Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Gebze

For one person, living is cheaper in Gebze: $952 a month against $1,614 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $7,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,614
/mo nomad
Gebze
🇹🇷 Turkey
$952
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Gebze

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 Gebze actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,614 in Medellin versus $952 in Gebze.

  • Medellin $1,614
  • Gebze $952

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,402 in Medellin versus $1,512 in Gebze.

  • Medellin $2,402
  • Gebze $1,512

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,190 in Medellin versus $2,072 in Gebze.

  • Medellin $3,190
  • Gebze $2,072

Living in Medellin is roughly 70% more expensive than in Gebze, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 20% above, Gebze is 29% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Gebze
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.93 COP 25.2K
$6.25 ₺309
26.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.13 COP 146.3K
$30.87 ₺1,528
49.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.1K
$7.52 ₺372
26.33%
Cappuccino
$3.11 COP 9,866
$3.77 ₺187
-17.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 COP 5,800
$1.11 ₺54.9
64.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 COP 4,360
$0.38 ₺18.84
263.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.05 COP 9,672
$2.37 ₺117
28.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.50 COP 17.4K
$3.11 ₺154
76.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Gebze
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 COP 4,600
$1.03 ₺51.2
40.78%
White Bread (500g)
$2.36 COP 7,496
$0.76 ₺37.38
210.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.68 COP 5,328
$2.32 ₺115
-27.59%
Eggs
$2.86 COP 9,077
$2.31 ₺114
23.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.3K
$10.34 ₺512
-1.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.53 COP 30.2K
$5.02 ₺248
89.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.04 COP 44.5K
$19.65 ₺973
-28.55%
Apples (1kg)
$4.07 COP 12.9K
$1.72 ₺85.1
136.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 COP 4,742
$1.95 ₺96.5
-23.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.17 COP 6,891
$1.09 ₺54.1
99.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.31 COP 7,310
$1.25 ₺61.7
84.80%
Potato (1kg)
$1.93 COP 6,113
$0.57 ₺28.02
238.60%
Onion (1kg)
$1.64 COP 5,196
$0.39 ₺19.30
320.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 COP 3,571
$0.79 ₺39.15
43.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 COP 3,954
$0.72 ₺35.63
73.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.99 COP 12.6K
$2.11 ₺104
89.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.35 COP 42.3K
$14.14 ₺700
-5.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 COP 5,384
$2.10 ₺104
-19.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 7,525
$2.22 ₺110
6.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Gebze
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.21 COP 3,827
$0.67 ₺33.33
80.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.5 COP 242.5K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.32 COP 4,179
$1.03 ₺51.2
28.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.14 COP 6,774
$0.84 ₺41.43
154.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.47 COP 26.8K
$7.03 ₺348
20.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 COP 4,114
$1.29 ₺64.0
0.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K COP 88.7M
$42.9K ₺2.1M
-34.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4K COP 112.3M
$38.4K ₺1.9M
-7.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Gebze
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 COP 545.6K
$76.9 ₺3,807
123.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 COP 42.4K
$10.69 ₺529
25.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.73 COP 91.1K
$14.53 ₺720
97.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Gebze
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.24 COP 143.5K
$45.62 ₺2,258
-0.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.04 COP 54.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.28 COP 19.9K
$5.99 ₺297
4.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Gebze
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$770 COP 2.4M
$542 ₺26.8K
42.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,011 COP 28.6M
$11.0K ₺543.4K
-17.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Gebze
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.4 COP 274.0K
$44.69 ₺2,213
93.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.1 COP 181.1K
$34.62 ₺1,714
65.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$137 COP 432.9K
$79.4 ₺3,932
71.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 310.4K
$91.7 ₺4,538
6.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Gebze
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,055 COP 3.3M
$399 ₺19.7K
164.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$616 COP 2.0M
$290 ₺14.3K
112.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,892 COP 6.0M
$676 ₺33.4K
180.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,023 COP 3.2M
$593 ₺29.4K
72.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,059 COP 12.9M
$1,229 ₺60.9K
230.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,678 COP 5.3M
$929 ₺46.0K
80.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Gebze
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$652 COP 2.1M
$1,330 ₺65.8K
-50.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
42.67
-74.36%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 12, 2026

Last update for Gebze: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$616
Gebze
$290 52.9% $326
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$295
Gebze
$240 18.6% $55
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$214
Gebze
$102 52.3% $112
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$170
Gebze
$113 33.8% $57
Eating Out
Medellin
$168
Gebze
$142 15.8% $27
Getting Around
Medellin
$93
Gebze
$7.9 * 91.5% $85
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Gebze
$58 0.3% $0.2

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,055 in Medellin and $399 in Gebze. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gebze pays 104% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $46.00 in Medellin vs $31.00 in Gebze for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $295 vs $240 per month, with Gebze cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇹🇷 Gebze
🕒 Local time
21:39 9:39 PM
05:39 5:39 AM
8 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
281,436
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

TRY, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 49.51 TRY (100 TRY = 2.02 USD). 1 EUR = 55.66 TRY (100 TRY = 1.8 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Gebze 10,800 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Gebze

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 Gebze: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Gebze?
Gebze wins on cost – living expenses run 70% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Gebze the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or in Gebze?
On paper, salaries run 104% lower in Gebze. 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 compared to Gebze?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,055 in Medellin versus $399 in Gebze. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Medellin and in Gebze?
Childcare runs $770 in Medellin versus $542 in Gebze. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin and in Gebze?
Dining out is cheaper in Gebze – a meal for two runs $31.00 versus $46.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or in Gebze?
At $952 in Gebze versus $1,614 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Gebze but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Gebze the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Gebze?
Both work as nomad bases, but Gebze delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $952 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Gebze hard to pass up.
How safe is Medellin compared to Gebze?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Gebze are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Gebze 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.

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