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