πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,017 in Medellin versus $1,403 in Ierapetra.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $2,076 in Ierapetra.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,188 in Medellin versus $2,749 in Ierapetra.
πLiving in Medellin costs roughly 28% less than in Ierapetra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 24% below, Ierapetra is 4% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Ierapetra
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95COPΒ 20.8K
$6.79β¬5.85
-12.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.33COPΒ 116.3K
$46.55β¬40.11
-28.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.23COPΒ 25.2K
$11.78β¬10.15
-38.62%
Cappuccino
$1.63COPΒ 5,687
$4.02β¬3.47
-59.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09COPΒ 3,821
$1.38β¬1.18
-21.01%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73COPΒ 2,548
$0.57β¬0.49
28.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.74COPΒ 6,065
$4.68β¬4.03
-62.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23COPΒ 11.3K
$5.31β¬4.58
-39.17%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Ierapetra
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COPΒ 3,662
$1.82β¬1.57
-42.31%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29COPΒ 4,515
$1.49β¬1.28
-13.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32COPΒ 4,617
$3.51β¬3.03
-62.39%
Eggs
$2.27COPΒ 7,927
$4.82β¬4.15
-52.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.35COPΒ 15.2K
$17.60β¬15.16
-75.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COPΒ 20.5K
$9.23β¬7.96
-36.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.61COPΒ 30.0K
$15.50β¬13.35
-44.45%
Apples(1kg)
$2.25COPΒ 7,844
$2.22β¬1.91
1.35%
Banana(1kg)
$1.07COPΒ 3,733
$2.21β¬1.90
-51.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COPΒ 5,322
$1.52β¬1.31
-
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42COPΒ 4,964
$1.99β¬1.71
-28.64%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,084
$1.35β¬1.16
-13.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,077
$1.06β¬0.91
10.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,096
$1.25β¬1.08
-28.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COPΒ 3,146
$1.19β¬1.03
-24.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25COPΒ 7,837
$5.91β¬5.09
-61.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.04COPΒ 38.5K
$9.14β¬7.87
20.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14COPΒ 3,977
$1.72β¬1.48
-33.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38COPΒ 8,301
$2.65β¬2.28
-10.19%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Ierapetra
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COPΒ 2,916
$1.55β¬1.33
-45.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.95COPΒ 146.4K
$46.09β¬39.71
-8.98%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41COPΒ 4,912
$4.08β¬3.51
-65.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90COPΒ 6,634
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.75COPΒ 27.0K
$13.86β¬11.94
-44.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COPΒ 3,509
$2.18β¬1.88
-53.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOPΒ 61.4M
$35.0Kβ¬30.1K
-49.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 92.5M
$23.6Kβ¬20.3K
12.34%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Ierapetra
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.7COPΒ 292.1K
$170β¬146
-50.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.45COPΒ 33.0K
$13.71β¬11.81
-31.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.11COPΒ 84.1K
$34.99β¬30.14
-31.09%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Ierapetra
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.31COPΒ 88.3K
$47.69β¬41.09
-46.93%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14COPΒ 66.8K
$26.30β¬22.66
-27.22%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10COPΒ 14.3K
$9.28β¬7.99
-55.82%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Ierapetra
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312COPΒ 1.1M
$457β¬393
-31.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,993COPΒ 20.9M
$7,046β¬6,071
-14.94%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Ierapetra
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0COPΒ 202.6K
$80.5β¬69.3
-27.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56COPΒ 113.6K
$32.52β¬28.02
0.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.6COPΒ 347.7K
$106β¬91.2
-5.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COPΒ 378.8K
$141β¬122
-23.04%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Ierapetra
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$482COPΒ 1.7M
$491β¬423
-1.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.3M
$391β¬337
-2.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$837COPΒ 2.9M
$762β¬657
9.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$723COPΒ 2.5M
$626β¬539
15.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,840COPΒ 9.9M
$3,031β¬2,612
-6.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,223COPΒ 4.3M
$2,480β¬2,137
-50.69%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Ierapetra
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$541COPΒ 1.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
4.53
196.47%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Last update for Ierapetra: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $482 in Medellin and $491 in Ierapetra. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
πDining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $47.00 in Ierapetra for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $310 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 β living expenses run 38% 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 vs Ierapetra?
You'd need roughly $1,525 in Medellin and $2,105 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 vs Ierapetra?
Rent for a central apartment: $482 in Medellin versus $491 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 $1,017 per month in Medellin versus $1,403 in Ierapetra β a 38% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Medellin vs 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 Ierapetra?
At $1,017 in Medellin versus $1,403 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 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 38% less than in Ierapetra. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.