😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,687 in Medellin versus $995 in Adapazari.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,535 in Medellin versus $1,531 in Adapazari.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,383 in Medellin versus $2,067 in Adapazari.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 70% more expensive than in Adapazari, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, Adapazari is 27% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Adapazari
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.89COP 24.2K
$7.47₺358
5.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.53COP 136.5K
$31.41₺1,507
41.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.29COP 28.5K
$7.30₺350
27.26%
Cappuccino
$2.90COP 8,874
$3.58₺172
-18.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81COP 5,541
$0.99₺47.55
82.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55COP 4,741
$0.41₺19.47
278.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25COP 9,962
$1.93₺92.6
68.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88COP 18.0K
$2.49₺119
136.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Adapazari
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38COP 4,230
$0.86₺41.08
60.47%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45COP 7,517
$1.05₺50.2
133.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,617
$2.23₺107
-32.29%
Eggs
$2.78COP 8,516
$2.19₺105
26.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.05COP 27.7K
$8.53₺409
6.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.65COP 32.6K
$2.99₺144
256.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.63COP 44.8K
$18.50₺888
-20.92%
Apples(1kg)
$3.97COP 12.2K
$1.98₺94.9
100.51%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,219
$1.97₺94.6
-29.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,056
$0.86₺41.23
167.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.02COP 6,185
$1.43₺68.8
41.26%
Potato(1kg)
$2.09COP 6,390
$0.57₺27.35
266.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63COP 4,996
$0.31₺15.08
425.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08COP 3,313
$0.82₺39.59
31.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25COP 3,843
$0.82₺39.34
52.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03COP 12.4K
$2.13₺102
89.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.47COP 41.3K
$14.45₺693
-6.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60COP 4,904
$2.25₺108
-28.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00COP 9,189
$3.11₺149
-3.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Adapazari
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.18COP 3,611
$0.48₺23.25
145.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.9COP 244.9K
$62.2₺2,986
28.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.61COP 4,920
$1.08₺51.8
49.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13COP 6,533
$1.12₺53.8
90.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.52COP 26.1K
$4.38₺210
94.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35COP 4,142
$1.31₺62.7
3.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KCOP 86.8M
$43.5K₺2.1M
-34.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KCOP 109.4M
$42.0K₺2.0M
-15.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Adapazari
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151COP 463.8K
$45.63₺2,190
231.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.10COP 40.1K
$10.45₺502
25.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.30COP 99.0K
$14.26₺684
126.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Adapazari
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.33COP 141.9K
$38.33₺1,839
20.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.26COP 52.9K
$10.67₺512
61.76%
Cinema Ticket
$6.43COP 19.7K
$6.17₺296
4.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Adapazari
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$835COP 2.6M
$730₺35.1K
14.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,887COP 27.2M
$12.6K₺603.4K
-29.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Adapazari
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3COP 273.7K
$40.17₺1,928
122.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3COP 169.5K
$62.1₺2,978
-10.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$137COP 418.5K
$99.2₺4,762
37.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COP 335.1K
$72.8₺3,492
50.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Adapazari
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$952COP 2.9M
$417₺20.0K
128.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$668COP 2.0M
$309₺14.8K
115.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,020COP 6.2M
$791₺38.0K
155.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,148COP 3.5M
$510₺24.5K
125.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,696COP 11.3M
$1,277₺61.3K
189.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,586COP 4.9M
$691₺33.2K
129.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Adapazari
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$625COP 1.9M
$912₺43.8K
-31.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.43
40.17
-74.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026
Last update for Adapazari: August 18, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $952 in Medellin and $417 in Adapazari. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Adapazari pays 46% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $45.00 in Medellin vs $31.00 in Adapazari for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $227 per month, with Adapazari 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
Medellin vs Adapazari: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and in Adapazari?
Medellin and Adapazari differ by about 70% in total monthly costs ($1,687 vs $995 including rent). Adapazari is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 46% lower in Adapazari. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and in Adapazari?
Rent for a central apartment: $952 in Medellin versus $417 in Adapazari. 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 Adapazari – a meal for two runs $31.00 versus $45.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Adapazari?
All in, you'll spend $1,687 per month in Medellin versus $995 in Adapazari – a 70% 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 $995 in Adapazari versus $1,687 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Adapazari but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Adapazari the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Adapazari?
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 Medellin or Adapazari safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Adapazari 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: Medellin or Adapazari?
Expats usually find Adapazari gentler on the wallet – expenses run 70% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.