Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bandar Abbas

For one person, living is cheaper in Bandar Abbas: $575 a month against $1,692 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $13,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Bandar Abbas, Iran
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,692
/mo nomad
Bandar Abbas
🇮🇷 Iran
$575
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Bandar Abbas

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Bandar Abbas actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,692 per month in Medellin vs $575 in Bandar Abbas, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,692
  • Bandar Abbas $575

A couple spends around $2,471 per month in Medellin vs $888 in Bandar Abbas, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,471
  • Bandar Abbas $888

A family of three spends $3,249 per month in Medellin vs $1,200 in Bandar Abbas, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,249
  • Bandar Abbas $1,200

Medellin costs about 194% more than Bandar Abbas, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Medellin sits 25% above the global median, while Bandar Abbas is 57% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Bandar Abbas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.34 COP 26.9K
$2.92 $2.92
185.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.53 COP 150.3K
$16.17 $16.17
187.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.47 COP 30.6K
$3.89 $3.89
143.44%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.69 $0.69
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.06 $1.06
-
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 10.1K
$1.12 $1.12
179.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 COP 5,704
$0.52 $0.52
240.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 COP 4,600
$1.02 $1.02
39.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.15 COP 10.2K
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.70 COP 18.4K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Bandar Abbas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 COP 4,949
$0.66 $0.66
131.82%
White Bread (500g)
$2.29 COP 7,399
$0.51 $0.51
349.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.94 COP 6,281
$2.03 $2.03
-4.43%
Eggs
$3.07 COP 9,902
$1.23 $1.23
149.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.99 COP 32.3K
$4.34 $4.34
130.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.45 COP 33.7K
$3.32 $3.32
214.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.96 COP 45.1K
$10.42 $10.42
33.97%
Apples (1kg)
$4.05 COP 13.1K
$1.08 $1.08
275.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,936
$1.53 $1.53
-
Oranges (1kg)
$2.10 COP 6,795
$0.86 $0.86
144.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.29 COP 7,407
$0.57 $0.57
301.75%
Potato (1kg)
$2.11 COP 6,812
$0.55 $0.55
283.64%
Onion (1kg)
$1.71 COP 5,519
$0.47 $0.47
263.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,779
$0.56 $0.56
108.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 COP 5,102
$0.24 $0.24
558.33%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$0.82 $0.82
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.55 $0.55
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.35 $1.35
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.91 COP 12.6K
$2.51 $2.51
55.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.04 COP 45.4K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 COP 5,689
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 COP 8,758
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Bandar Abbas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.18 COP 3,810
$0.17 $0.17
594.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.3 COP 246.4K
$9.44 $9.44
708.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 COP 5,835
$0.38 $0.38
376.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.13 COP 6,876
$0.29 $0.29
634.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.13 COP 26.3K
$2.52 $2.52
222.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 COP 4,118
$0.09 $0.09
1322.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K COP 111.2M
$50.9K $50.9K
-32.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K COP 110.2M
$45.0K $45.0K
-24.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Bandar Abbas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$178 COP 573.9K
$13.27 $13.27
1239.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.89 COP 44.8K
$1.53 $1.53
807.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.74 COP 99.3K
$3.94 $3.94
680.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Bandar Abbas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.94 COP 135.4K
$18.33 $18.33
128.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80 COP 54.3K
$13.38 $13.38
25.56%
Cinema Ticket
$7.47 COP 24.1K
$2.03 $2.03
267.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Bandar Abbas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$790 COP 2.6M
$108 $108
632.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.3K COP 39.7M
$2,422 $2,422
407.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Bandar Abbas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.3 COP 278.8K
$22.79 $22.79
278.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.3 COP 191.4K
$28.68 $28.68
106.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 446.7K
$96.0 $96.0
44.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.8 COP 319.1K
$73.3 $73.3
34.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Bandar Abbas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,341 COP 4.3M
$343 $343
290.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$667 COP 2.2M
$254 $254
162.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,976 COP 6.4M
$811 $811
143.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,033 COP 3.3M
$407 $407
153.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,098 COP 13.2M
$1,150 $1,150
256.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,940 COP 6.3M
$546 $546
255.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Bandar Abbas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$646 COP 2.1M
$180 $180
259.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
24.3
-54.98%

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

Last update for Medellin: November 2, 2026

Last update for Bandar Abbas: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$667
Bandar Abbas
$254 61.9% $413
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$307
Bandar Abbas
$114 62.9% $193
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$222
Bandar Abbas
$19 91.6% $204
Eating Out
Medellin
$173
Bandar Abbas
$55 68.4% $118
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$172
Bandar Abbas
$99 42.3% $73
Getting Around
Medellin
$93
Bandar Abbas
$12 87.3% $82
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$57
Bandar Abbas
$22 60.6% $35

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,341 in Medellin versus $343 in Bandar Abbas. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Medellin are about 3.6 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin versus $16 in Bandar Abbas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $307 vs $114 – making Bandar Abbas the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇮🇷 Bandar Abbas
🕒 Local time
08:51 8:51 AM
17:21 5:21 PM
8 h 30 min ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
526,648
💱 Currency
USD USD
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 3,229 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,627 COP (10,000 COP = 2.76 EUR).

USD exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Bandar Abbas 13,650 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Bandar Abbas

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Bandar Abbas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bandar Abbas cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 194%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,538 per month in Medellin and $863 in Bandar Abbas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bandar Abbas, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $343 there versus $1,341 in Medellin.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Bandar Abbas?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,692 in Medellin and $575 in Bandar Abbas. That makes Bandar Abbas about 66% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 88% less in Bandar Abbas. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Bandar Abbas?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bandar Abbas, where all-in costs run around $575, than in Medellin at $1,692. In Bandar Abbas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Bandar Abbas more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Bandar Abbas – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Bandar Abbas. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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