πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,032 in Antakya.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $1,608 in Antakya.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $2,184 in Antakya.
πLiving in Medellin costs roughly 2% less than in Antakya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Medellin24% lower, Antakya23% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Antakya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99COPΒ 21.4K
$7.81βΊ359
-23.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86COPΒ 117.4K
$30.01βΊ1,379
9.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09COPΒ 25.3K
$7.05βΊ324
0.57%
Cappuccino
$1.71COPΒ 6,115
$3.61βΊ166
-52.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,924
$1.20βΊ55.0
-8.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COPΒ 2,781
$0.39βΊ17.99
100.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68COPΒ 5,997
$3.63βΊ167
-53.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07COPΒ 11.0K
$3.48βΊ160
-11.78%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Antakya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09COPΒ 3,906
$1.05βΊ48.11
3.81%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COPΒ 4,508
$0.47βΊ21.66
168.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,922
$2.04βΊ93.6
-32.35%
Eggs
$2.19COPΒ 7,827
$2.71βΊ124
-19.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.40COPΒ 15.7K
$11.57βΊ532
-61.97%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63COPΒ 20.1K
$5.00βΊ230
12.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89COPΒ 31.8K
$20.88βΊ959
-57.42%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COPΒ 8,349
$1.19βΊ54.7
96.64%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COPΒ 3,777
$2.09βΊ96.2
-49.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50COPΒ 5,374
$1.04βΊ47.72
44.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,924
$1.20βΊ55.1
15.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COPΒ 4,111
$0.85βΊ39.17
35.29%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COPΒ 4,155
$0.82βΊ37.61
41.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,182
$0.69βΊ31.91
28.99%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COPΒ 2,997
$0.38βΊ17.60
121.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28COPΒ 8,145
$2.11βΊ97.1
8.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.64COPΒ 38.0K
$11.02βΊ506
-3.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COPΒ 4,284
$2.59βΊ119
-53.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COPΒ 8,824
$3.61βΊ166
-31.58%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Antakya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86COPΒ 3,056
$0.63βΊ28.83
36.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.40COPΒ 147.9K
$30.33βΊ1,394
36.50%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COPΒ 5,264
$1.09βΊ49.95
34.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96COPΒ 7,009
$0.60βΊ27.76
226.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.74COPΒ 27.6K
$7.49βΊ344
3.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95COPΒ 3,409
$1.12βΊ51.3
-15.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOPΒ 64.7M
$43.5KβΊ2.0M
-58.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 94.6M
$43.2KβΊ2.0M
-38.69%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Antakya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.3COPΒ 293.7K
$61.5βΊ2,824
33.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50COPΒ 33.9K
$8.93βΊ410
6.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23COPΒ 86.5K
$8.96βΊ412
170.42%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Antakya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.89COPΒ 92.4K
$43.94βΊ2,019
-41.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00COPΒ 67.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.93COPΒ 14.0K
$2.49βΊ114
57.83%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Antakya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309COPΒ 1.1M
$617βΊ28.3K
-49.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,965COPΒ 21.3M
$9,059βΊ416.2K
-34.16%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Antakya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COPΒ 209.5K
$19.23βΊ884
205.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35COPΒ 115.5K
$25.53βΊ1,173
26.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103COPΒ 366.4K
$76.3βΊ3,504
34.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COPΒ 387.2K
$51.3βΊ2,356
111.45%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Antakya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COPΒ 1.7M
$507βΊ23.3K
-6.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.4M
$397βΊ18.3K
-4.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COPΒ 3.0M
$894βΊ41.1K
-6.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$724COPΒ 2.6M
$720βΊ33.1K
0.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,791COPΒ 10.0M
$1,315βΊ60.4K
112.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,211COPΒ 4.3M
$959βΊ44.1K
26.34%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Antakya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$512COPΒ 1.8M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
15
-10.47%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Last update for Antakya: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $507 in Antakya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
πDining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $30.00 in Antakya. Groceries flip the comparison at $188 vs $239, with Medellin cheaper for home cooking.
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 Antakya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and Antakya?
Medellin and Antakya differ by about 2% in total monthly costs ($1,013 vs $1,032 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Antakya?
You'd need roughly $1,519 in Medellin and $1,548 in Antakya to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and Antakya?
Rent for a central apartment: $476 in Medellin versus $507 in Antakya. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 27% higher in Antakya. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin β a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $30.00 in Antakya. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,032 in Antakya, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Antakya. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Antakya?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Medellin or Antakya safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Antakya 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 Antakya?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet β expenses run 2% less than in Antakya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.