Cost of Living Comparison Between Calarasi and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Calarasi and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $371 per month in Calarasi vs $1,687 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $612 per month in Calarasi vs $2,535 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $852 per month in Calarasi vs $3,383 in Medellin, rent included.

Calarasi is about 78% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Calarasi sits 73% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.83 MDL 201

$7.89 COP 24.2K

49.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.90 MDL 389

$44.53 COP 136.5K

-48.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.11 MDL 121

$9.29 COP 28.5K

-23.47%

Cappuccino

$1.44 MDL 24.40

$2.90 COP 8,874

-50.34%

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

$0.78 MDL 13.25

$1.81 COP 5,541

-56.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 MDL 7.72

$1.55 COP 4,741

-70.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.18 MDL 20.03

$3.25 COP 9,962

-63.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 MDL 25.42

$5.88 COP 18.0K

-74.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 MDL 17.65

$1.38 COP 4,230

-24.64%

White Bread (500g)

$0.34 MDL 5.71

$2.45 COP 7,517

-86.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 COP 4,617

Eggs

$2.05 MDL 34.80

$2.78 COP 8,516

-26.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.05 COP 27.7K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.65 COP 32.6K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.63 COP 44.8K

Apples (1kg)

$3.97 COP 12.2K

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 MDL 34.17

$1.38 COP 4,219

45.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 COP 7,056

Tomato (1kg)

$2.02 COP 6,185

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 MDL 11.87

$2.09 COP 6,390

-66.51%

Onion (1kg)

$1.63 COP 4,996

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 COP 3,313

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 MDL 9.68

$1.25 COP 3,843

-54.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.03 COP 12.4K

Wine (Bottle)

$13.47 COP 41.3K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 COP 4,904

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 COP 9,189

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.18 COP 3,611

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.9 COP 244.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 MDL 20.06

$1.61 COP 4,920

-26.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 COP 6,533

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.52 COP 26.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.64 MDL 27.91

$1.35 COP 4,142

21.48%

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

$28.3K COP 86.8M

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

$21.4K MDL 363.6K

$35.7K COP 109.4M

-40.00%

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

$62.1 MDL 1,054

$151 COP 463.8K

-59.00%

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

$6.93 MDL 118

$13.10 COP 40.1K

-47.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.65 MDL 181

$32.30 COP 99.0K

-67.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.33 COP 141.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.26 COP 52.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.44 MDL 58.5

$6.43 COP 19.7K

-46.50%

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

$835 COP 2.6M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,887 COP 27.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.28 MDL 599

$89.3 COP 273.7K

-60.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.08 MDL 596

$55.3 COP 169.5K

-36.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$109 MDL 1,847

$137 COP 418.5K

-20.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.47 MDL 602

$109 COP 335.1K

-67.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$952 COP 2.9M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 COP 2.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,020 COP 6.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,148 COP 3.5M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,696 COP 11.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,586 COP 4.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$625 COP 1.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.43

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

Last update for Calarasi: August 18, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Calarasi versus $45.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $43.00 vs $297 – making Calarasi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Calarasi vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 355%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $557 per month in Calarasi and $2,530 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 591% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Calarasi and $45.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Calarasi, where all-in costs run around $371, than in Medellin at $1,687. In Calarasi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Calarasi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Calarasi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.