Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Balikesir Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Balikesir

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $903 in Balikesir, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,471 in Balikesir, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $2,040 in Balikesir, rent included.

Medellin costs about 11% more than Balikesir, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Medellin and Balikesir are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Balikesir 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.9K

$7.67 ₺363

-22.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 105.2K

$26.27 ₺1,244

25.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.7K

$7.70 ₺365

-3.51%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,276

$2.51 ₺119

-34.26%

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

$1.10 COP 3,514

$0.93 ₺44.27

18.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,491

$0.33 ₺15.41

136.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,484

$2.56 ₺121

-32.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.1K

$3.59 ₺170

-11.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,521

$0.92 ₺43.71

19.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,015

$0.52 ₺24.65

142.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,407

$1.25 ₺59.3

10.40%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,950

$1.94 ₺92.1

12.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.3K

$7.95 ₺377

-43.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.5K

$5.15 ₺244

12.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.6K

$17.67 ₺837

-49.24%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,405

$1.53 ₺72.5

51.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,397

$2.37 ₺112

-55.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,838

$1.48 ₺70.2

2.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,327

$1.54 ₺72.9

-11.69%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,599

$0.67 ₺31.95

68.66%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,738

$0.66 ₺31.04

77.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,876

$0.91 ₺42.99

-1.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,861

$0.49 ₺23.42

83.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,128

$2.31 ₺109

-3.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.7K

$10.67 ₺506

13.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,793

$2.33 ₺110

-48.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,920

$3.37 ₺159

-26.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,723

$0.61 ₺28.96

39.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 132.8K

$29.13 ₺1,380

42.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,518

$1.99 ₺94.3

-28.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,223

$0.61 ₺28.97

219.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 25.2K

$8.99 ₺426

-12.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,160

$1.18 ₺55.9

-16.10%

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

$17.6K COP 56.2M

$41.3K ₺2.0M

-57.35%

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

$26.8K COP 85.5M

$43.4K ₺2.1M

-38.24%

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

$83.0 COP 264.9K

$63.9 ₺3,028

29.82%

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

$9.70 COP 30.9K

$12.00 ₺568

-19.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 75.0K

$11.98 ₺567

96.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 80.6K

$56.8 ₺2,691

-55.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.9K

$12.46 ₺590

53.29%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.6K

$5.44 ₺258

-27.39%

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

$316 COP 1.0M

$838 ₺39.7K

-62.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 19.1M

$5,322 ₺252.1K

12.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 191.4K

$31.93 ₺1,512

87.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 101.5K

$40.04 ₺1,896

-20.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 324.4K

$88.2 ₺4,179

15.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 342.8K

$64.0 ₺3,032

67.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$423 ₺20.0K

12.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$257 ₺12.2K

45.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$888 ₺42.1K

-4.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$590 ₺27.9K

21.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.4M

$1,153 ₺54.6K

183.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.6M

$728 ₺34.5K

97.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$1,132 ₺53.6K

-44.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

29.75

-54.86%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Balikesir: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $423 in Balikesir. 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 81% higher in Balikesir, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $26.00 in Balikesir. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $218 in Balikesir – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Balikesir: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 11% more than Balikesir, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,354 in Balikesir. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Balikesir, 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 $1,003 in Medellin and $903 in Balikesir. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 43% less in Balikesir. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Balikesir, where all-in costs run around $903, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Balikesir it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Balikesir costs $903 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 Balikesir. 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.