🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $311 in Artigas versus $1,031 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $369 in Artigas versus $1,599 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $426 in Artigas versus $2,167 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Artigas costs roughly 70% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Artigas77% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Artigas
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$6.16COP 20.0K
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$32.60COP 106.0K
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$7.34COP 23.9K
-
Cappuccino
-
$1.72COP 5,592
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.05COP 3,416
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.77COP 2,511
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.69COP 5,480
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.17COP 10.3K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Artigas
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
-
$1.05COP 3,418
-
White Bread(500g)
-
$1.30COP 4,230
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$1.40COP 4,538
-
Eggs
-
$2.16COP 7,037
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$4.39COP 14.3K
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$5.88COP 19.1K
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$8.64COP 28.1K
-
Apples(1kg)
-
$2.28COP 7,415
-
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.11COP 3,599
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$1.53COP 4,976
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$1.35COP 4,405
-
Potato(1kg)
-
$1.13COP 3,669
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$1.13COP 3,687
-
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$0.85COP 2,749
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.91COP 2,971
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$2.34COP 7,619
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$12.37COP 40.2K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.20COP 3,904
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.49COP 8,094
-
🚌 Getting Around
Artigas
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.20UYU 48.28
$0.84COP 2,724
42.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$44.40UYU 1,786
$40.57COP 131.9K
9.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.49UYU 60.0
$1.42COP 4,617
4.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.55UYU 62.2
$1.92COP 6,227
-19.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.10UYU 447
$7.66COP 24.9K
44.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.50UYU 100
$0.99COP 3,219
152.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.3KUYU 1.6M
$18.0KCOP 58.6M
117.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2KUYU 1.6M
$26.6KCOP 86.6M
47.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Artigas
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169UYU 6,779
$80.8COP 262.7K
108.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$9.95COP 32.3K
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.53UYU 1,550
$24.18COP 78.6K
59.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Artigas
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.25UYU 1,177
$25.08COP 81.5K
16.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.15COP 62.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.40UYU 338
$3.98COP 13.0K
111.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Artigas
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$305COP 992.2K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$6,059COP 19.7M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Artigas
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$58.1COP 189.0K
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$32.20COP 104.7K
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$101COP 327.5K
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$108COP 350.3K
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Artigas
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$477COP 1.5M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$376COP 1.2M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$845COP 2.7M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$730COP 2.4M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,215COP 10.5M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,372COP 4.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Artigas
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$617COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
13.43
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Artigas: July 12, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 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 231% 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 $467 in Artigas and $1,546 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.
How expensive is transport in Artigas compared to Medellin?
A monthly transit pass in Artigas runs roughly 9% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How much does it cost to live in Artigas compared to Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $311 per month in Artigas versus $1,031 in Medellin – a 231% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Artigas or in Medellin?
At $311 in Artigas versus $1,031 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 $311 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 231% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.