Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Surin and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Surin: $869 a month against $1,625 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $9,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Surin
🇹🇭 Thailand
$869
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,625
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $869 per month in Surin vs $1,625 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Surin $869
  • Medellin $1,625

A couple spends around $1,444 per month in Surin vs $2,412 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Surin $1,444
  • Medellin $2,412

A family of three spends $2,018 per month in Surin vs $3,199 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Surin $2,018
  • Medellin $3,199

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

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surin
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.03 ฿101
$8.30 COP 26.3K
-63.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.70 ฿826
$46.91 COP 148.7K
-47.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.23 ฿242
$9.24 COP 29.3K
-21.75%
Cappuccino
$1.74 ฿58.3
$3.05 COP 9,676
-42.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 ฿20.30
$1.80 COP 5,707
-66.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.89
$1.38 COP 4,382
-76.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.20 ฿73.5
$3.24 COP 10.3K
-32.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42 ฿114
$5.56 COP 17.6K
-38.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surin
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 ฿52.4
$1.50 COP 4,760
4.67%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 ฿43.79
$2.37 COP 7,508
-44.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.47 ฿48.98
$1.70 COP 5,377
-13.53%
Eggs
$1.90 ฿63.5
$2.96 COP 9,379
-35.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.41 ฿582
$10.22 COP 32.4K
70.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.48 ฿83.0
$9.74 COP 30.9K
-74.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.89 ฿297
$13.90 COP 44.1K
-36.04%
Apples (1kg)
$2.57 ฿86.0
$4.13 COP 13.1K
-37.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.02 ฿34.23
$1.53 COP 4,839
-33.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.48 ฿82.9
$2.22 COP 7,052
11.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.05 ฿68.5
$2.27 COP 7,194
-9.69%
Potato (1kg)
$1.44 ฿48.20
$1.99 COP 6,311
-27.64%
Onion (1kg)
$0.95 ฿31.77
$1.67 COP 5,285
-43.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.94 ฿31.37
$1.18 COP 3,742
-20.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44 ฿14.59
$1.24 COP 3,919
-64.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 ฿143
$3.87 COP 12.3K
10.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.36 ฿547
$13.78 COP 43.7K
18.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.57 ฿52.4
$1.66 COP 5,256
-5.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 ฿100
$2.40 COP 7,615
25.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Surin
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.92 ฿30.79
$1.24 COP 3,944
-25.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$78.2 COP 248.0K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.37 ฿45.65
$1.28 COP 4,044
7.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.01 ฿33.73
$2.15 COP 6,803
-53.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.04 ฿202
$8.37 COP 26.5K
-27.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 ฿45.06
$1.35 COP 4,288
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.7K ฿758.4K
$34.8K COP 110.2M
-34.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K ฿904.4K
$34.7K COP 110.0M
-21.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surin
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$77.8 ฿2,601
$167 COP 528.4K
-53.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.53 ฿385
$13.62 COP 43.2K
-15.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.68 ฿624
$29.12 COP 92.3K
-35.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surin
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.58 ฿1,390
$45.09 COP 143.0K
-7.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.45 ฿383
$17.18 COP 54.5K
-33.35%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 ฿218
$6.97 COP 22.1K
-6.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surin
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$628 ฿21.0K
$790 COP 2.5M
-20.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.1K ฿405.0K
$9,041 COP 28.7M
34.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surin
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.1 ฿1,773
$87.8 COP 278.4K
-39.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.95 ฿934
$58.2 COP 184.4K
-51.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$73.3 ฿2,451
$139 COP 440.7K
-47.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.0 ฿2,274
$98.9 COP 313.5K
-31.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surin
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$440 ฿14.7K
$1,028 COP 3.3M
-57.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$273 ฿9,126
$620 COP 2.0M
-55.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,185 ฿39.6K
$1,881 COP 6.0M
-37.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$714 ฿23.9K
$1,008 COP 3.2M
-29.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,730 ฿57.8K
$3,988 COP 12.6M
-56.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,518 ฿50.7K
$1,702 COP 5.4M
-10.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surin
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$663 COP 2.1M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
10.94
-49.09%

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

Last update for Surin: October 18, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Surin
$273
Medellin
$619 127% $346
Groceries & Markets
Surin
$235
Medellin
$298 27% $63
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surin
$108
Medellin
$209 93.8% $101
Clothing & Footwear
Surin
$100
Medellin
$173 72.6% $73
Eating Out
Surin
$88
Medellin
$171 93.1% $82
Sport & Entertainment
Surin
$55
Medellin
$59 8.1% $4.4
Getting Around
Surin
$10 *
Medellin
$95 843% $85

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $440 in Surin versus $1,028 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Surin versus $47.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $235 vs $298 – making Surin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Surin
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
12:42 12:42 PM
00:42 12:42 AM
12 h behind Surin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
40,104
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 21, 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
  • Surin Medellin 17,660 km ≈ 23 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Surin
  • 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
Surin vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Surin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 87%, 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 $1,303 per month in Surin and $2,437 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 Surin, 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 Surin or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Surin and $47.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Surin and in Medellin?
Groceries cost about 27% 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 $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Surin or in Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Surin, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Medellin at $1,625. In Surin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Surin or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Surin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Surin 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 Surin. 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.

Surin vs other spots: cost of living compared

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