Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sumba and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Sumba: $207 a month against $1,614 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $16,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Sumba
🇫🇴 Faroe Islands
$207
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,614
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $207 per month in Sumba vs $1,614 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Sumba $207
  • Medellin $1,614

A couple spends around $280 per month in Sumba vs $2,402 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Sumba $280
  • Medellin $2,402

A family of three spends $353 per month in Sumba vs $3,190 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Sumba $353
  • Medellin $3,190

Sumba is about 87% cheaper than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Sumba sits 85% below the global median, while Medellin is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sumba
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$7.93 COP 25.2K
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$46.13 COP 146.3K
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$9.50 COP 30.1K
-
Cappuccino
-
$3.11 COP 9,866
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.83 COP 5,800
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.38 COP 4,360
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.05 COP 9,672
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.50 COP 17.4K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sumba
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.22 FOK 14.75
$1.45 COP 4,600
53.10%
White Bread (500g)
-
$2.36 COP 7,496
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
-
$1.68 COP 5,328
-
Eggs
-
$2.86 COP 9,077
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$10.19 COP 32.3K
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$9.53 COP 30.2K
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$14.04 COP 44.5K
-
Apples (1kg)
-
$4.07 COP 12.9K
-
Banana (1kg)
-
$1.50 COP 4,742
-
Oranges (1kg)
-
$2.17 COP 6,891
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$2.31 COP 7,310
-
Potato (1kg)
-
$1.93 COP 6,113
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$1.64 COP 5,196
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.13 COP 3,571
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.25 COP 3,954
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.60 FOK 70.5
$3.99 COP 12.6K
165.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.16 FOK 80.9
$13.35 COP 42.3K
-8.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.31 FOK 15.35
$1.70 COP 5,384
35.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 FOK 12.01
$2.37 COP 7,525
-23.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Sumba
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.42 FOK 29.42
$1.21 COP 3,827
265.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$76.5 COP 242.5K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$1.32 COP 4,179
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.14 COP 6,774
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$8.47 COP 26.8K
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.97 FOK 13.08
$1.30 COP 4,114
51.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$28.0K COP 88.7M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$35.4K COP 112.3M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sumba
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$172 COP 545.6K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$13.37 COP 42.4K
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.1 FOK 400
$28.73 COP 91.1K
109.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sumba
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.77 FOK 251
$45.24 COP 143.5K
-16.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.04 COP 54.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.98 FOK 99.6
$6.28 COP 19.9K
138.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sumba
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$770 COP 2.4M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$9,011 COP 28.6M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sumba
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$86.4 COP 274.0K
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$57.1 COP 181.1K
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$137 COP 432.9K
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$97.9 COP 310.4K
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sumba
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,055 COP 3.3M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$616 COP 2.0M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,892 COP 6.0M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,023 COP 3.2M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,059 COP 12.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,678 COP 5.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sumba
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$652 COP 2.1M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
10.94
-

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

Last update for Sumba: October 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Sumba
–
Medellin
$616
Groceries & Markets
Sumba
–
Medellin
$295
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sumba
–
Medellin
$214
Clothing & Footwear
Sumba
–
Medellin
$170
Eating Out
Sumba
–
Medellin
$168
Getting Around
Sumba
–
Medellin
$93
Sport & Entertainment
Sumba
–
Medellin
$58
Good to know
🇫🇴 Sumba
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
08:19 8:19 AM
02:19 2:19 AM
6 h behind Sumba
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
300
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to FOK – Faroese Króna Converter

Faroese Króna exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 6.65 FOK (1 FOK = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.48 FOK (1 FOK = 0.134 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sumba Medellin 8,280 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Sumba
  • 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
Sumba vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Sumba?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 679%, 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 $311 per month in Sumba and $2,421 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Sumba and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $207 in Sumba and $1,614 in Medellin. That's a gap of about 679%.
How do food prices compare in Sumba and in Medellin?
Groceries cost about 378% 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 $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Sumba or in Medellin?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sumba, where all-in costs run around $207, than in Medellin at $1,614. In Sumba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Sumba or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sumba – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Sumba 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 Sumba. 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.

Sumba vs other spots: cost of living compared

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