πA single person spends $1,030 per month in Medellin vs $1,055 in Szeged, rent included.
πA couple spends around $1,586 per month in Medellin vs $1,657 in Szeged, rent included.
πA family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $2,258 in Szeged, rent included.
πMedellin is about 2% cheaper than Szeged, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
πBoth Medellin and Szeged are more affordable than the global median β Medellin23% lower, Szeged21% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Szeged
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COPΒ 21.2K
$7.82FtΒ 2,432
-24.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.17COPΒ 118.7K
$45.23FtΒ 14.1K
-26.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.25COPΒ 25.9K
$5.65FtΒ 1,759
28.32%
Cappuccino
$1.71COPΒ 6,137
$1.96FtΒ 609
-12.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09COPΒ 3,915
$1.36FtΒ 423
-19.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COPΒ 2,743
$0.98FtΒ 305
-21.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.75COPΒ 6,254
$2.33FtΒ 724
-24.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COPΒ 11.4K
$2.16FtΒ 672
47.22%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Szeged
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COPΒ 3,792
$1.11FtΒ 344
-4.50%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COPΒ 4,657
$1.53FtΒ 477
-15.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,926
$1.85FtΒ 575
-25.41%
Eggs
$2.21COPΒ 7,908
$2.95FtΒ 919
-25.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.52COPΒ 16.2K
$7.82FtΒ 2,435
-42.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.80COPΒ 20.7K
$5.62FtΒ 1,749
3.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COPΒ 32.1K
$10.94FtΒ 3,403
-18.01%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29COPΒ 8,182
$1.92FtΒ 598
19.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COPΒ 3,791
$1.85FtΒ 575
-42.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.51COPΒ 5,411
$2.04FtΒ 634
-25.98%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COPΒ 4,869
$2.81FtΒ 875
-51.60%
Potato(1kg)
$1.16COPΒ 4,146
$1.05FtΒ 328
10.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,174
$1.19FtΒ 371
-1.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.83COPΒ 2,960
$1.45FtΒ 450
-42.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85COPΒ 3,043
$0.48FtΒ 149
77.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35COPΒ 8,423
$7.14FtΒ 2,221
-67.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.09COPΒ 39.7K
$5.18FtΒ 1,612
114.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15COPΒ 4,133
$1.00FtΒ 312
15.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COPΒ 8,853
$1.20FtΒ 372
105.83%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Szeged
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COPΒ 2,827
$1.56FtΒ 486
-49.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.85COPΒ 149.8K
$27.50FtΒ 8,555
52.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COPΒ 5,140
$2.78FtΒ 864
-48.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90COPΒ 6,793
$1.27FtΒ 396
49.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.70COPΒ 27.6K
$17.38FtΒ 5,408
-55.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.03COPΒ 3,680
$1.75FtΒ 544
-41.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7KCOPΒ 63.3M
$25.8KFtΒ 8.0M
-31.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0KCOPΒ 96.7M
$25.6KFtΒ 8.0M
5.72%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Szeged
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.4COPΒ 291.4K
$106FtΒ 33.0K
-23.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.42COPΒ 33.7K
$24.82FtΒ 7,723
-62.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.77COPΒ 85.1K
$19.19FtΒ 5,970
23.87%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Szeged
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.86COPΒ 92.6K
$40.56FtΒ 12.6K
-36.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.34COPΒ 69.2K
$20.08FtΒ 6,249
-3.69%
Cinema Ticket
$4.05COPΒ 14.5K
$7.84FtΒ 2,440
-48.34%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Szeged
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312COPΒ 1.1M
$223FtΒ 69.5K
39.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,067COPΒ 21.7M
$6,248FtΒ 1.9M
-2.91%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Szeged
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.9COPΒ 210.7K
$88.1FtΒ 27.4K
-33.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.82COPΒ 117.5K
$25.98FtΒ 8,084
26.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100COPΒ 359.6K
$85.8FtΒ 26.7K
17.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106COPΒ 380.3K
$106FtΒ 33.1K
0.02%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Szeged
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$490COPΒ 1.8M
$432FtΒ 134.5K
13.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$371COPΒ 1.3M
$339FtΒ 105.4K
9.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COPΒ 3.0M
$655FtΒ 203.9K
27.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$715COPΒ 2.6M
$536FtΒ 166.9K
33.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,952COPΒ 10.6M
$3,360FtΒ 1.0M
-12.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,394COPΒ 5.0M
$2,468FtΒ 767.9K
-43.52%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Szeged
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$532COPΒ 1.9M
$1,295FtΒ 402.8K
-58.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
5.85
129.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 20, 2026
Last update for Szeged: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Medellin versus $432 in Szeged. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
π°Salaries run about 143% higher in Szeged, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $33 in Medellin versus $45 in Szeged. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $208 β 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 Szeged: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Szeged cheaper than Medellin?
Yes β Szeged is pricier by about 2%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. 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 $1,544 per month in Medellin and $1,583 in Szeged. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Szeged?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,030 in Medellin and $1,055 in Szeged. The difference isn't just one category β it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Szeged?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,030, than in Szeged at $1,055. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Szeged it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Szeged more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin β 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 β central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Szeged makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.