Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Mashhad, Iran

For one person, living is cheaper in Mashhad: $478 a month against $1,639 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $13,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Mashhad, Iran
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Mashhad
🇮🇷 Iran
$478
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Mashhad

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Mashhad actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,639 per month in Medellin vs $478 in Mashhad, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • Mashhad $478

A couple spends around $2,413 per month in Medellin vs $766 in Mashhad, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • Mashhad $766

A family of three spends $3,186 per month in Medellin vs $1,055 in Mashhad, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • Mashhad $1,055

Medellin costs about 243% more than Mashhad, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Medellin sits 20% above the global median, while Mashhad is 65% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Mashhad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 26.1K
$2.94 $2.94
175.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 151.7K
$18.29 $18.29
157.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.6K
$4.97 $4.97
91.15%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.56 $0.56
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.95 $0.95
-
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,722
$1.10 $1.10
173.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,801
$0.43 $0.43
318.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,554
$0.26 $0.26
442.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 10.2K
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.5K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Mashhad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,869
$0.61 $0.61
147.54%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,667
$0.21 $0.21
1033.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,712
$1.94 $1.94
-8.76%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,320
$1.12 $1.12
158.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.9K
$2.08 $2.08
389.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.8K
$2.73 $2.73
261.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 45.1K
$10.34 $10.34
35.30%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.8K
$0.94 $0.94
322.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 5,005
$1.55 $1.55
-
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 7,039
$0.83 $0.83
162.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 7,041
$0.61 $0.61
257.38%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,328
$0.52 $0.52
276.92%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,125
$0.44 $0.44
261.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,694
$0.52 $0.52
121.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 4,009
$0.29 $0.29
327.59%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$0.91 $0.91
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.77 $0.77
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.90 $0.90
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.8K
$3.03 $3.03
30.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 44.1K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,352
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,281
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Mashhad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,766
$0.02 $0.02
5750.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 249.5K
$3.58 $3.58
2061.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,089
$0.20 $0.20
535.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,603
$0.52 $0.52
294.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 27.6K
$1.99 $1.99
329.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,343
$0.81 $0.81
66.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 109.8M
$59.3K $59.3K
-42.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 111.8M
$68.1K $68.1K
-49.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Mashhad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 547.0K
$13.66 $13.66
1141.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 43.7K
$2.63 $2.63
415.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 90.5K
$26.95 $26.95
4.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Mashhad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 140.9K
$19.25 $19.25
127.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 55.4K
$15.14 $15.14
13.54%
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 22.3K
$2.05 $2.05
237.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Mashhad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.6M
$41.46 $41.46
1821.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 29.4M
$613 $613
1385.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Mashhad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 273.2K
$20.34 $20.34
316.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 186.9K
$38.31 $38.31
51.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 435.2K
$93.2 $93.2
44.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 315.6K
$69.8 $69.8
40.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Mashhad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.9M
$209 $209
478.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.1M
$151 $151
325.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.5M
$392 $392
416.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.3M
$266 $266
280.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.4M
$1,153 $1,153
261.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.2M
$683 $683
179.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Mashhad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
$250 $250
162.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
21.5
-49.12%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Last update for Mashhad: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
Mashhad
$151 76.5% $491
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
Mashhad
$100 66.4% $197
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
Mashhad
$43 79.5% $168
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
Mashhad
$54 68% $115
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
Mashhad
$100 41% $69
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
Mashhad
$6.5 93.1% $87
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Mashhad
$23 59.4% $34

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,208 in Medellin versus $209 in Mashhad. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Medellin are about 2.6 times higher, 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 $47 in Medellin versus $18 in Mashhad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $100 – making Mashhad the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇮🇷 Mashhad
🕒 Local time
20:05 8:05 PM
04:35 4:35 AM
8 h 30 min ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
3,001,184
💱 Currency
USD USD
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 3,224 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,600 COP (10,000 COP = 2.78 EUR).

USD exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.896 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Mashhad 13,370 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Mashhad

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Mashhad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Mashhad?
Medellin costs about 243% more than Mashhad, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin and in Mashhad?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,459 per month in Medellin and $717 in Mashhad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Medellin or Mashhad?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mashhad, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $209 there versus $1,208 in Medellin.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to Mashhad?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,639 in Medellin and $478 in Mashhad. That makes Mashhad about 71% cheaper.
How expensive is transport in Medellin compared to Mashhad?
Public transport costs about 95% less in Mashhad. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $800/month in Medellin or in Mashhad?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Mashhad, where all-in costs run around $478, than in Medellin at $1,639. In Mashhad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Mashhad – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to Medellin or to Mashhad?
If budget matters most, go with Mashhad. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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