Cost of Living Comparison Between Mashhad and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Mashhad and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $454 per month in Mashhad vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $784 per month in Mashhad vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,115 per month in Mashhad vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Mashhad is about 55% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Mashhad and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Mashhad 66% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.98 $2.98

$5.91 COP 18.6K

-49.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.35 $20.35

$32.96 COP 103.8K

-38.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.04 $5.04

$7.43 COP 23.4K

-32.17%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.49 $0.49

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 $0.92

Cappuccino

$1.10 $1.10

$1.65 COP 5,207

-33.33%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 $0.40

$1.10 COP 3,468

-63.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 $0.44

$0.78 COP 2,458

-43.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

Milk (1 liter)

$0.53 $0.53

$1.10 COP 3,474

-51.82%

White Bread (500g)

$0.27 $0.27

$1.26 COP 3,962

-78.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.38 COP 4,349

36.96%

Eggs

$1.13 $1.13

$2.18 COP 6,858

-48.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.13 $2.13

$4.49 COP 14.1K

-52.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.49 $2.49

$5.79 COP 18.2K

-56.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.21 $10.21

$8.97 COP 28.2K

13.82%

Apples (1kg)

$0.85 $0.85

$2.32 COP 7,308

-63.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.06 COP 3,352

15.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.52 COP 4,774

-44.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 $0.60

$1.36 COP 4,270

-55.88%

Potato (1kg)

$0.47 $0.47

$1.13 COP 3,552

-58.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 $0.49

$1.17 COP 3,689

-58.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.90 COP 2,838

-42.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.32 $0.32

$0.90 COP 2,823

-64.44%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.88 $0.88

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 $0.74

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.90 $0.90

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.23 COP 7,034

21.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 $0.22

$0.85 COP 2,687

-74.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.33 $4.33

$41.62 COP 131.0K

-89.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.33 $0.33

$1.42 COP 4,459

-76.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.52 $0.52

$1.95 COP 6,141

-73.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.02 $2.02

$7.89 COP 24.8K

-74.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$0.99 COP 3,118

-16.16%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$59.9K $59.9K

$17.6K COP 55.4M

240.07%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$70.3K $70.3K

$26.8K COP 84.4M

162.47%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$13.51 $13.51

$83.0 COP 261.4K

-83.72%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$2.35 $2.35

$9.70 COP 30.5K

-75.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.68 $5.68

$23.52 COP 74.1K

-75.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.79 $18.79

$25.26 COP 79.5K

-25.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.12 $15.12

$19.10 COP 60.1K

-20.84%

Cinema Ticket

$2.04 $2.04

$3.95 COP 12.4K

-48.35%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$46.74 $46.74

$316 COP 994.2K

-85.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$626 $626

$5,975 COP 18.8M

-89.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$22.36 $22.36

$60.0 COP 188.9K

-62.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.55 $37.55

$31.82 COP 100.2K

18.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.4 $94.4

$102 COP 320.1K

-7.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.9 $86.9

$107 COP 338.3K

-19.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$212 $212

$475 COP 1.5M

-55.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$147 $147

$374 COP 1.2M

-60.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$452 $452

$849 COP 2.7M

-46.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$322 $322

$719 COP 2.3M

-55.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,158 $1,158

$3,265 COP 10.3M

-64.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$677 $677

$1,441 COP 4.5M

-52.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$257 $257

$624 COP 2.0M

-58.84%

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $212 in Mashhad versus $475 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 143% 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: $96.0 vs $193 – 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

Medellin costs about 121% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $681 per month in Mashhad and $1,504 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $454 in Mashhad and $1,003 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 861% less in Mashhad. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mashhad, where all-in costs run around $454, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Mashhad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mashhad costs $454 versus $1,003 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

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.