πA single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $1,085 in Sakarya, rent included.
πA couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,643 in Sakarya, rent included.
πA family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $2,201 in Sakarya, rent included.
πMedellin is about 6% cheaper than Sakarya, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πBoth Medellin and Sakarya are more affordable than the global median β Medellin24% lower, Sakarya19% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Sakarya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95COPΒ 20.8K
$7.53βΊ348
-20.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.33COPΒ 116.3K
$26.78βΊ1,239
24.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.23COPΒ 25.2K
$7.53βΊ348
-3.98%
Cappuccino
$1.63COPΒ 5,687
$3.15βΊ146
-48.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09COPΒ 3,821
$1.36βΊ62.7
-19.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73COPΒ 2,548
$0.53βΊ24.52
37.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.74COPΒ 6,065
$4.86βΊ225
-64.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23COPΒ 11.3K
$6.18βΊ286
-47.73%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Sakarya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COPΒ 3,662
$0.78βΊ35.99
34.62%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29COPΒ 4,515
$0.73βΊ33.87
76.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32COPΒ 4,617
$2.80βΊ130
-52.86%
Eggs
$2.27COPΒ 7,927
$1.91βΊ88.5
18.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.35COPΒ 15.2K
$7.78βΊ360
-44.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COPΒ 20.5K
$3.58βΊ166
64.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.61COPΒ 30.0K
$15.02βΊ695
-42.68%
Apples(1kg)
$2.25COPΒ 7,844
$1.55βΊ71.9
45.16%
Banana(1kg)
$1.07COPΒ 3,733
$2.75βΊ127
-61.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COPΒ 5,322
$0.86βΊ39.95
76.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42COPΒ 4,964
$1.29βΊ59.6
10.08%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,084
$0.52βΊ24.25
125.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,077
$0.58βΊ26.93
101.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,096
$0.86βΊ39.61
3.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COPΒ 3,146
$0.53βΊ24.68
69.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25COPΒ 7,837
$2.34βΊ108
-3.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.04COPΒ 38.5K
$13.57βΊ628
-18.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14COPΒ 3,977
$2.64βΊ122
-56.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38COPΒ 8,301
$3.31βΊ153
-28.10%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Sakarya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COPΒ 2,916
$0.67βΊ31.19
25.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.95COPΒ 146.4K
$30.23βΊ1,398
38.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41COPΒ 4,912
$2.10βΊ97.2
-32.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90COPΒ 6,634
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.75COPΒ 27.0K
$7.60βΊ352
1.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COPΒ 3,509
$1.19βΊ55.1
-15.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOPΒ 61.4M
$46.3KβΊ2.1M
-62.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 92.5M
$47.6KβΊ2.2M
-44.36%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Sakarya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.7COPΒ 292.1K
$41.20βΊ1,906
103.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.45COPΒ 33.0K
$14.93βΊ691
-36.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.11COPΒ 84.1K
$11.66βΊ539
106.78%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Sakarya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.31COPΒ 88.3K
$34.25βΊ1,584
-26.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14COPΒ 66.8K
$12.67βΊ586
51.07%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10COPΒ 14.3K
$4.94βΊ229
-17.00%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Sakarya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312COPΒ 1.1M
$662βΊ30.6K
-52.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,993COPΒ 20.9M
$7,774βΊ359.6K
-22.91%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Sakarya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0COPΒ 202.6K
$52.0βΊ2,406
11.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56COPΒ 113.6K
$74.0βΊ3,423
-55.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.6COPΒ 347.7K
$116βΊ5,380
-14.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COPΒ 378.8K
$91.0βΊ4,211
19.25%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Sakarya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$482COPΒ 1.7M
$508βΊ23.5K
-4.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.3M
$395βΊ18.3K
-3.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$837COPΒ 2.9M
$903βΊ41.8K
-7.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$723COPΒ 2.5M
$711βΊ32.9K
1.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,840COPΒ 9.9M
$1,321βΊ61.1K
114.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,223COPΒ 4.3M
$713βΊ33.0K
71.62%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Sakarya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$541COPΒ 1.9M
$959βΊ44.4K
-43.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
36.83
-63.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Last update for Sakarya: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $508 in Sakarya. 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 77% higher in Sakarya, 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 $27.00 in Sakarya. Groceries tell a different story β $190 in Medellin vs $214 in Sakarya 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 Sakarya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sakarya cheaper than Medellin?
Yes β Sakarya is pricier by about 7%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,627 in Sakarya. 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 Sakarya?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,017 in Medellin and $1,085 in Sakarya. 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 Sakarya?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Sakarya at $1,085. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sakarya it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Sakarya 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 Sakarya?
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, Sakarya makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.