Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Iskenderun Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Iskenderun

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $1,011 in Iskenderun, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $1,575 in Iskenderun, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $2,139 in Iskenderun, rent included.

Medellin costs about 66% more than Iskenderun, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Iskenderun is 26% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.02 COP 25.4K

$6.15 ₺300

30.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.87 COP 152.0K

$31.47 ₺1,534

52.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 COP 31.4K

$6.42 ₺313

54.05%

Cappuccino

$3.13 COP 9,937

$3.18 ₺155

-1.57%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 COP 6,058

$1.10 ₺53.7

73.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 COP 4,794

$0.28 ₺13.79

439.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 COP 9,917

$2.50 ₺122

24.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 COP 18.3K

$3.12 ₺152

84.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,587

$1.01 ₺49.36

42.57%

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 COP 7,894

$0.79 ₺38.57

215.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 COP 5,631

$1.78 ₺86.6

-0.56%

Eggs

$2.96 COP 9,396

$1.86 ₺90.8

59.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 COP 32.0K

$7.25 ₺354

38.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.12 COP 32.1K

$4.10 ₺200

146.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 COP 45.4K

$17.92 ₺874

-20.20%

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 COP 13.1K

$1.61 ₺78.7

157.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 COP 5,106

$1.91 ₺92.9

-15.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,129

$0.89 ₺43.35

152.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,150

$1.06 ₺51.5

112.26%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 COP 6,486

$0.51 ₺24.98

300.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,873

$0.42 ₺20.41

266.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 COP 3,715

$0.94 ₺45.87

24.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 COP 4,148

$0.66 ₺32.39

98.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.4K

$2.13 ₺104

83.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 44.5K

$10.35 ₺505

35.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 COP 5,534

$2.41 ₺117

-27.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 COP 9,112

$3.29 ₺160

-12.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 COP 3,858

$0.79 ₺38.76

54.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 255.5K

$29.39 ₺1,433

173.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,155

$1.00 ₺48.76

31.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 COP 6,944

$0.53 ₺26.05

313.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.7K

$10.45 ₺510

-16.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 COP 4,334

$1.24 ₺60.7

10.48%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.8K COP 88.4M

$43.3K ₺2.1M

-35.66%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$35.8K COP 113.6M

$39.6K ₺1.9M

-9.77%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$177 COP 562.9K

$92.1 ₺4,491

92.51%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.88 COP 44.1K

$9.92 ₺484

39.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.72 COP 94.4K

$11.57 ₺564

156.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.88 COP 142.5K

$45.79 ₺2,233

-1.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 54.4K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 21.1K

$6.19 ₺302

7.43%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$813 COP 2.6M

$447 ₺21.8K

81.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 29.2M

$7,240 ₺353.0K

26.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.5 COP 284.1K

$46.72 ₺2,278

91.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 COP 187.2K

$29.63 ₺1,445

99.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 COP 438.8K

$115 ₺5,624

19.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 324.2K

$110 ₺5,360

-7.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 COP 3.4M

$381 ₺18.6K

178.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 COP 2.1M

$314 ₺15.3K

111.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,888 COP 6.0M

$821 ₺40.0K

130.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 COP 3.3M

$602 ₺29.3K

70.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.3M

$1,312 ₺64.0K

218.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.3M

$927 ₺45.2K

80.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$678 COP 2.2M

$1,134 ₺55.3K

-40.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

-68.74%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Iskenderun: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $381 in Iskenderun. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 67% higher in Iskenderun, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $31.00 in Iskenderun. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $210 – making Iskenderun the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Iskenderun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 66%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $1,516 in Iskenderun. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Iskenderun, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $813 per month in Medellin and $447 in Iskenderun. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 45% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Iskenderun, where all-in costs run around $1,011, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Iskenderun it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Iskenderun – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Iskenderun. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.