Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Homs Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Homs

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,641 in Medellin versus $479 in Homs.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,447 in Medellin versus $688 in Homs.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,253 in Medellin versus $897 in Homs.

Living in Medellin is roughly 242% more expensive than in Homs, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 19% above, Homs is 65% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Homs
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04 COP 24.8K
$3.04 SYP 369
164.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29 COP 148.6K
$11.86 SYP 1,441
307.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.42 COP 29.0K
$4.59 SYP 558
105.23%
Cappuccino
$2.94 COP 9,040
$0.45 SYP 54.4
553.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 COP 5,735
$2.31 SYP 281
-19.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 COP 4,479
$0.48 SYP 58.0
204.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.21 COP 9,882
$1.94 SYP 236
65.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71 COP 17.6K
$3.04 SYP 369
87.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Homs
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,428
$0.66 SYP 80.3
118.18%
White Bread (500g)
$2.40 COP 7,389
$0.41 SYP 49.90
485.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,228
$1.12 SYP 137
51.79%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 8,896
$1.54 SYP 188
87.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.06 COP 30.9K
$3.33 SYP 405
202.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.97 COP 30.7K
$3.97 SYP 483
151.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.20 COP 43.7K
$9.74 SYP 1,184
45.79%
Apples (1kg)
$3.98 COP 12.3K
$0.54 SYP 65.2
637.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 COP 4,878
$1.21 SYP 146
30.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 COP 6,624
$0.58 SYP 70.0
270.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.30 COP 7,078
$0.29 SYP 35.53
693.10%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 COP 6,169
$0.48 SYP 57.8
316.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 COP 4,646
$0.75 SYP 90.7
101.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.20 COP 3,701
$0.36 SYP 44.19
233.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 COP 3,946
$0.43 SYP 52.7
197.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84 COP 11.8K
$1.48 SYP 179
159.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 43.1K
$3.85 SYP 468
263.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 COP 5,256
$0.72 SYP 87.8
137.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 COP 8,440
$2.91 SYP 353
-5.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Homs
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.25 COP 3,834
$0.23 SYP 27.98
443.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.9 COP 239.7K
$15.22 SYP 1,850
411.83%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,016
$0.98 SYP 119
33.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.17 COP 6,680
$1.48 SYP 180
46.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.29 COP 25.5K
$2.02 SYP 245
310.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 COP 4,172
$1.03 SYP 125
32.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K COP 84.5M
$15.0K SYP 1.8M
82.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5K COP 112.4M
$12.9K SYP 1.6M
182.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Homs
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 COP 519.2K
$98.1 SYP 11.9K
71.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 COP 41.8K
$6.67 SYP 811
103.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32 COP 87.2K
$45.36 SYP 5,512
-37.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Homs
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.71 COP 140.7K
$10.17 SYP 1,236
349.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22 COP 53.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 20.5K
$5.34 SYP 649
24.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Homs
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$803 COP 2.5M
$65.8 SYP 7,990
1121.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,190 COP 28.3M
$982 SYP 119.3K
835.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Homs
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4 COP 268.8K
$4.92 SYP 597
1675.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4 COP 182.7K
$10.05 SYP 1,221
490.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$139 COP 427.5K
$59.8 SYP 7,266
132.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 314.0K
$30.81 SYP 3,744
231.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Homs
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,071 COP 3.3M
$49.94 SYP 6,068
2044.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$653 COP 2.0M
$34.35 SYP 4,174
1800.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,925 COP 5.9M
$102 SYP 12.4K
1790.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,048 COP 3.2M
$56.1 SYP 6,816
1768.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,123 COP 12.7M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,697 COP 5.2M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Homs
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$655 COP 2.0M
$73.8 SYP 8,964
787.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
14.25
-23.23%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Last update for Homs: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,071 in Medellin and $49.94 in Homs. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 788% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $12.00 in Homs for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $300 vs $121 per month, with Homs 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 Homs: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Homs cheaper than Medellin?
Homs is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 242% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Homs?
Average pay runs 788% higher in Medellin, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Homs?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,071 in Medellin versus $49.94 in Homs. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $803 in Medellin versus $65.8 in Homs. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Homs?
Supermarket bills run roughly 148% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Homs?
At $479 in Homs versus $1,641 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Homs but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Homs the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Homs more family-friendly?
For families, Homs is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Homs gentler on the wallet – expenses run 242% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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