Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Santorini and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,614 a month against $2,113 in Santorini, rent and utilities included – about $6,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Santorini
🇬🇷 Greece
$2,113
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,614
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Santorini and in Medellin

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

A single person spends $2,113 per month in Santorini vs $1,614 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Santorini $2,113
  • Medellin $1,614

A couple spends around $3,080 per month in Santorini vs $2,402 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Santorini $3,080
  • Medellin $2,402

A family of three spends $4,046 per month in Santorini vs $3,190 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Santorini $4,046
  • Medellin $3,190

Santorini costs about 31% more than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Santorini and Medellin sit above the global median – Santorini by 57%, Medellin by 20%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santorini
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$26.66 €23.72
$7.93 COP 25.2K
236.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.6 €77.9
$46.13 COP 146.3K
89.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.56 €13.84
$9.50 COP 30.1K
63.79%
Cappuccino
$4.64 €4.13
$3.11 COP 9,866
49.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71 €3.30
$1.83 COP 5,800
102.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.18
$1.38 COP 4,360
-3.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.63 €5.01
$3.05 COP 9,672
84.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.20 €6.41
$5.50 COP 17.4K
30.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santorini
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.99 €1.77
$1.45 COP 4,600
37.24%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 €1.26
$2.36 COP 7,496
-40.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.38 €3.00
$1.68 COP 5,328
101.19%
Eggs
$6.54 €5.82
$2.86 COP 9,077
128.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.26 €12.68
$10.19 COP 32.3K
39.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.71 €6.86
$9.53 COP 30.2K
-19.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.06 €16.07
$14.04 COP 44.5K
28.63%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 €2.46
$4.07 COP 12.9K
-32.19%
Banana (1kg)
$2.22 €1.97
$1.50 COP 4,742
48.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.62 €1.44
$2.17 COP 6,891
-25.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.39 €3.01
$2.31 COP 7,310
46.75%
Potato (1kg)
$2.55 €2.27
$1.93 COP 6,113
32.12%
Onion (1kg)
$3.40 €3.02
$1.64 COP 5,196
107.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 €0.90
$1.13 COP 3,571
-10.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 €0.53
$1.25 COP 3,954
-52.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.53 €5.81
$3.99 COP 12.6K
63.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.68 €5.05
$13.35 COP 42.3K
-57.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 €1.73
$1.70 COP 5,384
14.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 €2.42
$2.37 COP 7,525
14.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Santorini
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.72 €2.42
$1.21 COP 3,827
124.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.26 €26.03
$76.5 COP 242.5K
-61.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.20 €1.95
$1.32 COP 4,179
66.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.07 €1.84
$2.14 COP 6,774
-3.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.23 €12.66
$8.47 COP 26.8K
68.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.27 €2.02
$1.30 COP 4,114
74.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.6K €39.7K
$28.0K COP 88.7M
59.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$45.7K €40.6K
$35.4K COP 112.3M
28.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santorini
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$305 €271
$172 COP 545.6K
77.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.85 €39.00
$13.37 COP 42.4K
227.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.93 €30.18
$28.73 COP 91.1K
18.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santorini
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$78.9 €70.2
$45.24 COP 143.5K
74.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.20 €22.41
$17.04 COP 54.0K
47.89%
Cinema Ticket
$6.59 €5.86
$6.28 COP 19.9K
4.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santorini
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$601 €535
$770 COP 2.4M
-21.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$9,011 COP 28.6M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santorini
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.3 €59.9
$86.4 COP 274.0K
-22.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.1 €44.54
$57.1 COP 181.1K
-12.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.1 €66.8
$137 COP 432.9K
-44.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 €100
$97.9 COP 310.4K
14.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santorini
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,587 €1,411
$1,055 COP 3.3M
50.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$758 €674
$616 COP 2.0M
23.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,299 €1,155
$1,892 COP 6.0M
-31.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,034 €920
$1,023 COP 3.2M
1.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,070 €4,510
$4,059 COP 12.9M
24.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,313 €2,947
$1,678 COP 5.3M
97.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santorini
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,181 €1,050
$652 COP 2.1M
81.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.15
10.94
-62.07%

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

Last update for Santorini: October 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Santorini
$758
Medellin
$616 18.8% $142
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santorini
$383
Medellin
$214 44% $168
Eating Out
Santorini
$378
Medellin
$168 55.5% $210
Groceries & Markets
Santorini
$312
Medellin
$295 5.6% $17
Clothing & Footwear
Santorini
$137
Medellin
$170 23.9% $33
Sport & Entertainment
Santorini
$92
Medellin
$58 37.2% $34
Getting Around
Santorini
$53
Medellin
$93 77.2% $41

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,587 in Santorini versus $1,055 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 81% higher in Santorini, 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 $88.0 in Santorini versus $46.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $312 vs $295 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇬🇷 Santorini
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
19:17 7:17 PM
11:17 11:17 AM
8 h behind Santorini
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,233
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Santorini Medellin 10,570 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Santorini
  • Medellin

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
Santorini vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Santorini?
Yes – Santorini is pricier by about 31%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,170 per month in Santorini and $2,421 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 Santorini or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Santorini and $46.00 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 Santorini and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,113 in Santorini and $1,614 in Medellin. That's a gap of about 31%.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Santorini or in Medellin?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,614, than in Santorini at $2,113. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Santorini it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Santorini 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, Santorini 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, Santorini makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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