😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,681 in Medellin versus $984 in Kastamonu.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,445 in Medellin versus $1,612 in Kastamonu.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,210 in Medellin versus $2,240 in Kastamonu.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 71% more expensive than in Kastamonu, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, Kastamonu is 28% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Kastamonu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.4K
$8.01₺391
0.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 152.0K
$62.9₺3,068
-23.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 31.4K
$7.60₺371
30.13%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,937
$3.26₺159
-3.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 6,058
$0.97₺47.24
96.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,794
$0.25₺12.11
504.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,917
$1.94₺94.4
60.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 18.3K
$2.69₺131
113.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kastamonu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,587
$1.17₺57.1
23.08%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,894
$1.73₺84.4
43.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,631
$2.82₺137
-37.23%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,396
$1.99₺97.3
48.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 32.0K
$8.81₺429
14.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 32.1K
$3.99₺194
153.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 45.4K
$24.12₺1,176
-40.71%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 13.1K
$2.44₺119
69.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,106
$1.83₺89.0
-12.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,129
$1.53₺74.7
47.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,150
$1.02₺49.71
120.59%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,486
$0.32₺15.70
537.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,873
$0.26₺12.60
492.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,715
$0.79₺38.76
48.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,148
$0.62₺30.06
111.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.4K
$2.03₺99.1
92.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 44.5K
$9.15₺446
53.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,534
$1.69₺82.6
2.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 9,112
$2.33₺114
23.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Kastamonu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,858
$0.74₺35.97
64.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 255.5K
$34.02₺1,659
136.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,155
$1.88₺91.9
-30.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,944
$0.58₺28.07
277.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.7K
$5.27₺257
65.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,334
$1.24₺60.3
10.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 88.4M
$42.0K₺2.0M
-33.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 113.6M
$41.0K₺2.0M
-12.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kastamonu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 562.9K
$90.2₺4,396
96.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 44.1K
$4.27₺208
225.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 94.4K
$12.61₺615
135.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kastamonu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 142.5K
$51.9₺2,531
-13.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 54.4K
$3.19₺155
436.68%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 21.1K
$4.07₺199
63.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kastamonu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.6M
$255₺12.4K
219.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 29.2M
$12.0K₺583.4K
-23.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kastamonu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 284.1K
$27.45₺1,338
226.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 187.2K
$30.86₺1,505
91.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 438.8K
$72.9₺3,555
89.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 324.2K
$49.37₺2,407
106.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kastamonu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.4M
$406₺19.8K
161.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$307₺15.0K
116.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 6.0M
$779₺38.0K
142.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.3M
$580₺28.3K
77.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.3M
$1,314₺64.1K
218.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.3M
$1,014₺49.4K
65.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kastamonu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.2M
$1,289₺62.9K
-47.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
49
-77.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Kastamonu: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,062 in Medellin and $406 in Kastamonu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kastamonu pays 90% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $63.0 in Kastamonu. Groceries flip the comparison at $305 vs $245, with Kastamonu cheaper for home cooking.
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 Kastamonu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and in Kastamonu?
Medellin and Kastamonu differ by about 71% in total monthly costs ($1,681 vs $984 including rent). Kastamonu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 90% lower in Kastamonu. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and in Kastamonu?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,062 in Medellin versus $406 in Kastamonu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Kastamonu?
All in, you'll spend $1,681 per month in Medellin versus $984 in Kastamonu – a 71% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Medellin and in Kastamonu?
A monthly transit pass in Kastamonu runs roughly 137% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $984 in Kastamonu versus $1,681 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kastamonu but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Kastamonu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Kastamonu?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Medellin or Kastamonu safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Kastamonu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Medellin or Kastamonu?
Expats usually find Kastamonu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 71% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.