Cost of Living Comparison Between Alhambra, CA and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Alhambra, CA and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,127 in Alhambra, CA versus $1,013 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,070 in Alhambra, CA versus $1,602 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,014 in Alhambra, CA versus $2,192 in Medellin.

Living in Alhambra, CA is roughly 209% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Alhambra, CA is 133% above, Medellin is 24% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.67 $18.67

$5.99 COP 21.5K

211.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.0 $76.0

$32.86 COP 118.1K

131.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.81 $10.81

$7.09 COP 25.5K

52.47%

Cappuccino

$5.13 $5.13

$1.71 COP 6,154

200.00%

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

$2.59 $2.59

$1.10 COP 3,949

135.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$0.78 COP 2,798

153.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.13 $6.13

$1.68 COP 6,035

264.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.21 $7.21

$3.07 COP 11.0K

134.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.09 COP 3,930

-7.34%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$1.26 COP 4,536

181.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.30 $4.30

$1.38 COP 4,953

211.59%

Eggs

$4.09 $4.09

$2.19 COP 7,876

86.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.34 $12.34

$4.40 COP 15.8K

180.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.55 $11.55

$5.63 COP 20.2K

105.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.13 $15.13

$8.89 COP 32.0K

70.19%

Apples (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$2.34 COP 8,401

103.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.06 COP 3,801

49.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.23 $4.23

$1.50 COP 5,408

182.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.76 $4.76

$1.38 COP 4,955

244.93%

Potato (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$1.15 COP 4,137

143.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.85 $2.85

$1.16 COP 4,181

145.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 $2.10

$0.89 COP 3,202

135.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$0.84 COP 3,016

159.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.50 $9.50

$2.28 COP 8,196

316.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.95 $14.95

$10.64 COP 38.2K

40.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.20 COP 4,311

50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 $3.39

$2.47 COP 8,880

37.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$0.86 COP 3,075

126.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 148.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.54 $3.54

$1.47 COP 5,297

140.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.61 $1.61

$1.96 COP 7,053

-17.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.26 $29.26

$7.74 COP 27.8K

278.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.95 COP 3,430

-5.26%

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

$29.4K $29.4K

$18.1K COP 65.2M

62.39%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$26.5K COP 95.2M

-2.01%

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

$189 $189

$82.3 COP 295.6K

130.33%

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

$53.7 $53.7

$9.50 COP 34.1K

465.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.3 $67.3

$24.23 COP 87.1K

177.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.74 $42.74

$25.89 COP 93.0K

65.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 68.3K

Cinema Ticket

$13.32 $13.32

$3.93 COP 14.1K

238.93%

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

$1,274 $1,274

$309 COP 1.1M

311.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K $23.7K

$5,965 COP 21.4M

296.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.3 $50.3

$58.7 COP 210.8K

-14.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.51 $39.51

$32.35 COP 116.2K

22.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.0 $86.0

$103 COP 368.7K

-16.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 $113

$108 COP 389.6K

4.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,265 $2,265

$476 COP 1.7M

375.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,933 $1,933

$379 COP 1.4M

410.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,578 $2,578

$838 COP 3.0M

207.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,197 $2,197

$724 COP 2.6M

203.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,960 $6,960

$2,791 COP 10.0M

149.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,025 $6,025

$1,211 COP 4.4M

397.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,817 $4,817

$512 COP 1.8M

841.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

13.43

-51.53%

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

Last update for Alhambra, CA: June 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,265 in Alhambra, CA and $476 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Alhambra, CA pays 841% 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: $76.0 in Alhambra, CA vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $388 vs $188 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

Alhambra, CA vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Alhambra, CA and Medellin differ by about 209% in total monthly costs ($3,127 vs $1,013 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Alhambra, CA pays 841% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,265 in Alhambra, CA versus $476 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,274 in Alhambra, CA versus $309 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $76.0 in Alhambra, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,013 in Medellin versus $3,127 in Alhambra, CA, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Alhambra, CA. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Alhambra, CA 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.

Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 209% less than in Alhambra, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.