πA single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $1,173 in Mersin, rent included.
πA couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $1,719 in Mersin, rent included.
πA family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $2,264 in Mersin, rent included.
πMedellin is about 12% cheaper than Mersin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth Medellin and Mersin are more affordable than the global median β Medellin23% lower, Mersin12% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Mersin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COPΒ 21.4K
$6.26βΊ283
-5.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COPΒ 118.2K
$30.80βΊ1,390
6.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COPΒ 26.0K
$7.16βΊ323
0.56%
Cappuccino
$1.70COPΒ 6,140
$3.02βΊ136
-43.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,966
$1.36βΊ61.6
-19.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COPΒ 2,605
$0.62βΊ27.80
16.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COPΒ 6,022
$3.90βΊ176
-57.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COPΒ 11.2K
$5.02βΊ226
-38.25%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Mersin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COPΒ 3,809
$1.02βΊ45.86
3.92%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COPΒ 4,497
$0.75βΊ34.06
66.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COPΒ 5,022
$2.26βΊ102
-38.50%
Eggs
$2.26COPΒ 8,168
$2.10βΊ94.7
7.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COPΒ 15.6K
$13.39βΊ604
-67.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COPΒ 21.1K
$5.86βΊ265
-0.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COPΒ 31.9K
$20.96βΊ946
-57.87%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COPΒ 8,099
$1.26βΊ57.1
77.78%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COPΒ 3,882
$2.00βΊ90.3
-46.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COPΒ 5,522
$0.95βΊ42.99
61.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COPΒ 4,950
$1.57βΊ70.8
-12.74%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COPΒ 4,078
$0.97βΊ43.61
16.49%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COPΒ 4,036
$0.59βΊ26.68
89.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COPΒ 3,057
$0.87βΊ39.30
-2.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COPΒ 3,281
$0.35βΊ15.87
160.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COPΒ 8,414
$2.13βΊ96.0
9.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COPΒ 40.2K
$10.92βΊ493
1.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COPΒ 4,309
$2.11βΊ95.1
-43.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COPΒ 8,553
$2.89βΊ130
-17.99%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Mersin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COPΒ 2,838
$0.65βΊ29.46
21.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COPΒ 148.5K
$34.30βΊ1,548
19.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COPΒ 5,184
$0.74βΊ33.63
94.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COPΒ 6,901
$0.65βΊ29.19
193.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COPΒ 28.9K
$9.98βΊ451
-19.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COPΒ 3,385
$1.11βΊ50.2
-15.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOPΒ 64.7M
$43.3KβΊ2.0M
-58.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOPΒ 96.7M
$43.3KβΊ2.0M
-38.15%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Mersin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COPΒ 303.1K
$125βΊ5,634
-32.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COPΒ 34.7K
$9.87βΊ445
-2.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COPΒ 87.2K
$13.58βΊ613
77.91%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Mersin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COPΒ 93.4K
$30.51βΊ1,377
-15.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COPΒ 68.7K
$10.07βΊ455
89.08%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COPΒ 14.1K
$2.55βΊ115
53.73%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Mersin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COPΒ 1.1M
$454βΊ20.5K
-32.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COPΒ 21.4M
$5,080βΊ229.3K
16.51%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Mersin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COPΒ 209.1K
$51.3βΊ2,318
12.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COPΒ 114.9K
$63.8βΊ2,880
-50.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COPΒ 360.6K
$155βΊ7,001
-35.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COPΒ 386.8K
$50.8βΊ2,294
110.82%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Mersin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COPΒ 1.8M
$504βΊ22.8K
-3.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COPΒ 1.3M
$393βΊ17.8K
-6.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COPΒ 3.0M
$561βΊ25.3K
47.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COPΒ 2.6M
$612βΊ27.6K
17.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COPΒ 10.6M
$1,361βΊ61.4K
114.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COPΒ 5.1M
$1,059βΊ47.8K
32.90%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Mersin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COPΒ 2.0M
$699βΊ31.6K
-22.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
32
-58.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Last update for Mersin: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $504 in Mersin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
π°Salaries run about 28% higher in Mersin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $31.00 in Mersin. Groceries tell a different story β $190 in Medellin vs $247 in Mersin β so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Mersin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mersin cheaper than Medellin?
Yes β Mersin is pricier by about 13%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,550 per month in Medellin and $1,759 in Mersin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Mersin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,034 in Medellin and $1,173 in Mersin. The difference isn't just one category β it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Mersin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,034, than in Mersin at $1,173. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mersin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Mersin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin β lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Mersin?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison β central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mersin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.