Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sarande and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Sarande: $1,300 a month against $1,639 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $4,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Sarande, Albania
Medellin, Colombia
Sarande
🇦🇱 Albania
$1,300
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Sarande 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 Sarande and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,300 per month in Sarande vs $1,639 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Sarande $1,300
  • Medellin $1,639

A couple spends around $2,195 per month in Sarande vs $2,413 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Sarande $2,195
  • Medellin $2,413

A family of three spends $3,090 per month in Sarande vs $3,186 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Sarande $3,090
  • Medellin $3,186

Sarande is about 21% cheaper than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Sarande sits 4% below the global median, while Medellin is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sarande
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.10 ALL 821
$8.09 COP 26.1K
24.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.1 ALL 4,477
$47.05 COP 151.9K
17.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.03 ALL 896
$9.50 COP 30.7K
16.11%
Cappuccino
$2.24 ALL 182
$3.01 COP 9,735
-25.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 ALL 191
$1.80 COP 5,809
31.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17 ALL 95.0
$1.41 COP 4,561
-17.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.52 ALL 286
$3.18 COP 10.3K
10.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.97 ALL 323
$5.75 COP 18.6K
-30.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sarande
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.24 ALL 182
$1.51 COP 4,876
48.34%
White Bread (500g)
$1.19 ALL 96.8
$2.38 COP 7,678
-50.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.36 ALL 192
$1.77 COP 5,720
33.33%
Eggs
$3.65 ALL 297
$2.89 COP 9,333
26.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.98 ALL 1,054
$10.19 COP 32.9K
27.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.34 ALL 759
$9.87 COP 31.9K
-5.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.37 ALL 1,410
$13.99 COP 45.2K
24.16%
Apples (1kg)
$1.94 ALL 158
$3.97 COP 12.8K
-51.13%
Banana (1kg)
$2.47 ALL 201
$1.55 COP 5,012
59.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.09 ALL 170
$2.18 COP 7,048
-4.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.90 ALL 154
$2.18 COP 7,051
-12.84%
Potato (1kg)
$1.02 ALL 82.7
$1.96 COP 6,337
-47.96%
Onion (1kg)
$1.26 ALL 102
$1.59 COP 5,132
-20.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.47 ALL 119
$1.15 COP 3,699
27.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 ALL 60.1
$1.24 COP 4,014
-40.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.68 ALL 380
$3.96 COP 12.8K
18.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.56 ALL 614
$13.68 COP 44.2K
-44.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 ALL 126
$1.66 COP 5,359
-6.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 ALL 168
$2.26 COP 7,291
-8.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Sarande
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.10 ALL 89.6
$1.17 COP 3,771
-5.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.09 ALL 1,794
$77.4 COP 249.8K
-71.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.60 ALL 292
$1.27 COP 4,094
183.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.62 ALL 294
$2.05 COP 6,612
76.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.27 ALL 1,484
$8.55 COP 27.6K
113.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.19 ALL 178
$1.35 COP 4,349
62.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.5K ALL 2.7M
$34.1K COP 110.0M
-1.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1K ALL 2.3M
$34.7K COP 111.9M
-18.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sarande
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$99.8 ALL 8,107
$170 COP 547.8K
-41.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.16 ALL 1,475
$13.55 COP 43.8K
34.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.69 ALL 1,599
$28.07 COP 90.6K
-29.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sarande
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$89.8 ALL 7,296
$43.70 COP 141.1K
105.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.07 ALL 3,255
$17.19 COP 55.5K
133.10%
Cinema Ticket
$10.07 ALL 818
$6.91 COP 22.3K
45.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sarande
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$302 ALL 24.5K
$797 COP 2.6M
-62.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,994 ALL 649.3K
$9,112 COP 29.4M
-12.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sarande
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.5 ALL 5,885
$84.7 COP 273.5K
-14.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.39 ALL 3,930
$58.0 COP 187.2K
-16.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ALL 9,562
$135 COP 435.8K
-12.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 ALL 9,138
$97.9 COP 316.0K
14.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sarande
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$835 ALL 67.8K
$1,208 COP 3.9M
-30.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$380 ALL 30.9K
$642 COP 2.1M
-40.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,086 ALL 88.2K
$2,028 COP 6.5M
-46.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$917 ALL 74.5K
$1,012 COP 3.3M
-9.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,581 ALL 372.0K
$4,170 COP 13.5M
9.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,902 ALL 235.7K
$1,910 COP 6.2M
51.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sarande
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$770 ALL 62.5K
$657 COP 2.1M
17.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.16
10.94
-52.83%

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

Last update for Sarande: October 24, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Sarande
$380
Medellin
$642 68.9% $262
Groceries & Markets
Sarande
$286
Medellin
$297 3.9% $11
Eating Out
Sarande
$180
Medellin
$170 6% $11
Clothing & Footwear
Sarande
$158
Medellin
$169 7% $11
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sarande
$138
Medellin
$211 53.5% $74
Sport & Entertainment
Sarande
$110
Medellin
$58 47.7% $52
Getting Around
Sarande
$48
Medellin
$94 94.1% $45

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $835 in Sarande versus $1,208 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 17% higher in Sarande, 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 $55 in Sarande versus $47 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $286 in Sarande vs $297 in Medellin – so Sarande wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇦🇱 Sarande
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
03:02 3:02 AM
21:02 9:02 PM
6 h behind Sarande
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
17,233
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to ALL – Albanian Lek Converter

Albanian Lek exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 81.22 ALL (100 ALL = 1.23 USD). 1 EUR = 90.69 ALL (100 ALL = 1.1 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 3,229 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,605 COP (10,000 COP = 2.77 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sarande Medellin 10,040 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Sarande
  • 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
Sarande vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sarande cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 26%, 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 $1,950 per month in Sarande and $2,459 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 Sarande, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $835 there versus $1,208 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Sarande or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $55 in Sarande and $47 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 Sarande and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,300 in Sarande and $1,639 in Medellin. That makes Sarande about 21% cheaper.
Is $2,000 enough for either Sarande or Medellin?
$2,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,300 in Sarande and $1,639 in Medellin, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Sarande or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sarande – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Sarande vs other spots: cost of living compared

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