🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $47.23 in Artigas versus $1,681 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $71.0 in Artigas versus $2,445 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $93.9 in Artigas versus $3,210 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Artigas costs roughly 97% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Artigas is 97% below, Medellin is 23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Artigas
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$8.02COP 25.3K
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$47.87COP 151.0K
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$9.89COP 31.2K
-
Cappuccino
-
$3.13COP 9,873
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.91COP 6,019
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.51COP 4,763
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.12COP 9,853
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.75COP 18.1K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Artigas
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
-
$1.44COP 4,558
-
White Bread(500g)
-
$2.49COP 7,843
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$1.77COP 5,595
-
Eggs
-
$2.96COP 9,336
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$10.07COP 31.8K
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$10.12COP 31.9K
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$14.30COP 45.1K
-
Apples(1kg)
-
$4.14COP 13.0K
-
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.61COP 5,073
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$2.25COP 7,083
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$2.25COP 7,104
-
Potato(1kg)
-
$2.04COP 6,444
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$1.54COP 4,842
-
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$1.17COP 3,691
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.31COP 4,121
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$3.90COP 12.3K
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$14.01COP 44.2K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.74COP 5,498
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.87COP 9,053
-
🚌 Getting Around
Artigas
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.22COP 3,834
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$80.5COP 253.9K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.31COP 4,129
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$2.19COP 6,899
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$8.71COP 27.5K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$1.37COP 4,306
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$27.8KCOP 87.8M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$35.8KCOP 112.8M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Artigas
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$177COP 559.3K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$13.88COP 43.8K
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$29.72COP 93.8K
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Artigas
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.36UYU 1,180
$44.88COP 141.6K
-34.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.12COP 54.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.83UYU 355
$6.65COP 21.0K
32.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Artigas
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$813COP 2.6M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$9,187COP 29.0M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Artigas
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$89.5COP 282.3K
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$59.0COP 186.0K
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$138COP 435.9K
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$102COP 322.1K
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Artigas
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 6.0M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,027COP 3.2M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,183COP 13.2M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,675COP 5.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Artigas
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$678COP 2.1M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
10.94
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Artigas: September 12, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
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
Artigas vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Artigas or Medellin?
Artigas wins on cost – living expenses run 3459% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Artigas the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Artigas and in Medellin?
You'd need roughly $70.8 in Artigas 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.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Artigas or in Medellin?
At $47.23 in Artigas versus $1,681 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Artigas but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Artigas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Artigas or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Artigas delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $47.23 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Artigas hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Artigas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3459% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.