😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,229 in Abadan versus $1,681 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,283 in Abadan versus $2,445 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,337 in Abadan versus $3,210 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Abadan is roughly 33% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Abadan63% above, Medellin23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Abadan
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$31.62TMT 106
$8.02COP 25.0K
294.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.8TMT 284
$47.87COP 149.4K
77.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.00TMT 43.56
$9.89COP 30.8K
31.45%
Cappuccino
$6.93TMT 23.23
$3.13COP 9,767
121.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53TMT 5.13
$1.91COP 5,954
-19.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87TMT 2.93
$1.51COP 4,712
-42.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.62TMT 18.82
$3.12COP 9,747
80.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$13.61TMT 45.60
$5.75COP 17.9K
136.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Abadan
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$4.49TMT 15.04
$1.44COP 4,509
211.81%
White Bread(500g)
$2.01TMT 6.74
$2.49COP 7,759
-19.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.79TMT 19.41
$1.77COP 5,535
227.12%
Eggs
$5.89TMT 19.74
$2.96COP 9,235
98.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$37.63TMT 126
$10.07COP 31.4K
273.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$20.03TMT 67.1
$10.12COP 31.6K
97.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$23.49TMT 78.7
$14.30COP 44.6K
64.27%
Apples(1kg)
$5.18TMT 17.36
$4.14COP 12.9K
25.12%
Banana(1kg)
$8.24TMT 27.62
$1.61COP 5,019
411.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$7.56TMT 25.32
$2.25COP 7,007
236.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.75TMT 12.57
$2.25COP 7,028
66.67%
Potato(1kg)
$2.23TMT 7.47
$2.04COP 6,375
9.31%
Onion(1kg)
$1.41TMT 4.72
$1.54COP 4,790
-8.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.69TMT 9.01
$1.17COP 3,651
129.91%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12TMT 3.76
$1.31COP 4,077
-14.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$25.90TMT 86.8
$3.90COP 12.2K
564.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$41.06TMT 138
$14.01COP 43.7K
193.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$5.29TMT 17.72
$1.74COP 5,439
204.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88TMT 9.65
$2.87COP 8,956
0.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Abadan
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.22COP 3,792
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$80.5COP 251.1K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.87TMT 9.62
$1.31COP 4,084
119.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.88TMT 2.93
$2.19COP 6,825
-59.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.49TMT 28.43
$8.71COP 27.2K
-2.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.42TMT 1.40
$1.37COP 4,260
-69.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.7KTMT 149.7K
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
60.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$57.7KTMT 193.1K
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
61.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Abadan
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$579TMT 1,939
$177COP 553.2K
226.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$56.9TMT 191
$13.88COP 43.3K
310.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$101TMT 338
$29.72COP 92.8K
239.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Abadan
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$44.88COP 140.1K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.12COP 53.4K
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.61TMT 28.84
$6.65COP 20.7K
29.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Abadan
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$22.94TMT 76.9
$813COP 2.5M
-97.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$24.3KTMT 81.5K
$9,187COP 28.7M
164.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Abadan
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4TMT 186
$89.5COP 279.3K
-38.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$117TMT 390
$59.0COP 184.0K
97.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$368TMT 1,233
$138COP 431.2K
166.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$191TMT 641
$102COP 318.7K
87.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Abadan
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,062COP 3.3M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$663COP 2.1M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,888COP 5.9M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,027COP 3.2M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,183COP 13.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,675COP 5.2M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Abadan
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$678COP 2.1M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.5
10.94
-13.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Abadan: September 12, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $85.0 in Abadan vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $668 vs $305 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.
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
Abadan vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Abadan?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 33% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,344 in Abadan and $2,521 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $22.94 in Abadan versus $813 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Abadan or in Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $48.00 versus $85.0 in Abadan. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Abadan or in Medellin?
At $1,681 in Medellin versus $2,229 in Abadan, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Abadan. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Abadan or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Abadan, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Abadan or Medellin?
Safety-wise, Abadan and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Abadan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.