Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sari and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Sari: $874 a month against $1,639 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $9,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Sari, Iran
Medellin, Colombia
Sari
🇮🇷 Iran
$874
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $874 per month in Sari vs $1,639 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Sari $874
  • Medellin $1,639

A couple spends around $1,080 per month in Sari vs $2,413 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Sari $1,080
  • Medellin $2,413

A family of three spends $1,287 per month in Sari vs $3,186 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Sari $1,287
  • Medellin $3,186

Sari is about 47% cheaper than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Sari sits 36% below the global median, while Medellin is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sari
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.55 $3.55
$8.09 COP 26.1K
-56.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.80 $11.80
$47.05 COP 151.9K
-74.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.08 $4.08
$9.50 COP 30.7K
-57.05%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.68 $0.68
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 $0.91
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.23 $1.23
$3.01 COP 9,735
-59.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 $0.48
$1.80 COP 5,809
-73.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 $0.52
$1.41 COP 4,561
-63.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.18 COP 10.3K
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.75 COP 18.6K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sari
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.48 $0.48
$1.51 COP 4,876
-68.21%
White Bread (500g)
$0.60 $0.60
$2.38 COP 7,678
-74.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.32 $3.32
$1.77 COP 5,720
87.57%
Eggs
$1.23 $1.23
$2.89 COP 9,333
-57.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.48 $4.48
$10.19 COP 32.9K
-56.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.46 $3.46
$9.87 COP 31.9K
-64.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.25 $9.25
$13.99 COP 45.2K
-33.88%
Apples (1kg)
$1.32 $1.32
$3.97 COP 12.8K
-66.75%
Banana (1kg)
$1.88 $1.88
$1.55 COP 5,012
21.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.19 $1.19
$2.18 COP 7,048
-45.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.65 $0.65
$2.18 COP 7,051
-70.18%
Potato (1kg)
$0.59 $0.59
$1.96 COP 6,337
-69.90%
Onion (1kg)
$0.51 $0.51
$1.59 COP 5,132
-67.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.58 $0.58
$1.15 COP 3,699
-49.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30 $0.30
$1.24 COP 4,014
-75.81%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$0.77 $0.77
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 $0.51
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 $2.15
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.44 $2.44
$3.96 COP 12.8K
-38.38%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$13.68 COP 44.2K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.66 COP 5,359
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.26 COP 7,291
-
🚌 Getting Around
Sari
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.17 COP 3,771
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.87 $9.87
$77.4 COP 249.8K
-87.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.51 $0.51
$1.27 COP 4,094
-59.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 $0.31
$2.05 COP 6,612
-84.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 $3.03
$8.55 COP 27.6K
-64.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.09 $0.09
$1.35 COP 4,349
-93.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.9K $50.9K
$34.1K COP 110.0M
49.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$45.1K $45.1K
$34.7K COP 111.9M
30.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sari
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$13.18 $13.18
$170 COP 547.8K
-92.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$1.58 $1.58
$13.55 COP 43.8K
-88.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$3.99 $3.99
$28.07 COP 90.6K
-85.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sari
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.52 $49.52
$43.70 COP 141.1K
13.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.93 $11.93
$17.19 COP 55.5K
-30.60%
Cinema Ticket
$1.02 $1.02
$6.91 COP 22.3K
-85.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sari
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$49.24 $49.24
$797 COP 2.6M
-93.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$815 $815
$9,112 COP 29.4M
-91.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sari
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.10 $26.10
$84.7 COP 273.5K
-69.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.45 $37.45
$58.0 COP 187.2K
-35.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 $115
$135 COP 435.8K
-14.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.5 $73.5
$97.9 COP 316.0K
-24.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sari
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$794 $794
$1,208 COP 3.9M
-34.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$497 $497
$642 COP 2.1M
-22.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$693 $693
$2,028 COP 6.5M
-65.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$401 $401
$1,012 COP 3.3M
-60.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$857 $857
$4,170 COP 13.5M
-79.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$526 $526
$1,910 COP 6.2M
-72.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sari
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$248 $248
$657 COP 2.1M
-62.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
24.79
10.94
126.60%

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

Last update for Sari: October 25, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Sari
$497
Medellin
$642 29.2% $145
Groceries & Markets
Sari
$122
Medellin
$297 143% $175
Clothing & Footwear
Sari
$113
Medellin
$169 48.9% $56
Eating Out
Sari
$59
Medellin
$170 185% $110
Sport & Entertainment
Sari
$52
Medellin
$58 11.6% $6
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sari
$19
Medellin
$211 1027% $193
Getting Around
Sari
$12 *
Medellin
$94 684% $82

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $794 in Sari 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 in Medellin are about 2.7 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $12 in Sari versus $47 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $122 vs $297 – making Sari the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇷 Sari
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
13:49 1:49 PM
05:19 5:19 AM
8 h 30 min behind Sari
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
300,000
2,486,723
💱 Currency
USD USD
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, EUR to USD – USD Converter

USD exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.896 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 3,229 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,603 COP (10,000 COP = 2.78 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sari Medellin 12,870 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Sari
  • Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Sari vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sari cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 88%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,311 per month in Sari 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 Sari, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $794 there versus $1,208 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Sari or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $12 in Sari 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 Sari and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $874 in Sari and $1,639 in Medellin. That makes Sari about 47% cheaper.
Is $1,200 a realistic budget for living in Sari or in Medellin?
A $1,200 monthly budget goes further in Sari, where all-in costs run around $874, than in Medellin at $1,639. In Sari it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Sari or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sari – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Sari. If higher salaries 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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