP 1.3M
-61.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$458$458
$837COP 2.9M
-45.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$325$325
$723COP 2.5M
-55.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,151$1,151
$2,840COP 9.9M
-59.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$676$676
$1,223COP 4.3M
-44.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mashhad
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$254$254
$541COP 1.9M
-53.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
20.5
13.43
52.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mashhad: June 8, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $213 in Mashhad versus $482 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 113% 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 $20.00 in Mashhad versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $97.0 vs $190 – making Mashhad 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
Mashhad vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mashhad or Medellin?
Medellin costs about 126% more than Mashhad, 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 Mashhad vs Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $675 per month in Mashhad and $1,525 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Mashhad or Medellin?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mashhad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Mashhad compared to Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $450 in Mashhad and $1,017 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Mashhad vs Medellin?
Public transport costs about 847% less in Mashhad. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mashhad or Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mashhad, where all-in costs run around $450, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Mashhad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mashhad or Medellin?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mashhad costs $450 versus $1,017 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Mashhad 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 Mashhad or Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Mashhad. 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.