Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Usak

For one person, living is cheaper in Usak: $1,051 a month against $1,692 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $7,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Usak, Turkey
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,692
/mo nomad
Usak
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,051
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Usak

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 Usak actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,692 per month in Medellin vs $1,051 in Usak, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,692
  • Usak $1,051

A couple spends around $2,471 per month in Medellin vs $1,635 in Usak, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,471
  • Usak $1,635

A family of three spends $3,249 per month in Medellin vs $2,219 in Usak, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,249
  • Usak $2,219

Medellin costs about 61% more than Usak, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Medellin sits 25% above the global median, while Usak is 22% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Usak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.34 COP 27.0K
$10.06 ₺503
-17.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.53 COP 150.9K
$43.08 ₺2,155
8.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.47 COP 30.7K
$9.01 ₺451
5.11%
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 10.2K
$4.27 ₺214
-26.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 COP 5,727
$1.94 ₺97.0
-8.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 COP 4,619
$0.54 ₺26.98
162.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.15 COP 10.2K
$3.66 ₺183
-13.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.70 COP 18.5K
$4.98 ₺249
14.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Usak
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 COP 4,969
$1.04 ₺52.2
47.12%
White Bread (500g)
$2.29 COP 7,429
$1.03 ₺51.7
122.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.94 COP 6,306
$1.98 ₺99.2
-2.02%
Eggs
$3.07 COP 9,942
$2.52 ₺126
21.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.99 COP 32.4K
$9.30 ₺465
7.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.45 COP 33.9K
$4.92 ₺246
112.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.96 COP 45.3K
$19.76 ₺988
-29.35%
Apples (1kg)
$4.05 COP 13.1K
$1.72 ₺85.9
135.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,956
$1.80 ₺90.0
-15.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.10 COP 6,823
$0.96 ₺48.02
118.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.29 COP 7,437
$1.40 ₺70.0
63.57%
Potato (1kg)
$2.11 COP 6,839
$0.61 ₺30.46
245.90%
Onion (1kg)
$1.71 COP 5,542
$0.56 ₺28.03
205.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,794
$0.85 ₺42.50
37.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 COP 5,123
$0.68 ₺34.04
132.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.91 COP 12.7K
$2.22 ₺111
76.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.04 COP 45.5K
$9.98 ₺499
40.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 COP 5,712
$2.17 ₺109
-18.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 COP 8,793
$3.00 ₺150
-9.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Usak
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.18 COP 3,825
$0.67 ₺33.31
76.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.3 COP 247.4K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 COP 5,859
$0.77 ₺38.44
135.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.13 COP 6,904
$1.01 ₺50.6
110.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.13 COP 26.4K
$4.93 ₺247
64.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 COP 4,135
$1.43 ₺71.5
-10.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K COP 111.7M
$47.4K ₺2.4M
-27.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K COP 110.7M
$40.3K ₺2.0M
-15.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Usak
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$178 COP 576.3K
$70.2 ₺3,511
153.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.89 COP 45.0K
$11.34 ₺567
22.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.74 COP 99.7K
$15.64 ₺782
96.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Usak
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.94 COP 136.0K
$54.3 ₺2,717
-22.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80 COP 54.5K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.47 COP 24.2K
$7.08 ₺354
5.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Usak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$790 COP 2.6M
$698 ₺34.9K
13.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.3K COP 39.9M
$17.8K ₺888.2K
-30.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Usak
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.3 COP 279.9K
$47.35 ₺2,368
82.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.3 COP 192.2K
$32.50 ₺1,626
82.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 448.6K
$99.3 ₺4,967
39.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.8 COP 320.4K
$81.3 ₺4,064
21.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Usak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,341 COP 4.3M
$430 ₺21.5K
211.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$667 COP 2.2M
$331 ₺16.5K
101.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,976 COP 6.4M
$780 ₺39.0K
153.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,033 COP 3.3M
$550 ₺27.5K
87.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,098 COP 13.3M
$1,158 ₺57.9K
253.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,940 COP 6.3M
$1,061 ₺53.1K
82.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Usak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$646 COP 2.1M
$874 ₺43.7K
-26.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
40
-72.65%

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

Last update for Medellin: November 2, 2026

Last update for Usak: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$667
Usak
$331 50.4% $336
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$307
Usak
$232 24.5% $75
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$222
Usak
$97 56.3% $125
Eating Out
Medellin
$173
Usak
$197 14.1% $24
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$172
Usak
$117 32% $55
Getting Around
Medellin
$93
Usak
$8.5 * 90.9% $85
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$57
Usak
$68 20.4% $12

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,341 in Medellin versus $430 in Usak. 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 35% higher in Usak, 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 $47 in Medellin versus $43 in Usak. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $307 vs $232 – making Usak the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇹🇷 Usak
🕒 Local time
11:46 11:46 AM
19:46 7:46 PM
8 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
377,001
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

TRY, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 3,242 COP (10,000 COP = 3.08 USD). 1 EUR = 3,635 COP (10,000 COP = 2.75 EUR).

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 50.02 TRY (100 TRY = 2 USD). 1 EUR = 56.07 TRY (100 TRY = 1.78 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Usak 10,860 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Usak

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 Usak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Usak cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 61%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in transport.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,538 per month in Medellin and $1,577 in Usak. 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 Usak, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $430 there versus $1,341 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Usak?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin and $43 in Usak. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Usak?
Groceries cost about 32% more in Medellin, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Usak?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Usak, where all-in costs run around $1,051, than in Medellin at $1,692. In Usak it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Usak more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Usak – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Medellin vs other spots: cost of living compared

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