😐A single person spends $2,434 per month in Schiedam vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,579 per month in Schiedam vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,723 per month in Schiedam vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Schiedam costs about 140% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Schiedam sits 82% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Schiedam
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.29€14.88
$5.99COP 21.4K
188.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.0€74.8
$32.86COP 117.4K
164.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.05€12.08
$7.09COP 25.3K
98.17%
Cappuccino
$4.38€3.77
$1.71COP 6,115
156.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44€2.96
$1.10COP 3,924
212.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81€2.42
$0.78COP 2,781
260.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.98€6.00
$1.68COP 5,997
315.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.66€4.87
$3.07COP 11.0K
84.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Schiedam
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.30€1.11
$1.09COP 3,906
19.27%
White Bread(500g)
$2.13€1.83
$1.26COP 4,508
69.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.89€2.49
$1.38COP 4,922
109.42%
Eggs
$4.74€4.08
$2.19COP 7,827
116.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.67€12.62
$4.40COP 15.7K
233.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.47€13.31
$5.63COP 20.1K
174.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.34€14.06
$8.89COP 31.8K
83.80%
Apples(1kg)
$2.33€2.01
$2.34COP 8,349
-0.43%
Banana(1kg)
$2.43€2.09
$1.06COP 3,777
129.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$1.50COP 5,374
31.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.76€4.10
$1.38COP 4,924
244.93%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97€1.70
$1.15COP 4,111
71.30%
Onion(1kg)
$1.95€1.68
$1.16COP 4,155
68.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20€1.03
$0.89COP 3,182
34.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72€0.62
$0.84COP 2,997
-14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.17€11.33
$2.28COP 8,145
477.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.99€5.15
$10.64COP 38.0K
-43.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.40€1.21
$1.20COP 4,284
16.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38€2.05
$2.47COP 8,824
-3.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Schiedam
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$0.86COP 3,056
175.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$68.8€59.2
$41.40COP 147.9K
66.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.75€4.08
$1.47COP 5,264
223.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.03€1.74
$1.96COP 7,009
3.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.30€29.51
$7.74COP 27.6K
343.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.19€1.89
$0.95COP 3,409
130.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.9K€24.9K
$18.1KCOP 64.7M
59.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.8K€24.8K
$26.5KCOP 94.6M
8.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Schiedam
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$238€204
$82.3COP 293.7K
189.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.85€19.66
$9.50COP 33.9K
140.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.8€44.59
$24.23COP 86.5K
113.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Schiedam
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.33€20.07
$25.89COP 92.4K
-9.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.03€19.81
$19.00COP 67.9K
21.21%
Cinema Ticket
$15.43€13.28
$3.93COP 14.0K
292.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Schiedam
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,110€1,815
$309COP 1.1M
581.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.0K€10.3K
$5,965COP 21.3M
100.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Schiedam
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$128€110
$58.7COP 209.5K
118.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.45€39.95
$32.35COP 115.5K
43.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113€96.9
$103COP 366.4K
9.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$153€131
$108COP 387.2K
40.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Schiedam
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,720€1,479
$476COP 1.7M
261.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,190€1,023
$379COP 1.4M
214.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,260€1,944
$838COP 3.0M
169.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,725€1,484
$724COP 2.6M
138.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,716€4,917
$2,791COP 10.0M
104.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,206€3,618
$1,211COP 4.3M
247.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Schiedam
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,390€2,056
$512COP 1.8M
367.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.99
13.43
-70.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Schiedam: June 2, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,720 in Schiedam versus $476 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 367% higher in Schiedam, 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 $87.0 in Schiedam versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $340 vs $188 – 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
Schiedam vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Schiedam?
Yes – Schiedam is pricier by about 140%, 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 $3,651 per month in Schiedam and $1,519 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 Schiedam or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $87.0 in Schiedam 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 Schiedam vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,434 in Schiedam and $1,013 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 Schiedam or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Schiedam at $2,434. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Schiedam it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Schiedam 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, Schiedam 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, Schiedam makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.