πA single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $1,053 in Szeged, rent included.
πA couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,625 in Szeged, rent included.
πA family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $2,196 in Szeged, rent included.
πMedellin is about 3% cheaper than Szeged, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
πBoth Medellin and Szeged are more affordable than the global median β Medellin24% lower, Szeged22% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Szeged
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95COPΒ 21.1K
$7.73FtΒ 2,386
-23.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.33COPΒ 118.2K
$45.19FtΒ 13.9K
-26.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.23COPΒ 25.7K
$5.61FtΒ 1,733
28.88%
Cappuccino
$1.63COPΒ 5,779
$1.97FtΒ 607
-17.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09COPΒ 3,882
$1.36FtΒ 421
-19.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73COPΒ 2,590
$0.93FtΒ 286
-21.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.74COPΒ 6,163
$2.36FtΒ 729
-26.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23COPΒ 11.5K
$2.18FtΒ 672
48.17%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Szeged
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COPΒ 3,721
$1.07FtΒ 332
-1.87%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29COPΒ 4,588
$1.54FtΒ 475
-16.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32COPΒ 4,692
$1.77FtΒ 547
-25.42%
Eggs
$2.27COPΒ 8,055
$2.91FtΒ 899
-21.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.35COPΒ 15.4K
$8.07FtΒ 2,492
-46.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COPΒ 20.9K
$5.95FtΒ 1,837
-1.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.61COPΒ 30.5K
$11.31FtΒ 3,493
-23.87%
Apples(1kg)
$2.25COPΒ 7,970
$1.85FtΒ 571
21.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.07COPΒ 3,793
$1.86FtΒ 575
-42.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COPΒ 5,408
$2.03FtΒ 625
-25.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42COPΒ 5,045
$2.90FtΒ 895
-51.03%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,150
$1.02FtΒ 315
14.71%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,143
$1.19FtΒ 368
-1.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,146
$1.39FtΒ 430
-35.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COPΒ 3,197
$0.47FtΒ 145
91.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25COPΒ 7,963
$7.52FtΒ 2,320
-70.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.04COPΒ 39.2K
$5.31FtΒ 1,638
107.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14COPΒ 4,041
$0.93FtΒ 287
22.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38COPΒ 8,435
$1.24FtΒ 383
91.94%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Szeged
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COPΒ 2,963
$1.61FtΒ 498
-47.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.95COPΒ 148.8K
$28.00FtΒ 8,642
49.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41COPΒ 4,991
$2.90FtΒ 896
-51.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90COPΒ 6,742
$1.28FtΒ 395
48.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.75COPΒ 27.5K
$17.38FtΒ 5,365
-55.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COPΒ 3,566
$1.75FtΒ 540
-42.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOPΒ 62.3M
$25.5KFtΒ 7.9M
-31.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 94.0M
$25.6KFtΒ 7.9M
3.67%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Szeged
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.7COPΒ 296.8K
$104FtΒ 32.2K
-19.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.45COPΒ 33.5K
$25.12FtΒ 7,754
-62.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.11COPΒ 85.5K
$18.72FtΒ 5,778
28.79%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Szeged
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.31COPΒ 89.8K
$40.21FtΒ 12.4K
-37.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14COPΒ 67.9K
$19.90FtΒ 6,143
-3.82%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10COPΒ 14.5K
$7.78FtΒ 2,401
-47.30%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Szeged
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312COPΒ 1.1M
$221FtΒ 68.2K
41.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,993COPΒ 21.3M
$6,372FtΒ 2.0M
-5.94%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Szeged
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0COPΒ 205.8K
$90.3FtΒ 27.9K
-35.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56COPΒ 115.5K
$26.11FtΒ 8,060
24.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.6COPΒ 353.3K
$85.8FtΒ 26.5K
16.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COPΒ 384.9K
$105FtΒ 32.4K
3.26%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Szeged
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$482COPΒ 1.7M
$441FtΒ 136.0K
9.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.3M
$344FtΒ 106.1K
10.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$837COPΒ 3.0M
$677FtΒ 209.0K
23.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$723COPΒ 2.6M
$537FtΒ 165.7K
34.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,840COPΒ 10.1M
$3,386FtΒ 1.0M
-16.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,223COPΒ 4.3M
$2,456FtΒ 758.0K
-50.19%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Szeged
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$541COPΒ 1.9M
$1,328FtΒ 409.8K
-59.26%
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Szeged: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $441 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 145% 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $45.00 in Szeged. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $210 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 4%, 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 $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,580 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 $1,017 in Medellin and $1,053 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 $1,017, than in Szeged at $1,053. 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.