🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $526 in Abadan versus $1,034 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $833 in Abadan versus $1,577 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,141 in Abadan versus $2,120 in Medellin.
🙂Living in Abadan costs roughly 49% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Abadan61% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Abadan
Medellin
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.88$3.88
$5.92COP 21.4K
-34.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.15$17.15
$32.75COP 118.2K
-47.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.48$4.48
$7.20COP 26.0K
-37.78%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.67$0.67
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02$1.02
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.14$1.14
$1.70COP 6,140
-32.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42$0.42
$1.10COP 3,966
-61.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95$0.95
$0.72COP 2,605
31.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.67COP 6,022
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.10COP 11.2K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Abadan
Medellin
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04$1.04
$1.06COP 3,809
-1.89%
White Bread(500g)
$0.52$0.52
$1.25COP 4,497
-58.40%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.94$1.94
$1.39COP 5,022
39.57%
Eggs
$1.19$1.19
$2.26COP 8,168
-47.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.40$3.40
$4.33COP 15.6K
-21.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.21$3.21
$5.84COP 21.1K
-45.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.79$9.79
$8.83COP 31.9K
10.87%
Apples(1kg)
$0.86$0.86
$2.24COP 8,099
-61.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.34$1.34
$1.08COP 3,882
24.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.82$0.82
$1.53COP 5,522
-46.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.58$0.58
$1.37COP 4,950
-57.66%
Potato(1kg)
$0.49$0.49
$1.13COP 4,078
-56.64%
Onion(1kg)
$0.49$0.49
$1.12COP 4,036
-56.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.59$0.59
$0.85COP 3,057
-30.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.23$0.23
$0.91COP 3,281
-74.73%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.46$0.46
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37$1.37
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.24$2.24
$2.33COP 8,414
-3.86%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$11.13COP 40.2K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.19COP 4,309
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.37COP 8,553
-
🚌 Getting Around
Abadan
Medellin
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.21$0.21
$0.79COP 2,838
-73.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.12$10.12
$41.13COP 148.5K
-75.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.34$0.34
$1.44COP 5,184
-76.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29$0.29
$1.91COP 6,901
-84.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.98$1.98
$8.02COP 28.9K
-75.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76$0.76
$0.94COP 3,385
-19.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$73.7K$73.7K
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
311.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$53.8K$53.8K
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
100.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Abadan
Medellin
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$15.78$15.78
$84.0COP 303.1K
-81.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.03$2.03
$9.60COP 34.7K
-78.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.62$5.62
$24.16COP 87.2K
-76.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Abadan
Medellin
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$15.69$15.69
$25.88COP 93.4K
-39.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.71$12.71
$19.04COP 68.7K
-33.25%
Cinema Ticket
$1.48$1.48
$3.92COP 14.1K
-62.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Abadan
Medellin
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$117$117
$306COP 1.1M
-61.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,982$1,982
$5,919COP 21.4M
-66.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Abadan
Medellin
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.24$22.24
$57.9COP 209.1K
-61.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.26$25.26
$31.82COP 114.9K
-20.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108$108
$99.9COP 360.6K
8.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.4$69.4
$107COP 386.8K
-35.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Abadan
Medellin
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$284$284
$487COP 1.8M
-41.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$201$201
$368COP 1.3M
-45.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$636$636
$826COP 3.0M
-22.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$322$322
$716COP 2.6M
-55.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$716$716
$2,925COP 10.6M
-75.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,044$1,044
$1,407COP 5.1M
-25.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Abadan
Medellin
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$438$438
$546COP 2.0M
-19.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
22.24
13.43
65.60%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Abadan: April 28, 2026
Última actualización para Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $284 in Abadan and $487 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 24% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $17.00 in Abadan vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $110 vs $190 per month, with Abadan cheaper across the board.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Abadan vs Medellin: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Is Medellin cheaper than Abadan?
Abadan is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 96% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Abadan or Medellin?
On paper, Medellin earns 24% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Abadan and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $284 in Abadan versus $487 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Abadan or Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Abadan – a meal for two runs $17.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Abadan vs Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $526 per month in Abadan versus $1,034 in Medellin – a 96% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Abadan or Medellin?
At $526 in Abadan versus $1,034 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Abadan but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Abadan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Abadan or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Abadan is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Abadan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 96% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.