Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Songkhla Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Songkhla

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $812 in Songkhla, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,277 in Songkhla, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $1,743 in Songkhla, rent included.

Medellin costs about 25% more than Songkhla, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Songkhla are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Songkhla 39% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Songkhla
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99 COPΒ 21.4K
$1.65 ΰΈΏ53.9
263.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86 COPΒ 117.2K
$18.35 ΰΈΏ600
79.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.09 COPΒ 25.3K
$3.36 ΰΈΏ110
111.01%
Cappuccino
$1.71 COPΒ 6,105
$1.46 ΰΈΏ47.74
17.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COPΒ 3,918
$0.68 ΰΈΏ22.38
61.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COPΒ 2,776
$0.35 ΰΈΏ11.29
122.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.68 COPΒ 5,987
$2.20 ΰΈΏ71.8
-23.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 COPΒ 10.9K
$3.42 ΰΈΏ112
-10.23%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Songkhla
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COPΒ 3,899
$1.58 ΰΈΏ51.8
-31.01%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COPΒ 4,500
$0.89 ΰΈΏ29.02
41.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COPΒ 4,914
$2.12 ΰΈΏ69.3
-34.91%
Eggs
$2.19 COPΒ 7,813
$1.63 ΰΈΏ53.2
34.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.40 COPΒ 15.7K
$16.33 ΰΈΏ534
-73.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.63 COPΒ 20.1K
$2.70 ΰΈΏ88.2
108.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.89 COPΒ 31.7K
$10.46 ΰΈΏ342
-15.01%
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 COPΒ 8,334
$2.52 ΰΈΏ82.3
-7.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COPΒ 3,771
$1.81 ΰΈΏ59.2
-41.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.50 COPΒ 5,365
$1.25 ΰΈΏ40.81
20.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.38 COPΒ 4,915
$1.30 ΰΈΏ42.45
6.15%
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 COPΒ 4,104
$1.57 ΰΈΏ51.3
-26.75%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 COPΒ 4,148
$1.77 ΰΈΏ57.9
-34.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COPΒ 3,176
$1.51 ΰΈΏ49.20
-41.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COPΒ 2,992
$0.91 ΰΈΏ29.79
-7.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28 COPΒ 8,131
$4.41 ΰΈΏ144
-48.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.64 COPΒ 37.9K
$13.62 ΰΈΏ445
-21.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COPΒ 4,276
$1.60 ΰΈΏ52.4
-25.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 COPΒ 8,809
$4.69 ΰΈΏ153
-47.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Songkhla
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COPΒ 3,051
$0.88 ΰΈΏ28.64
-2.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.40 COPΒ 147.6K
$61.8 ΰΈΏ2,019
-32.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COPΒ 5,255
$1.27 ΰΈΏ41.40
15.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COPΒ 6,997
$0.75 ΰΈΏ24.49
161.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.74 COPΒ 27.6K
$9.27 ΰΈΏ303
-16.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 COPΒ 3,403
$1.35 ΰΈΏ44.01
-29.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K COPΒ 64.6M
$28.2K ΰΈΏ921.5K
-35.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K COPΒ 94.4M
$36.5K ΰΈΏ1.2M
-27.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Songkhla
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.3 COPΒ 293.2K
$89.4 ΰΈΏ2,921
-7.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50 COPΒ 33.9K
$12.76 ΰΈΏ417
-25.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23 COPΒ 86.4K
$18.48 ΰΈΏ604
31.11%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Songkhla
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.89 COPΒ 92.3K
$49.83 ΰΈΏ1,629
-48.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00 COPΒ 67.7K
$1.81 ΰΈΏ59.1
949.72%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93 COPΒ 14.0K
$5.43 ΰΈΏ178
-27.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Songkhla
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$309 COPΒ 1.1M
$123 ΰΈΏ4,033
150.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,965 COPΒ 21.3M
$9,497 ΰΈΏ310.5K
-37.19%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Songkhla
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 COPΒ 209.1K
$31.34 ΰΈΏ1,025
87.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35 COPΒ 115.3K
$34.98 ΰΈΏ1,144
-7.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COPΒ 365.7K
$99.4 ΰΈΏ3,249
3.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COPΒ 386.5K
$21.75 ΰΈΏ711
398.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Songkhla
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$476 COPΒ 1.7M
$277 ΰΈΏ9,041
72.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COPΒ 1.4M
$180 ΰΈΏ5,894
110.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$838 COPΒ 3.0M
$594 ΰΈΏ19.4K
41.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$724 COPΒ 2.6M
$426 ΰΈΏ13.9K
69.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,791 COPΒ 9.9M
$1,766 ΰΈΏ57.7K
58.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,211 COPΒ 4.3M
$1,319 ΰΈΏ43.1K
-8.19%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Songkhla
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$512 COPΒ 1.8M
$829 ΰΈΏ27.1K
-38.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
9.33
43.94%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Songkhla: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $277 in Songkhla. 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 62% higher in Songkhla, 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $18.00 in Songkhla. Groceries tell a different story – $188 in Medellin vs $238 in Songkhla – 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 Songkhla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Songkhla cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 25%, 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 $1,519 per month in Medellin and $1,217 in Songkhla. 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 Songkhla, 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 Songkhla?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $18.00 in Songkhla. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafΓ© pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Songkhla?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $812 in Songkhla. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Medellin or Songkhla?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Songkhla, where all-in costs run around $812, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Songkhla it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Songkhla more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Songkhla – 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 Songkhla?
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 Songkhla. 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.

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