Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and SyrosCost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Syros
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $1,606 in Syros, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $2,438 in Syros, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $3,271 in Syros, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 2% more than Syros, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Medellin and Syros sit above the global median – Medellin by 19%, Syros by 16%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Syros
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04COP 24.8K
$15.33€13.22
-47.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29COP 148.6K
$58.8€50.7
-17.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42COP 29.0K
$10.62€9.16
-11.30%
Cappuccino
$2.94COP 9,040
$3.59€3.09
-18.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86COP 5,735
$2.57€2.21
-27.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46COP 4,479
$0.77€0.66
89.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21COP 9,882
$5.87€5.06
-45.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71COP 17.6K
$5.36€4.62
6.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Syros
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,428
$1.83€1.57
-21.31%
White Bread(500g)
$2.40COP 7,389
$1.55€1.33
54.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,228
$2.70€2.33
-37.04%
Eggs
$2.89COP 8,896
$4.67€4.02
-38.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.06COP 30.9K
$16.09€13.87
-37.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.97COP 30.7K
$11.12€9.59
-10.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.20COP 43.7K
$16.03€13.81
-11.42%
Apples(1kg)
$3.98COP 12.3K
$2.44€2.10
63.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58COP 4,878
$2.13€1.83
-25.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15COP 6,624
$1.39€1.20
54.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,078
$2.05€1.77
12.20%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00COP 6,169
$1.29€1.11
55.04%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,646
$1.29€1.11
17.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20COP 3,701
$0.99€0.86
21.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28COP 3,946
$0.75€0.65
70.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84COP 11.8K
$5.18€4.47
-25.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.1K
$7.50€6.46
86.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71COP 5,256
$2.07€1.79
-17.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74COP 8,440
$3.04€2.62
-9.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Syros
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.25COP 3,834
$1.41€1.22
-11.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.9COP 239.7K
$48.93€42.18
59.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,016
$4.52€3.90
-71.02%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.17COP 6,680
$1.19€1.02
82.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.29COP 25.5K
$5.95€5.13
39.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,172
$2.27€1.96
-40.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
$28.8K€24.8K
-4.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
$25.9K€22.3K
40.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Syros
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169COP 519.2K
$201€173
-16.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57COP 41.8K
$26.37€22.73
-48.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32COP 87.2K
$29.62€25.53
-4.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Syros
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.71COP 140.7K
$54.8€47.25
-16.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22COP 53.0K
$25.79€22.23
-33.23%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.5K
$9.25€7.98
-28.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Syros
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$803COP 2.5M
$404€349
98.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,190COP 28.3M
$4,249€3,662
116.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Syros
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4COP 268.8K
$85.9€74.0
1.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4COP 182.7K
$29.24€25.20
103.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$139COP 427.5K
$88.3€76.1
57.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 314.0K
$86.8€74.8
17.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Syros
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,071COP 3.3M
$604€521
77.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653COP 2.0M
$533€459
22.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,925COP 5.9M
$1,038€895
85.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,048COP 3.2M
$869€749
20.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,123COP 12.7M
$1,774€1,529
132.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,697COP 5.2M
$1,596€1,376
6.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Syros
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$655COP 2.0M
$970€836
-32.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
4.44
146.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Last update for Syros: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,071 in Medellin versus $604 in Syros. 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 48% higher in Syros, 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 $59.0 in Syros. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $307 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Syros: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Syros cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 2%, 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 $2,462 per month in Medellin and $2,409 in Syros. 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 Syros, 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 Syros?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $59.0 in Syros. 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 Syros?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,641 in Medellin and $1,606 in Syros. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Syros?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Syros, where all-in costs run around $1,606, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Syros it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Syros more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Syros – 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 Syros?
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 Syros. 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.