Cost of Living Comparison Between Cadca and MedellinCost of Living Comparison Between Cadca and Medellin
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,393 per month in Cadca vs $1,018 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,999 per month in Cadca vs $1,609 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,605 per month in Cadca vs $2,200 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Cadca costs about 37% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Cadca sits 4% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cadca
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.10€8.00
$5.93COP 19.1K
53.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.99€25.48
$33.12COP 106.6K
-12.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.28€8.15
$7.12COP 22.9K
30.34%
Cappuccino
$2.63€2.31
$1.71COP 5,487
53.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.75
$1.05COP 3,374
89.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62€1.42
$0.72COP 2,324
125.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.42€2.12
$1.72COP 5,531
40.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15€1.89
$3.17COP 10.2K
-32.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cadca
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05€0.93
$1.06COP 3,426
-0.94%
White Bread(500g)
$1.72€1.51
$1.31COP 4,215
31.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.56€2.25
$1.33COP 4,279
92.48%
Eggs
$3.57€3.14
$2.28COP 7,338
56.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.41€13.55
$4.42COP 14.2K
248.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.99€6.14
$5.92COP 19.0K
18.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.04€7.07
$8.64COP 27.8K
-6.94%
Apples(1kg)
$1.57€1.38
$2.34COP 7,545
-32.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.54€1.35
$1.10COP 3,546
40.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.27€2.00
$1.47COP 4,724
54.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.66€4.09
$1.38COP 4,439
237.68%
Potato(1kg)
$1.41€1.24
$1.17COP 3,774
20.51%
Onion(1kg)
$1.76€1.55
$1.17COP 3,765
50.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.56€1.37
$0.90COP 2,905
73.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.70
$0.84COP 2,708
-5.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.73€5.91
$2.33COP 7,490
188.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.60€4.05
$11.92COP 38.3K
-61.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.81€1.59
$1.15COP 3,693
57.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88€1.65
$2.42COP 7,791
-22.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Cadca
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.13€0.99
$0.84COP 2,702
34.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.08€25.57
$40.83COP 131.4K
-28.78%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42€1.25
$1.41COP 4,541
0.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.28€1.12
$1.91COP 6,160
-32.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.91€12.23
$7.83COP 25.2K
77.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.79€1.57
$0.94COP 3,037
90.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.2K€22.2K
$17.8KCOP 57.3M
41.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K€22.0K
$27.1KCOP 87.1M
-7.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cadca
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$234€206
$83.3COP 267.9K
181.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.30€24.88
$9.66COP 31.1K
192.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.93€20.16
$24.22COP 77.9K
-5.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cadca
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.83€36.77
$25.22COP 81.2K
65.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.02€14.96
$19.33COP 62.2K
-11.95%
Cinema Ticket
$8.61€7.57
$4.07COP 13.1K
111.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cadca
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$454€399
$307COP 986.5K
48.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,316€6,431
$5,981COP 19.2M
22.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cadca
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.2€53.8
$60.0COP 192.9K
2.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.45€27.65
$32.65COP 105.1K
-3.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.5€70.7
$101COP 325.2K
-20.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103€90.7
$108COP 347.6K
-4.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cadca
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$587€516
$476COP 1.5M
23.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$486€428
$379COP 1.2M
28.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$983€864
$816COP 2.6M
20.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$766€673
$707COP 2.3M
8.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,552€3,122
$3,190COP 10.3M
11.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,407€2,116
$1,446COP 4.7M
66.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cadca
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$842€741
$622COP 2.0M
35.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.16
13.43
-69.02%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cadca: July 21, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $587 in Cadca versus $476 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 35% higher in Cadca, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Cadca versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $253 in Cadca vs $192 in Medellin – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Cadca vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cadca or Medellin?
Cadca costs about 37% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Cadca and in Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,090 per month in Cadca and $1,527 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Cadca or Medellin?
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.
How expensive is transport in Cadca compared to Medellin?
Public transport costs about 40% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Cadca and in Medellin?
Kindergarten costs $454 per month in Cadca and $307 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Cadca or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,018, than in Cadca at $1,393. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cadca it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Cadca or Medellin?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,018 versus $1,393 in Cadca. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Cadca or to Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cadca makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.