Cost of Living Comparison Between Alajuela and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Alajuela and Medellin

😐 Solo nomad: Alajuela is 79.2% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 59.6% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Alajuela is 68.5% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 43% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.11 ₡4,940

$5.91 COP 22.5K

71.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.49 ₡19.8K

$32.19 COP 122.7K

25.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.4 ₡4,592

$7.21 COP 27.5K

30.37%

Cappuccino

$3.67 ₡1,794

$1.65 COP 6,284

122.42%

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

$2 ₡977

$1.11 COP 4,224

80.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 ₡652

$0.71 COP 2,716

87.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.17 ₡1,061

$1.74 COP 6,637

24.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ₡1,774

$3.19 COP 12.2K

13.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ₡947

$1.1 COP 4,176

76.36%

White Bread (500g)

$2.43 ₡1,188

$1.3 COP 4,965

86.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.14 ₡1,043

$1.39 COP 5,302

53.96%

Eggs

$2.23 ₡1,087

$2.18 COP 8,302

2.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.85 ₡4,810

$4.54 COP 17.3K

116.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.06 ₡4,428

$5.85 COP 22.3K

54.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.63 ₡6,661

$8.62 COP 32.8K

58.12%

Apples (1kg)

$3.97 ₡1,939

$2.24 COP 8,539

77.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 ₡718

$1.07 COP 4,080

37.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 ₡2,035

$1.53 COP 5,822

172.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.86 ₡1,398

$1.41 COP 5,377

102.84%

Potato (1kg)

$2.89 ₡1,412

$1.12 COP 4,269

158.04%

Onion (1kg)

$2.65 ₡1,294

$1.14 COP 4,343

132.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ₡502

$0.9 COP 3,418

14.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.51 ₡1,227

$0.91 COP 3,481

175.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.87 ₡2,379

$2.34 COP 8,932

108.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.96 ₡8,775

$9.94 COP 37.9K

80.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 ₡1,063

$1.15 COP 4,369

89.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 ₡1,250

$2.38 COP 9,066

7.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ₡432

$0.81 COP 3,069

8.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$111 ₡54K

$40.57 COP 154.6K

172.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.39 ₡679

$1.46 COP 5,572

-4.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.3 ₡633

$1.99 COP 7,570

-34.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.86 ₡3,839

$7.96 COP 30.3K

-1.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 ₡693

$1.01 COP 3,844

40.59%

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

$37.5K ₡18.3M

$17.7K COP 67.3M

112.57%

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

$32.2K ₡15.7M

$26.8K COP 102.1M

20.10%

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

$45 ₡22K

$80.8 COP 308K

-44.33%

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

$20.03 ₡9,787

$9.39 COP 35.8K

113.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.28 ₡15.8K

$23.51 COP 89.6K

37.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.4 ₡31.9K

$25.61 COP 97.6K

155.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$43.3 ₡21.2K

$18.95 COP 72.2K

128.50%

Cinema Ticket

$9 ₡4,396

$4.12 COP 15.7K

118.45%

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

$298 ₡145.4K

$306 COP 1.2M

-2.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,377 ₡1.2M

$5,875 COP 22.4M

-59.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62 ₡30.3K

$58.8 COP 224K

5.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 ₡25.2K

$31.9 COP 121.5K

61.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$121 ₡58.9K

$102 COP 387.4K

18.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.4 ₡48.1K

$108 COP 413K

-9.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$699 ₡341.5K

$478 COP 1.8M

46.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$605 ₡295.7K

$375 COP 1.4M

61.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,003 ₡490K

$838 COP 3.2M

19.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$926 ₡452.6K

$727 COP 2.8M

27.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,058 ₡1M

$2,251 COP 8.6M

-8.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ₡744.2K

$1,598 COP 6.1M

-4.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,207 ₡589.7K

$517 COP 2M

133.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

13.43

-24.27%

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

Last update for Alajuela: November 30, 2025

Last update for Medellin: December 1, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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