Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Szeged Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Szeged

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $1,294 in Szeged, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $2,023 in Szeged, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $2,753 in Szeged, rent included.

Medellin costs about 27% more than Szeged, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Medellin sits 19% above the global median, while Szeged is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Szeged
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04 COP 24.8K
$10.20 Ft 3,196
-21.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29 COP 148.6K
$61.7 Ft 19.3K
-21.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.42 COP 29.0K
$9.32 Ft 2,919
1.07%
Cappuccino
$2.94 COP 9,040
$2.44 Ft 765
20.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 COP 5,735
$1.58 Ft 496
17.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 COP 4,479
$1.32 Ft 413
10.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.21 COP 9,882
$2.25 Ft 705
42.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71 COP 17.6K
$2.35 Ft 735
142.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Szeged
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,428
$1.22 Ft 382
18.03%
White Bread (500g)
$2.40 COP 7,389
$1.49 Ft 466
61.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,228
$2.74 Ft 857
-37.96%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 8,896
$3.81 Ft 1,193
-24.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.06 COP 30.9K
$10.45 Ft 3,272
-3.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.97 COP 30.7K
$6.93 Ft 2,171
43.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.20 COP 43.7K
$16.39 Ft 5,135
-13.36%
Apples (1kg)
$3.98 COP 12.3K
$2.41 Ft 756
65.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 COP 4,878
$2.37 Ft 742
-33.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 COP 6,624
$2.14 Ft 671
0.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.30 COP 7,078
$3.54 Ft 1,108
-35.03%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 COP 6,169
$1.09 Ft 343
83.49%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 COP 4,646
$1.19 Ft 372
26.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.20 COP 3,701
$1.63 Ft 510
-26.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 COP 3,946
$0.57 Ft 177
124.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84 COP 11.8K
$8.16 Ft 2,556
-52.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 43.1K
$5.04 Ft 1,578
177.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 COP 5,256
$1.31 Ft 412
30.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 COP 8,440
$2.07 Ft 649
32.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Szeged
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.25 COP 3,834
$1.81 Ft 566
-30.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.9 COP 239.7K
$31.30 Ft 9,806
148.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,016
$3.08 Ft 964
-57.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.17 COP 6,680
$1.72 Ft 538
26.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.29 COP 25.5K
$18.92 Ft 5,925
-56.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 COP 4,172
$1.94 Ft 609
-29.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K COP 84.5M
$28.3K Ft 8.9M
-2.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5K COP 112.4M
$39.4K Ft 12.3M
-7.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Szeged
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 COP 519.2K
$136 Ft 42.7K
23.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 COP 41.8K
$23.24 Ft 7,280
-41.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32 COP 87.2K
$20.60 Ft 6,453
37.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Szeged
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.71 COP 140.7K
$49.12 Ft 15.4K
-6.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22 COP 53.0K
$31.29 Ft 9,803
-44.97%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 20.5K
$8.55 Ft 2,679
-22.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Szeged
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$803 COP 2.5M
$259 Ft 81.3K
209.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,190 COP 28.3M
$7,070 Ft 2.2M
29.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Szeged
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4 COP 268.8K
$108 Ft 33.8K
-18.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4 COP 182.7K
$35.02 Ft 11.0K
69.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$139 COP 427.5K
$94.1 Ft 29.5K
47.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 314.0K
$131 Ft 41.0K
-22.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Szeged
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,071 COP 3.3M
$534 Ft 167.1K
100.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$653 COP 2.0M
$387 Ft 121.3K
68.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,925 COP 5.9M
$791 Ft 247.9K
143.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,048 COP 3.2M
$635 Ft 198.9K
65.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,123 COP 12.7M
$3,277 Ft 1.0M
25.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,697 COP 5.2M
$2,403 Ft 752.7K
-29.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Szeged
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$655 COP 2.0M
$1,348 Ft 422.3K
-51.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
6.67
64.02%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Last update for Szeged: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,071 in Medellin versus $534 in Szeged. 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 106% higher in Szeged, 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 Szeged. Groceries tell a different story – $300 in Medellin vs $261 in Szeged – so Szeged 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 Szeged: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Szeged cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 27%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $1,940 in Szeged. 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 Szeged, 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 Szeged?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $62.0 in Szeged. 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 Szeged?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,641 in Medellin and $1,294 in Szeged. 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 Szeged?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Szeged, where all-in costs run around $1,294, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Szeged it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Szeged more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Szeged – 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 Szeged?
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 Szeged. 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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