Cost of Living Comparison Between Saraburi and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Saraburi and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $811 per month in Saraburi vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,515 per month in Saraburi vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,220 per month in Saraburi vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Saraburi is about 52% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Saraburi sits 41% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saraburi
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.53 ฿218
$8.02 COP 25.0K
-18.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.51 ฿918
$47.87 COP 149.4K
-42.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.77 ฿226
$9.89 COP 30.8K
-31.55%
Cappuccino
$2.30 ฿76.8
$3.13 COP 9,767
-26.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 ฿25.02
$1.91 COP 5,954
-60.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 ฿8.25
$1.51 COP 4,712
-83.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.02 ฿67.5
$3.12 COP 9,747
-35.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 ฿106
$5.75 COP 17.9K
-44.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saraburi
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 ฿50.1
$1.44 COP 4,509
4.17%
White Bread (500g)
$1.16 ฿38.80
$2.49 COP 7,759
-53.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 ฿46.57
$1.77 COP 5,535
-20.90%
Eggs
$2.22 ฿74.0
$2.96 COP 9,235
-25.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.82 ฿528
$10.07 COP 31.4K
57.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.69 ฿89.9
$10.12 COP 31.6K
-73.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.31 ฿344
$14.30 COP 44.6K
-27.90%
Apples (1kg)
$5.02 ฿168
$4.14 COP 12.9K
21.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.76 ฿58.8
$1.61 COP 5,019
9.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.1
$2.25 COP 7,007
-
Tomato (1kg)
$1.95 ฿65.1
$2.25 COP 7,028
-13.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿50.8
$2.04 COP 6,375
-25.49%
Onion (1kg)
$1.09 ฿36.23
$1.54 COP 4,790
-29.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ฿36.75
$1.17 COP 3,651
-5.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.53
$1.31 COP 4,077
-59.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.40 ฿147
$3.90 COP 12.2K
12.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.72 ฿725
$14.01 COP 43.7K
55.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67 ฿55.8
$1.74 COP 5,439
-4.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 ฿96.0
$2.87 COP 8,956
0.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Saraburi
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿31.46
$1.22 COP 3,792
-22.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$80.5 COP 251.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.34 ฿44.60
$1.31 COP 4,084
2.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.10 ฿36.64
$2.19 COP 6,825
-49.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.01 ฿134
$8.71 COP 27.2K
-53.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 ฿47.67
$1.37 COP 4,260
4.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.9K ฿896.5K
$27.8K COP 86.9M
-3.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K ฿894.3K
$35.8K COP 111.6M
-25.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saraburi
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$85.7 ฿2,861
$177 COP 553.2K
-51.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71 ฿391
$13.88 COP 43.3K
-15.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.75 ฿559
$29.72 COP 92.8K
-43.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saraburi
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.17 ฿1,575
$44.88 COP 140.1K
5.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.18 ฿473
$17.12 COP 53.4K
-17.17%
Cinema Ticket
$6.58 ฿220
$6.65 COP 20.7K
-1.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saraburi
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$564 ฿18.8K
$813 COP 2.5M
-30.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,810 ฿227.3K
$9,187 COP 28.7M
-25.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saraburi
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.7 ฿1,693
$89.5 COP 279.3K
-43.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.79 ฿995
$59.0 COP 184.0K
-49.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.4 ฿2,649
$138 COP 431.2K
-42.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.5 ฿2,588
$102 COP 318.7K
-24.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saraburi
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$463 ฿15.4K
$1,062 COP 3.3M
-56.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$127 ฿4,247
$663 COP 2.1M
-80.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,388 ฿46.3K
$1,888 COP 5.9M
-26.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$758 ฿25.3K
$1,027 COP 3.2M
-26.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,016 ฿67.3K
$4,183 COP 13.1M
-51.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,622 ฿54.1K
$1,675 COP 5.2M
-3.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saraburi
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$452 ฿15.1K
$678 COP 2.1M
-33.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
10.94
-49.09%

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

Last update for Saraburi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $463 in Saraburi versus $1,062 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 50% higher in Medellin, 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 $28.00 in Saraburi versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $262 vs $305 – making Saraburi 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
Saraburi vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Saraburi?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 107%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $1,217 per month in Saraburi and $2,521 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 Saraburi, 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 Saraburi or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Saraburi and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Saraburi and in Medellin?
Groceries cost about 16% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Saraburi or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Saraburi, where all-in costs run around $811, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Saraburi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Saraburi or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Saraburi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Saraburi 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 Saraburi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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