πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,017 in Medellin versus $1,691 in Famagusta.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $2,406 in Famagusta.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,188 in Medellin versus $3,122 in Famagusta.
πLiving in Medellin costs roughly 40% less than in Famagusta, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 24% below, Famagusta is 26% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Famagusta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95COPΒ 20.8K
$17.09β¬14.73
-65.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.33COPΒ 116.3K
$69.6β¬59.9
-52.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.23COPΒ 25.2K
$8.87β¬7.64
-18.49%
Cappuccino
$1.63COPΒ 5,687
$3.77β¬3.25
-56.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09COPΒ 3,821
$1.18β¬1.02
-7.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73COPΒ 2,548
$1.33β¬1.15
-45.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.74COPΒ 6,065
$3.65β¬3.14
-52.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23COPΒ 11.3K
$4.31β¬3.71
-25.06%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Famagusta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COPΒ 3,662
$1.74β¬1.50
-39.66%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29COPΒ 4,515
$1.78β¬1.53
-27.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32COPΒ 4,617
$2.42β¬2.09
-45.45%
Eggs
$2.27COPΒ 7,927
$4.79β¬4.13
-52.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.35COPΒ 15.2K
$10.37β¬8.94
-58.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COPΒ 20.5K
$9.31β¬8.02
-36.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.61COPΒ 30.0K
$14.08β¬12.13
-38.85%
Apples(1kg)
$2.25COPΒ 7,844
$2.81β¬2.42
-19.93%
Banana(1kg)
$1.07COPΒ 3,733
$1.89β¬1.63
-43.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COPΒ 5,322
$2.29β¬1.97
-33.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42COPΒ 4,964
$3.41β¬2.93
-58.36%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,084
$1.31β¬1.13
-10.69%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,077
$1.13β¬0.98
3.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,096
$0.92β¬0.79
-3.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COPΒ 3,146
$0.82β¬0.70
9.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25COPΒ 7,837
$5.87β¬5.05
-61.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.04COPΒ 38.5K
$6.81β¬5.87
62.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14COPΒ 3,977
$1.83β¬1.57
-37.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38COPΒ 8,301
$2.35β¬2.02
1.28%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Famagusta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COPΒ 2,916
$0.56β¬0.48
50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.95COPΒ 146.4K
$11.42β¬9.84
267.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41COPΒ 4,912
$5.68β¬4.89
-75.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90COPΒ 6,634
$2.00β¬1.73
-5.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.75COPΒ 27.0K
$21.08β¬18.16
-63.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COPΒ 3,509
$1.58β¬1.36
-36.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOPΒ 61.4M
$28.2Kβ¬24.3K
-37.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 92.5M
$24.6Kβ¬21.2K
7.55%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Famagusta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.7COPΒ 292.1K
$186β¬160
-55.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.45COPΒ 33.0K
$23.40β¬20.16
-59.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.11COPΒ 84.1K
$40.40β¬34.81
-40.32%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Famagusta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.31COPΒ 88.3K
$46.02β¬39.65
-45.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14COPΒ 66.8K
$17.08β¬14.72
12.06%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10COPΒ 14.3K
$11.60β¬10.00
-64.66%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Famagusta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312COPΒ 1.1M
$455β¬392
-31.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,993COPΒ 20.9M
$3,023β¬2,605
98.23%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Famagusta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0COPΒ 202.6K
$51.7β¬44.52
12.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56COPΒ 113.6K
$41.04β¬35.36
-20.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.6COPΒ 347.7K
$111β¬95.3
-9.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COPΒ 378.8K
$106β¬91.5
2.25%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Famagusta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$482COPΒ 1.7M
$689β¬594
-30.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.3M
$641β¬552
-40.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$837COPΒ 2.9M
$981β¬846
-14.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$723COPΒ 2.5M
$834β¬719
-13.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,840COPΒ 9.9M
$3,703β¬3,191
-23.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,223COPΒ 4.3M
$2,431β¬2,095
-49.69%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Famagusta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$541COPΒ 1.9M
$935β¬806
-42.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
4.34
209.45%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Last update for Famagusta: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $482 in Medellin and $689 in Famagusta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Famagusta pays 73% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $70.0 in Famagusta for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $283 per month, with Medellin 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 Famagusta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Famagusta?
Medellin wins on cost β living expenses run 66% lower than in Famagusta. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or Famagusta?
On paper, Famagusta earns 73% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin vs Famagusta?
Rent for a central apartment: $482 in Medellin versus $689 in Famagusta. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Medellin vs Famagusta?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 267% less than in Famagusta. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Medellin and Famagusta?
Childcare runs $312 in Medellin versus $455 in Famagusta. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Medellin or Famagusta?
At $1,017 in Medellin versus $1,691 in Famagusta, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Famagusta. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Famagusta?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value β similar infrastructure at $1,017 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet β expenses run 66% less than in Famagusta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.