Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Mahabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Mahabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $517 in Mahabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $809 in Mahabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $1,102 in Mahabad, rent included.

Medellin costs about 100% more than Mahabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Mahabad are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Mahabad 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.5K

$3.05 $3.05

94.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 119.1K

$17.28 $17.28

89.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.2K

$2.09 $2.09

244.50%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.81 $0.81

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.00 $1.00

Cappuccino

$1.70 COP 6,186

$2.35 $2.35

-27.66%

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

$1.10 COP 3,996

$0.99 $0.99

11.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,625

$0.96 $0.96

-25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 COP 6,067

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 COP 11.3K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,837

$0.60 $0.60

76.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,531

$0.41 $0.41

204.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,060

$2.12 $2.12

-34.43%

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,229

$1.23 $1.23

83.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.8K

$3.17 $3.17

36.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.2K

$3.29 $3.29

77.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 32.1K

$7.39 $7.39

19.49%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,159

$0.77 $0.77

190.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,911

$1.28 $1.28

-15.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,563

$0.86 $0.86

77.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,987

$0.44 $0.44

211.36%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,109

$0.49 $0.49

130.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,067

$0.43 $0.43

160.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,080

$0.48 $0.48

77.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,305

$0.29 $0.29

213.79%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.92 $0.92

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 $0.49

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 $1.39

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,477

$2.26 $2.26

3.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,342

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,617

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,859

$0.21 $0.21

276.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 149.6K

$10.10 $10.10

307.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,223

$0.33 $0.33

336.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,952

$0.27 $0.27

607.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 29.2K

$1.94 $1.94

313.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,410

$0.71 $0.71

32.39%

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

$17.9K COP 65.2M

$73.3K $73.3K

-75.55%

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

$26.8K COP 97.4M

$55.0K $55.0K

-51.32%

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

$84.0 COP 305.4K

$15.77 $15.77

432.40%

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

$9.60 COP 34.9K

$2.13 $2.13

350.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.9K

$5.79 $5.79

317.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 94.1K

$14.45 $14.45

79.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 69.3K

$12.31 $12.31

54.67%

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.2K

$1.54 $1.54

154.55%

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

$306 COP 1.1M

$115 $115

166.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.5M

$1,968 $1,968

200.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 210.6K

$22.54 $22.54

156.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 115.7K

$25.14 $25.14

26.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 363.3K

$109 $109

-8.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 389.7K

$69.2 $69.2

54.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

$287 $287

69.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

$203 $203

81.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

$632 $632

30.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

$320 $320

123.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

$849 $849

244.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

$560 $560

151.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 COP 2.0M

$277 $277

96.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

22.24

-39.61%

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

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Last update for Mahabad: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $287 in Mahabad. 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 97% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $17.00 in Mahabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $97.0 – making Mahabad 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 Mahabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 100%, 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 $1,550 per month in Medellin and $775 in Mahabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Medellin and $115 in Mahabad. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 97% 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 Mahabad, where all-in costs run around $517, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Mahabad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mahabad – 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 Mahabad. 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.