🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,030 in Medellin versus $1,129 in Kastamonu.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,586 in Medellin versus $1,781 in Kastamonu.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,143 in Medellin versus $2,433 in Kastamonu.
🙂Living in Medellin costs roughly 9% less than in Kastamonu, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin23% lower, Kastamonu16% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Kastamonu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COP 21.2K
$9.32₺419
-36.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.17COP 118.7K
$38.70₺1,740
-14.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.25COP 25.9K
$8.89₺400
-18.45%
Cappuccino
$1.71COP 6,137
$3.28₺147
-47.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09COP 3,915
$1.21₺54.4
-9.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,743
$0.39₺17.41
97.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.75COP 6,254
$3.24₺146
-45.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COP 11.4K
$3.76₺169
-15.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kastamonu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,792
$0.96₺43.10
10.42%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,657
$0.71₺31.86
83.10%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,926
$2.30₺103
-40.00%
Eggs
$2.21COP 7,908
$2.34₺105
-5.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.52COP 16.2K
$9.44₺424
-52.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.80COP 20.7K
$6.02₺271
-3.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COP 32.1K
$19.63₺883
-54.30%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29COP 8,182
$1.45₺65.1
57.93%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,791
$2.27₺102
-53.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.51COP 5,411
$1.25₺56.4
20.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,869
$1.53₺68.9
-11.11%
Potato(1kg)
$1.16COP 4,146
$0.69₺31.10
68.12%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 4,174
$0.56₺25.23
108.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.83COP 2,960
$1.13₺50.7
-26.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85COP 3,043
$0.40₺17.96
112.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35COP 8,423
$2.14₺96.2
9.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.09COP 39.7K
$7.74₺348
43.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15COP 4,133
$2.08₺93.6
-44.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COP 8,853
$3.14₺141
-21.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Kastamonu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,827
$0.66₺29.85
19.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.85COP 149.8K
$30.80₺1,384
35.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COP 5,140
$0.92₺41.15
56.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90COP 6,793
$0.61₺27.50
211.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.70COP 27.6K
$6.33₺284
21.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.03COP 3,680
$1.19₺53.3
-13.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7KCOP 63.3M
$42.7K₺1.9M
-58.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0KCOP 96.7M
$43.9K₺2.0M
-38.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kastamonu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.4COP 291.4K
$86.8₺3,901
-6.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.42COP 33.7K
$10.63₺478
-11.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.77COP 85.1K
$13.72₺617
73.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kastamonu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.86COP 92.6K
$44.13₺1,983
-41.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.34COP 69.2K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.05COP 14.5K
$6.44₺289
-37.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kastamonu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312COP 1.1M
$598₺26.9K
-47.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,067COP 21.7M
$13.8K₺621.8K
-56.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kastamonu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.9COP 210.7K
$57.7₺2,591
2.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.82COP 117.5K
$45.13₺2,029
-27.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100COP 359.6K
$106₺4,743
-4.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106COP 380.3K
$95.9₺4,309
10.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kastamonu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$490COP 1.8M
$510₺22.9K
-4.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$371COP 1.3M
$390₺17.6K
-5.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COP 3.0M
$903₺40.6K
-7.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$715COP 2.6M
$698₺31.4K
2.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,952COP 10.6M
$1,370₺61.6K
115.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,394COP 5.0M
$967₺43.5K
44.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kastamonu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$532COP 1.9M
$1,356₺61.0K
-60.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
40
-66.42%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 20, 2026
Last update for Kastamonu: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $490 in Medellin and $510 in Kastamonu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kastamonu pays 155% 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: $33 in Medellin vs $39 in Kastamonu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $231 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 Kastamonu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and Kastamonu?
Medellin and Kastamonu differ by about 10% in total monthly costs ($1,030 vs $1,129 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Kastamonu earns 155% less. 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 Kastamonu?
Rent for a central apartment: $490 in Medellin versus $510 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 $1,030 per month in Medellin versus $1,129 in Kastamonu – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Medellin and Kastamonu?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 36% less than in Kastamonu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,030 in Medellin versus $1,129 in Kastamonu, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Kastamonu. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin 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 Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Kastamonu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.