Cost of Living Comparison Between Aden and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Aden and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,384 per month in Aden vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,360 per month in Aden vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,336 per month in Aden vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Aden costs about 34% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Aden sits 4% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.42 YER 3,176

$6.16 COP 20.0K

117.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.21 YER 8,334

$32.60 COP 106.0K

8.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 YER 2,397

$7.34 COP 23.9K

38.01%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.37 YER 1,035

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.83 YER 907

Cappuccino

$5.02 YER 1,188

$1.72 COP 5,592

191.86%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 YER 477

$1.05 COP 3,416

92.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 YER 189

$0.77 COP 2,511

3.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,480

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

Milk (1 liter)

$4.30 YER 1,018

$1.05 COP 3,418

309.52%

White Bread (500g)

$2.02 YER 479

$1.30 COP 4,230

55.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.14 YER 1,689

$1.40 COP 4,538

410.00%

Eggs

$5.77 YER 1,366

$2.16 COP 7,037

167.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.17 YER 2,643

$4.39 COP 14.3K

154.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.69 YER 3,950

$5.88 COP 19.1K

183.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$38.73 YER 9,166

$8.64 COP 28.1K

348.26%

Apples (1kg)

$9.39 YER 2,222

$2.28 COP 7,415

311.84%

Banana (1kg)

$2.59 YER 614

$1.11 COP 3,599

133.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.58 YER 1,794

$1.53 COP 4,976

395.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.59 YER 850

$1.35 COP 4,405

165.93%

Potato (1kg)

$3.45 YER 817

$1.13 COP 3,669

205.31%

Onion (1kg)

$3.32 YER 785

$1.13 COP 3,687

193.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 YER 157

$0.85 COP 2,749

-22.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 YER 349

$0.91 COP 2,971

62.64%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 YER 171

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 YER 447

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.86 YER 1,151

$2.34 COP 7,619

107.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,904

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,094

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.16 YER 275

$0.84 COP 2,724

38.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.75 YER 9,646

$40.57 COP 131.9K

0.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.65 YER 628

$1.42 COP 4,617

86.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.97 YER 466

$1.92 COP 6,227

2.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.72 YER 1,355

$7.66 COP 24.9K

-25.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$3.69 YER 874

$0.99 COP 3,219

272.73%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$16.4K YER 3.9M

$18.0K COP 58.6M

-9.11%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$60.4K YER 14.3M

$26.6K COP 86.6M

126.96%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$79.0 YER 18.7K

$80.8 COP 262.7K

-2.28%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.90 YER 2,343

$9.95 COP 32.3K

-0.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.6 YER 13.2K

$24.18 COP 78.6K

129.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.8 YER 15.1K

$25.08 COP 81.5K

154.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.02 YER 6,394

$19.15 COP 62.3K

41.10%

Cinema Ticket

$5.58 YER 1,321

$3.98 COP 13.0K

40.20%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$147 YER 34.7K

$305 COP 992.2K

-51.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,870 YER 442.5K

$6,059 COP 19.7M

-69.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$96.8 YER 22.9K

$58.1 COP 189.0K

66.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$102 YER 24.2K

$32.20 COP 104.7K

218.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$158 YER 37.4K

$101 COP 327.5K

56.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$187 YER 44.2K

$108 COP 350.3K

73.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$240 YER 56.9K

$477 COP 1.5M

-49.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 YER 41.9K

$376 COP 1.2M

-52.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$528 YER 124.9K

$845 COP 2.7M

-37.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$530 YER 125.5K

$730 COP 2.4M

-27.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,231 YER 291.4K

$3,215 COP 10.5M

-61.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$850 YER 201.1K

$1,372 COP 4.5M

-38.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$459 YER 108.6K

$617 COP 2.0M

-25.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.67

13.43

-5.66%

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

Last update for Aden: July 11, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $240 in Aden 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 34% higher in Medellin, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Aden versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $496 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

Aden vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Aden costs about 34% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,076 per month in Aden and $1,546 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Aden and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,384 in Aden and $1,031 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Aden at $1,384. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Aden it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,031 versus $1,384 in Aden. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Aden makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.