Cost of Living Comparison Between Samos and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Samos and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,390 per month in Samos vs $1,030 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,068 per month in Samos vs $1,586 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,746 per month in Samos vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Samos costs about 35% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Samos sits 4% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Samos
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.49 €9.80
$5.92 COP 21.2K
94.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.38 €34.45
$33.17 COP 118.7K
21.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.09 €6.05
$7.25 COP 25.9K
-2.21%
Cappuccino
$3.52 €3.01
$1.71 COP 6,137
105.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 €1.94
$1.09 COP 3,915
108.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 €0.64
$0.77 COP 2,743
-1.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.75 €4.05
$1.75 COP 6,254
171.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.62 €5.64
$3.18 COP 11.4K
108.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Samos
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 €1.46
$1.06 COP 3,792
62.26%
White Bread (500g)
$1.49 €1.27
$1.30 COP 4,657
14.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.39 €2.04
$1.38 COP 4,926
73.19%
Eggs
$4.10 €3.49
$2.21 COP 7,908
85.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.42 €11.45
$4.52 COP 16.2K
196.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.62 €8.21
$5.80 COP 20.7K
65.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.70 €11.69
$8.97 COP 32.1K
52.73%
Apples (1kg)
$2.15 €1.84
$2.29 COP 8,182
-6.11%
Banana (1kg)
$2.06 €1.76
$1.06 COP 3,791
94.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.43 €1.22
$1.51 COP 5,411
-5.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.04 €1.74
$1.36 COP 4,869
50.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.22 €1.04
$1.16 COP 4,146
5.17%
Onion (1kg)
$1.24 €1.06
$1.17 COP 4,174
5.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 €0.84
$0.83 COP 2,960
19.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75 €0.64
$0.85 COP 3,043
-11.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.41 €4.61
$2.35 COP 8,423
130.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.55 €6.44
$11.09 COP 39.7K
-31.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10 €1.80
$1.15 COP 4,133
82.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 €2.40
$2.47 COP 8,853
13.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Samos
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.53 €1.31
$0.79 COP 2,827
93.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.18 €39.39
$41.85 COP 149.8K
10.35%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.73 €4.04
$1.44 COP 5,140
228.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.90 COP 6,793
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.65 €11.65
$7.70 COP 27.6K
77.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.18 €1.86
$1.03 COP 3,680
111.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.2K €26.6K
$17.7K COP 63.3M
76.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K €22.4K
$27.0K COP 96.7M
-2.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samos
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$219 €187
$81.4 COP 291.4K
168.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.12 €19.72
$9.42 COP 33.7K
145.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.90 €28.06
$23.77 COP 85.1K
38.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Samos
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.88 €40.84
$25.86 COP 92.6K
85.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.44 €22.56
$19.34 COP 69.2K
36.71%
Cinema Ticket
$9.28 €7.92
$4.05 COP 14.5K
129.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Samos
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$431 €368
$312 COP 1.1M
38.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,938 €5,066
$6,067 COP 21.7M
-2.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Samos
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.1 €75.2
$58.9 COP 210.7K
49.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.96 €32.38
$32.82 COP 117.5K
15.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.7 €75.6
$100 COP 359.6K
-11.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 €90.4
$106 COP 380.3K
-0.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Samos
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$487 €416
$490 COP 1.8M
-0.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$386 €329
$371 COP 1.3M
4.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$763 €651
$838 COP 3.0M
-8.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$608 €519
$715 COP 2.6M
-14.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,082 €2,629
$2,952 COP 10.6M
4.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,230 €1,902
$1,394 COP 5.0M
59.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Samos
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,061 €905
$532 COP 1.9M
99.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.43
13.43
-67.01%

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

Last update for Samos: April 21, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Samos versus $490 in Medellin. 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 99% higher in Samos, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40 in Samos versus $33 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $277 vs $190 – 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
Samos vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Samos?
Yes – Samos is pricier by about 35%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $2,085 per month in Samos and $1,544 in Medellin. 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 Medellin, 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 Samos or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Samos and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Samos vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,390 in Samos and $1,030 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Samos or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,030, than in Samos at $1,390. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Samos it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Samos or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Samos or Medellin?
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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Samos makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Samos vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities