Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Samsun Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Samsun

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $902 in Samsun, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $1,603 in Samsun, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $2,304 in Samsun, rent included.

Medellin costs about 86% more than Samsun, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Samsun is 34% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Samsun
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02 COP 25.0K
$8.10 ₺394
-0.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87 COP 149.4K
$62.4 ₺3,037
-23.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.89 COP 30.8K
$7.74 ₺377
27.78%
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 9,767
$3.21 ₺156
-2.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 COP 5,954
$0.95 ₺46.15
101.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 COP 4,712
$0.27 ₺13.16
459.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.12 COP 9,747
$1.93 ₺93.8
61.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 17.9K
$2.70 ₺132
112.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Samsun
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,509
$1.17 ₺56.9
23.08%
White Bread (500g)
$2.49 COP 7,759
$1.67 ₺81.5
49.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,535
$2.73 ₺133
-35.16%
Eggs
$2.96 COP 9,235
$2.58 ₺126
14.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.07 COP 31.4K
$8.59 ₺418
17.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.12 COP 31.6K
$5.69 ₺277
77.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.30 COP 44.6K
$24.40 ₺1,187
-41.39%
Apples (1kg)
$4.14 COP 12.9K
$2.44 ₺119
69.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 COP 5,019
$2.37 ₺115
-32.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,007
$1.54 ₺74.9
46.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,028
$1.06 ₺51.5
112.26%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 COP 6,375
$0.48 ₺23.16
325.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.54 COP 4,790
$0.37 ₺18.04
316.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,651
$0.84 ₺41.11
39.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 COP 4,077
$0.58 ₺28.04
125.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.2K
$2.09 ₺101
86.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 43.7K
$9.45 ₺460
48.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 COP 5,439
$1.70 ₺82.7
2.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 COP 8,956
$2.28 ₺111
25.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Samsun
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 COP 3,792
$0.56 ₺27.35
117.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$80.5 COP 251.1K
$10.78 ₺525
646.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,084
$1.90 ₺92.5
-31.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.19 COP 6,825
$0.58 ₺28.00
277.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.71 COP 27.2K
$5.12 ₺249
70.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 COP 4,260
$1.26 ₺61.1
8.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K COP 86.9M
$41.9K ₺2.0M
-33.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K COP 111.6M
$39.7K ₺1.9M
-9.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Samsun
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 COP 553.2K
$89.1 ₺4,335
98.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88 COP 43.3K
$11.67 ₺568
18.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72 COP 92.8K
$12.58 ₺612
136.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Samsun
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.88 COP 140.1K
$30.64 ₺1,491
46.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12 COP 53.4K
$6.10 ₺297
180.66%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 20.7K
$4.18 ₺203
59.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Samsun
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$813 COP 2.5M
$261 ₺12.7K
211.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,187 COP 28.7M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Samsun
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5 COP 279.3K
$27.96 ₺1,361
220.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0 COP 184.0K
$30.69 ₺1,493
92.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 431.2K
$71.5 ₺3,477
93.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 318.7K
$48.71 ₺2,370
109.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Samsun
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,062 COP 3.3M
$357 ₺17.4K
197.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$663 COP 2.1M
$255 ₺12.4K
160.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,888 COP 5.9M
$759 ₺36.9K
148.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,027 COP 3.2M
$615 ₺29.9K
67.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,183 COP 13.1M
$986 ₺48.0K
324.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,675 COP 5.2M
$663 ₺32.2K
152.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Samsun
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$678 COP 2.1M
$927 ₺45.1K
-26.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
49
-77.67%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Samsun: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $357 in Samsun. 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 37% higher in Samsun, 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $62.0 in Samsun. Groceries tell a different story – $305 in Medellin vs $259 in Samsun – so Samsun 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 Samsun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Samsun cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 86%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $2,521 per month in Medellin and $1,353 in Samsun. 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 Samsun, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Samsun?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $62.0 in Samsun. 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 Samsun?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,681 in Medellin and $902 in Samsun. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Samsun?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Samsun, where all-in costs run around $902, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Samsun it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Samsun more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Samsun – 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 Samsun?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Samsun. 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.

Medellin vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities