Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Sur Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Sur

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $1,103 in Sur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,577 in Sur, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $2,050 in Sur, rent included.

Medellin is about 7% cheaper than Sur, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Sur are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Sur 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 19.8K

$3.95 OMR 1.52

55.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 104.8K

$25.63 OMR 9.87

27.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.6K

$7.76 OMR 2.99

-5.41%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,527

$4.82 OMR 1.85

-64.32%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.05 COP 3,376

$0.72 OMR 0.28

45.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,482

$0.27 OMR 0.10

185.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,417

$12.51 OMR 4.82

-86.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.2K

$11.86 OMR 4.56

-73.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,379

$1.59 OMR 0.61

-33.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,181

$1.23 OMR 0.47

5.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,485

$1.67 OMR 0.64

-16.17%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 6,956

$2.00 OMR 0.77

8.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.1K

$3.84 OMR 1.48

14.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 18.9K

$4.91 OMR 1.89

19.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 27.8K

$8.60 OMR 3.31

0.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,330

$2.36 OMR 0.91

-3.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,557

$1.27 OMR 0.49

-12.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,918

$1.06 OMR 0.41

44.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,353

$0.81 OMR 0.31

66.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,627

$0.82 OMR 0.31

37.80%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,644

$0.50 OMR 0.19

126.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,717

$1.08 OMR 0.42

-21.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,937

$0.51 OMR 0.19

78.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,531

$6.23 OMR 2.40

-62.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 39.7K

$15.90 OMR 6.12

-22.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,859

$4.36 OMR 1.68

-72.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,000

$8.01 OMR 3.08

-68.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,692

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 130.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,563

$3.16 OMR 1.21

-55.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,155

$0.76 OMR 0.29

152.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.6K

$10.25 OMR 3.95

-25.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,181

$0.53 OMR 0.20

86.79%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.0K COP 57.9M

$22.5K OMR 8,655

-19.82%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.6K COP 85.6M

$21.8K OMR 8,409

21.87%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$80.8 COP 259.7K

$79.0 OMR 30.40

2.32%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.95 COP 32.0K

$23.13 OMR 8.90

-56.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 77.7K

$70.0 OMR 26.95

-65.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 80.6K

$85.9 OMR 33.07

-70.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 61.5K

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 12.8K

$10.25 OMR 3.95

-61.17%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$305 COP 980.7K

$192 OMR 73.8

59.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.5M

$6,388 OMR 2,459

-5.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 186.8K

$51.2 OMR 19.71

13.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 103.5K

$39.04 OMR 15.03

-17.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 323.7K

$78.4 OMR 30.18

28.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 346.3K

$87.7 OMR 33.74

22.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.5M

$258 OMR 99.5

84.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

$265 OMR 102

42.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

$470 OMR 181

79.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.3M

$384 OMR 148

90.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.3M

$565 OMR 218

468.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.4M

$525 OMR 202

161.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

$2,657 OMR 1,023

-76.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

5.15

160.78%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Sur: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $258 in Sur. 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 331% higher in Sur, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $26.00 in Sur. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $216 in Sur – 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 Sur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Sur 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $1,655 in Sur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $26.00 in Sur. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 12% more in Sur, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Sur at $1,103. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sur it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sur makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.