Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Thessaloniki

For one person, living costs are similar in Medellin and in Thessaloniki: $1,639 and $1,660 a month, rent and utilities included.

Medellin, Colombia
Thessaloniki, Greece
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Thessaloniki
🇬🇷 Greece
$1,660
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Thessaloniki

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Thessaloniki actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,639 per month in Medellin vs $1,660 in Thessaloniki, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • Thessaloniki $1,660

A couple spends around $2,413 per month in Medellin vs $2,529 in Thessaloniki, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • Thessaloniki $2,529

A family of three spends $3,186 per month in Medellin vs $3,398 in Thessaloniki, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • Thessaloniki $3,398

Medellin and Thessaloniki have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Medellin and Thessaloniki sit above the global median – Medellin by 20%, Thessaloniki by 22%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Thessaloniki
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 25.6K
$16.83 €15.08
-51.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 148.9K
$66.9 €59.9
-29.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.1K
$11.04 €9.89
-13.95%
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,540
$4.29 €3.84
-29.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,693
$2.85 €2.56
-36.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,469
$0.75 €0.67
88.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 10.0K
$5.49 €4.92
-42.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.2K
$6.53 €5.85
-11.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Thessaloniki
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,778
$1.72 €1.54
-12.21%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,524
$1.71 €1.53
39.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,606
$3.69 €3.31
-52.03%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,146
$5.52 €4.94
-47.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.2K
$13.99 €12.54
-27.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.2K
$11.20 €10.04
-11.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 44.3K
$18.82 €16.86
-25.66%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.6K
$2.49 €2.23
59.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 4,911
$2.14 €1.92
-27.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,907
$2.16 €1.94
0.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,910
$2.75 €2.46
-20.73%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,210
$1.28 €1.14
53.12%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,029
$1.23 €1.11
29.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,625
$1.53 €1.37
-24.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 3,934
$0.89 €0.80
39.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.5K
$5.48 €4.91
-27.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 43.3K
$10.00 €8.96
36.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,252
$2.08 €1.87
-20.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,145
$3.25 €2.91
-30.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Thessaloniki
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,696
$0.66 €0.59
77.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 244.8K
$18.02 €16.15
329.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,013
$4.14 €3.71
-69.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,480
$1.10 €0.99
86.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 27.1K
$16.48 €14.77
-48.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,262
$2.38 €2.13
-43.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 107.8M
$27.9K €25.0K
22.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 109.7M
$27.4K €24.6K
26.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Thessaloniki
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 536.8K
$210 €188
-19.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 42.9K
$23.21 €20.80
-41.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 88.8K
$30.46 €27.30
-7.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Thessaloniki
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 138.3K
$52.1 €46.71
-16.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 54.4K
$16.26 €14.57
5.72%
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 21.9K
$10.45 €9.36
-33.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Thessaloniki
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.5M
$481 €431
65.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 28.8M
$8,979 €8,046
1.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Thessaloniki
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 268.1K
$97.4 €87.3
-12.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 183.4K
$45.50 €40.77
27.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 427.1K
$124 €111
9.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 309.7K
$130 €116
-24.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Thessaloniki
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.8M
$623 €559
93.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.0M
$507 €454
26.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.4M
$1,096 €982
84.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.2M
$823 €737
23.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.2M
$3,708 €3,323
12.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.0M
$2,866 €2,568
-33.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Thessaloniki
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
$1,176 €1,054
-44.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
5.34
104.87%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Last update for Thessaloniki: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
Thessaloniki
$507 21% $135
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
Thessaloniki
$333 12.2% $36
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
Thessaloniki
$264 24.8% $52
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
Thessaloniki
$274 61.7% $105
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
Thessaloniki
$178 5.6% $9.5
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
Thessaloniki
$30 67.6% $63
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Thessaloniki
$73 26.9% $15

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,208 in Medellin versus $623 in Thessaloniki. 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 79% higher in Thessaloniki. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin versus $67 in Thessaloniki. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $333 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇬🇷 Thessaloniki
🕒 Local time
04:53 4:53 AM
11:53 11:53 AM
7 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
790,824
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 3,164 COP (10,000 COP = 3.16 USD). 1 EUR = 3,531 COP (10,000 COP = 2.83 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Thessaloniki 10,270 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Thessaloniki

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Thessaloniki: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,459 per month in Medellin and $2,490 in Thessaloniki. 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 Thessaloniki, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $623 there versus $1,208 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Thessaloniki?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin and $67 in Thessaloniki. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 77% less in Thessaloniki. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,500 enough for either Medellin or Thessaloniki?
$2,500 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,639 in Medellin and $1,660 in Thessaloniki, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city suits remote workers better?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,639 versus $1,660 in Thessaloniki. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Thessaloniki makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Medellin vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?