🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,003 in Medellin versus $1,394 in Ierapetra.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,573 in Medellin versus $2,104 in Ierapetra.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,143 in Medellin versus $2,814 in Ierapetra.
🌍Living in Medellin costs roughly 28% less than in Ierapetra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 25% below, Ierapetra is 5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Ierapetra
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91COP 18.9K
$7.06€6.16
-16.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96COP 105.2K
$45.78€39.91
-28.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.43COP 23.7K
$11.62€10.13
-36.06%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,276
$4.09€3.56
-59.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,514
$1.41€1.23
-21.99%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,491
$0.56€0.49
39.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,484
$4.64€4.05
-62.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COP 10.1K
$5.08€4.43
-37.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Ierapetra
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10COP 3,521
$1.82€1.58
-39.56%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 4,015
$1.48€1.29
-14.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,407
$3.48€3.04
-60.34%
Eggs
$2.18COP 6,950
$4.66€4.07
-53.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.49COP 14.3K
$18.06€15.74
-75.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.79COP 18.5K
$9.21€8.03
-37.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COP 28.6K
$15.47€13.48
-42.02%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32COP 7,405
$2.13€1.85
8.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,397
$2.21€1.93
-52.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 4,838
$1.47€1.28
3.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,327
$1.96€1.71
-30.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,599
$1.40€1.22
-19.29%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,738
$1.08€0.94
8.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90COP 2,876
$1.20€1.04
-25.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COP 2,861
$1.14€1.00
-21.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23COP 7,128
$5.85€5.10
-61.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.12COP 38.7K
$9.00€7.85
34.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 3,793
$1.79€1.56
-33.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 7,920
$2.71€2.36
-8.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Ierapetra
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85COP 2,723
$1.58€1.38
-46.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.62COP 132.8K
$45.65€39.80
-8.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,518
$3.97€3.46
-64.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.95COP 6,223
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.89COP 25.2K
$13.61€11.87
-42.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,160
$2.20€1.92
-55.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOP 56.2M
$34.3K€29.9K
-48.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 85.5M
$23.4K€20.4K
14.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Ierapetra
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0COP 264.9K
$172€150
-51.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70COP 30.9K
$13.95€12.16
-30.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52COP 75.0K
$34.67€30.23
-32.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Ierapetra
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.26COP 80.6K
$47.61€41.50
-46.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10COP 60.9K
$26.15€22.80
-26.96%
Cinema Ticket
$3.95COP 12.6K
$9.15€7.98
-56.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Ierapetra
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$316COP 1.0M
$460€401
-31.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,975COP 19.1M
$6,806€5,934
-12.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Ierapetra
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0COP 191.4K
$80.0€69.7
-24.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 101.5K
$32.30€28.16
-1.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102COP 324.4K
$104€90.3
-1.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 342.8K
$139€121
-22.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Ierapetra
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$475COP 1.5M
$497€433
-4.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$374COP 1.2M
$391€341
-4.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$849COP 2.7M
$780€680
8.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$719COP 2.3M
$623€543
15.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,265COP 10.4M
$2,794€2,436
16.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441COP 4.6M
$2,473€2,156
-41.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Ierapetra
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$624COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
4.53
196.47%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Last update for Ierapetra: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $475 in Medellin and $497 in Ierapetra. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $46.00 in Ierapetra for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $309 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 Ierapetra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Ierapetra?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 39% lower than in Ierapetra. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin and in Ierapetra?
You'd need roughly $1,504 in Medellin and $2,092 in Ierapetra to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin compared to Ierapetra?
Rent for a central apartment: $475 in Medellin versus $497 in Ierapetra. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to Ierapetra?
All in, you'll spend $1,003 per month in Medellin versus $1,394 in Ierapetra – a 39% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Medellin compared to Ierapetra?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 10% less than in Ierapetra. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Medellin or in Ierapetra?
At $1,003 in Medellin versus $1,394 in Ierapetra, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Ierapetra. 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 Ierapetra?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,003 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 – expenses run 39% less than in Ierapetra. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.