😐A single person spends $2,448 per month in Schiedam vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,541 per month in Schiedam vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,634 per month in Schiedam vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Schiedam costs about 138% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Schiedam sits 83% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Schiedam
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.26€15.10
$6.16COP 20.1K
180.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.7€75.9
$32.60COP 106.1K
166.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.76€12.04
$7.34COP 23.9K
87.47%
Cappuccino
$4.37€3.82
$1.72COP 5,600
154.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41€2.98
$1.05COP 3,420
224.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77€2.43
$0.77COP 2,515
259.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.92€6.05
$1.69COP 5,488
309.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71€5.00
$3.17COP 10.3K
80.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Schiedam
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.31€1.14
$1.05COP 3,423
24.76%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20€1.93
$1.30COP 4,236
69.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.00€2.62
$1.40COP 4,544
114.29%
Eggs
$4.90€4.29
$2.16COP 7,047
126.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.94€13.07
$4.39COP 14.3K
240.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.21€13.31
$5.88COP 19.1K
158.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.87€14.76
$8.64COP 28.1K
95.25%
Apples(1kg)
$2.33€2.04
$2.28COP 7,426
2.19%
Banana(1kg)
$2.44€2.13
$1.11COP 3,604
119.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90€1.67
$1.53COP 4,983
24.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.64€4.06
$1.35COP 4,410
243.70%
Potato(1kg)
$1.99€1.74
$1.13COP 3,674
76.11%
Onion(1kg)
$1.96€1.72
$1.13COP 3,692
73.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19€1.04
$0.85COP 2,753
40.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78€0.68
$0.91COP 2,975
-14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.82€11.21
$2.34COP 7,630
447.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.85€5.12
$12.37COP 40.3K
-52.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42€1.24
$1.20COP 3,909
18.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41€2.11
$2.49COP 8,104
-3.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Schiedam
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.34€2.05
$0.84COP 2,728
178.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$69.6€60.9
$40.57COP 132.1K
71.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.76€4.16
$1.42COP 4,623
235.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.11€1.84
$1.92COP 6,235
9.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.15€29.87
$7.66COP 24.9K
345.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.23€1.95
$0.99COP 3,223
125.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.2K€25.5K
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
61.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.9K€25.3K
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
8.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Schiedam
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$240€210
$80.8COP 263.1K
196.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.33€20.41
$9.95COP 32.4K
134.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.1€45.61
$24.18COP 78.7K
115.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Schiedam
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.34€20.42
$25.08COP 81.7K
-6.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.12€20.22
$19.15COP 62.3K
20.73%
Cinema Ticket
$15.55€13.61
$3.98COP 13.0K
290.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Schiedam
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,097€1,835
$305COP 993.5K
587.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.0K€10.5K
$6,059COP 19.7M
98.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Schiedam
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$125€109
$58.1COP 189.2K
114.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.63€40.80
$32.20COP 104.8K
44.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114€100
$101COP 327.9K
13.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$153€134
$108COP 350.8K
41.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Schiedam
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,752€1,533
$477COP 1.6M
267.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,184€1,036
$376COP 1.2M
214.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,304€2,016
$845COP 2.7M
172.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,748€1,529
$730COP 2.4M
139.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,682€4,972
$3,215COP 10.5M
76.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,131€3,614
$1,372COP 4.5M
201.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Schiedam
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,311€2,022
$617COP 2.0M
274.75%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,752 in Schiedam versus $477 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 275% 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: $343 vs $193 – 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 138%, 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 $3,672 per month in Schiedam and $1,546 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 in 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 and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,448 in Schiedam and $1,031 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 living in Schiedam or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Schiedam at $2,448. 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.