Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Mersin

For one person, living is cheaper in Mersin: $1,031 a month against $1,692 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $7,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Mersin, Turkey
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,692
/mo nomad
Mersin
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,031
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Mersin

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 Mersin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,692 per month in Medellin vs $1,031 in Mersin, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,692
  • Mersin $1,031

A couple spends around $2,471 per month in Medellin vs $1,559 in Mersin, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,471
  • Mersin $1,559

A family of three spends $3,249 per month in Medellin vs $2,087 in Mersin, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,249
  • Mersin $2,087

Medellin costs about 64% more than Mersin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Medellin sits 25% above the global median, while Mersin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Mersin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.34 COP 27.0K
$6.88 ₺344
21.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.53 COP 150.9K
$30.25 ₺1,513
53.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.47 COP 30.7K
$7.46 ₺373
26.94%
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 10.2K
$3.09 ₺155
1.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 COP 5,727
$1.31 ₺65.8
35.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 COP 4,619
$0.25 ₺12.49
468.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.15 COP 10.2K
$2.35 ₺117
34.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.70 COP 18.5K
$2.64 ₺132
115.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Mersin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 COP 4,969
$0.98 ₺49.24
56.12%
White Bread (500g)
$2.29 COP 7,429
$0.97 ₺48.39
136.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.94 COP 6,306
$1.76 ₺87.8
10.23%
Eggs
$3.07 COP 9,942
$2.01 ₺101
52.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.99 COP 32.4K
$9.41 ₺471
6.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.45 COP 33.9K
$3.93 ₺197
165.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.96 COP 45.3K
$17.78 ₺889
-21.48%
Apples (1kg)
$4.05 COP 13.1K
$1.59 ₺79.6
154.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,956
$1.88 ₺94.2
-18.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.10 COP 6,823
$0.93 ₺46.46
125.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.29 COP 7,437
$1.28 ₺64.1
78.91%
Potato (1kg)
$2.11 COP 6,839
$0.47 ₺23.32
348.94%
Onion (1kg)
$1.71 COP 5,542
$0.40 ₺20.03
327.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,794
$0.85 ₺42.75
37.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 COP 5,123
$0.60 ₺30.00
163.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.91 COP 12.7K
$2.06 ₺103
89.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.04 COP 45.5K
$9.90 ₺495
41.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 COP 5,712
$2.32 ₺116
-24.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 COP 8,793
$3.29 ₺165
-17.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Mersin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.18 COP 3,825
$0.66 ₺33.04
78.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.3 COP 247.4K
$19.75 ₺988
286.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 COP 5,859
$0.98 ₺49.03
84.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.13 COP 6,904
$0.87 ₺43.38
144.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.13 COP 26.4K
$9.91 ₺495
-17.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 COP 4,135
$1.31 ₺65.4
-2.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K COP 111.7M
$41.2K ₺2.1M
-16.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K COP 110.7M
$41.8K ₺2.1M
-18.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Mersin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$178 COP 576.3K
$90.3 ₺4,514
96.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.89 COP 45.0K
$9.24 ₺462
50.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.74 COP 99.7K
$10.16 ₺508
202.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Mersin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.94 COP 136.0K
$60.0 ₺3,000
-30.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80 COP 54.5K
$18.34 ₺917
-8.40%
Cinema Ticket
$7.47 COP 24.2K
$5.97 ₺299
25.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Mersin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$790 COP 2.6M
$444 ₺22.2K
78.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.3K COP 39.9M
$6,961 ₺348.2K
76.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Mersin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.3 COP 279.9K
$54.0 ₺2,699
59.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.3 COP 192.2K
$29.58 ₺1,480
100.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 448.6K
$113 ₺5,670
22.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.8 COP 320.4K
$106 ₺5,294
-6.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Mersin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,341 COP 4.3M
$435 ₺21.8K
208.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$667 COP 2.2M
$331 ₺16.6K
101.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,976 COP 6.4M
$752 ₺37.6K
162.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,033 COP 3.3M
$526 ₺26.3K
96.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,098 COP 13.3M
$1,221 ₺61.1K
235.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,940 COP 6.3M
$945 ₺47.3K
105.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Mersin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$646 COP 2.1M
$814 ₺40.7K
-20.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
41.5
-73.64%

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

Last update for Medellin: November 2, 2026

Last update for Mersin: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$667
Mersin
$331 50.3% $336
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$307
Mersin
$216 29.7% $91
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$222
Mersin
$110 50.7% $113
Eating Out
Medellin
$173
Mersin
$138 20.2% $35
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$172
Mersin
$136 20.9% $36
Getting Around
Medellin
$93
Mersin
$28 70.4% $66
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$57
Mersin
$72 26.5% $15

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,341 in Medellin versus $435 in Mersin. 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 26% higher in Mersin, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin versus $30 in Mersin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $307 vs $216 – making Mersin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇹🇷 Mersin
🕒 Local time
16:03 4:03 PM
00:03 12:03 AM
8 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
1,773,852
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

TRY, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 3,242 COP (10,000 COP = 3.08 USD). 1 EUR = 3,650 COP (10,000 COP = 2.74 EUR).

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 50.02 TRY (100 TRY = 2 USD). 1 EUR = 56.31 TRY (100 TRY = 1.78 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Mersin 11,350 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Mersin

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 Mersin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mersin cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 64%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,538 per month in Medellin and $1,546 in Mersin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mersin, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $435 there versus $1,341 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Mersin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin and $30 in Mersin. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Mersin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,692 in Medellin and $1,031 in Mersin. That makes Mersin about 39% cheaper.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Mersin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mersin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Medellin at $1,692. In Mersin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Mersin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Mersin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Mersin is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 39% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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