Cost of Living Comparison Between Cali and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Cali and Medellin

🙂 Solo nomad: Cali is 11.1% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 24.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Cali is 13.1% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 24.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cali
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.59 COP 12.9K
$6.14 COP 22.1K
-41.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.10 COP 104.8K
$33.05 COP 119.0K
-11.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.19 COP 25.9K
$7.32 COP 26.4K
-1.78%
Cappuccino
$1.63 COP 5,881
$1.66 COP 5,971
-1.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 COP 3,413
$1.10 COP 3,977
-13.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 COP 2,148
$0.78 COP 2,815
-23.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.01 COP 3,635
$1.71 COP 6,172
-40.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 COP 9,413
$3.17 COP 11.4K
-17.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cali
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 COP 4,393
$1.11 COP 4,002
9.91%
White Bread (500g)
$1.48 COP 5,318
$1.31 COP 4,707
12.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.21 COP 4,370
$1.38 COP 4,967
-12.32%
Eggs
$2.58 COP 9,290
$2.22 COP 7,989
16.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.29 COP 15.4K
$4.34 COP 15.6K
-1.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.39 COP 19.4K
$5.80 COP 20.9K
-7.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.72 COP 27.8K
$8.98 COP 32.3K
-14.03%
Apples (1kg)
$2.40 COP 8,625
$2.26 COP 8,143
6.19%
Banana (1kg)
$0.90 COP 3,223
$1.11 COP 4,013
-18.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.14 COP 4,095
$1.46 COP 5,271
-21.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.30 COP 4,684
$1.37 COP 4,916
-5.11%
Potato (1kg)
$0.88 COP 3,183
$1.11 COP 3,999
-20.72%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 COP 3,966
$1.16 COP 4,188
-5.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 COP 2,511
$0.89 COP 3,202
-21.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65 COP 2,330
$0.87 COP 3,116
-25.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.90 COP 10.4K
$2.35 COP 8,473
23.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.64 COP 41.9K
$10.86 COP 39.1K
7.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 COP 3,886
$1.20 COP 4,319
-10.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 COP 6,903
$2.48 COP 8,923
-22.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Cali
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.67 COP 2,424
$0.79 COP 2,835
-15.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.32 COP 73.2K
$40.77 COP 146.8K
-50.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.60 COP 5,748
$1.42 COP 5,124
12.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 7,064
$1.91 COP 6,882
2.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.88 COP 35.6K
$7.65 COP 27.5K
29.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 COP 3,375
$0.97 COP 3,481
-3.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K COP 77.9M
$18.1K COP 65.2M
19.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.3K COP 105.5M
$26.3K COP 94.7M
11.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cali
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 COP 291.1K
$81.3 COP 292.8K
-0.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.61 COP 31.0K
$9.63 COP 34.7K
-10.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.32 COP 87.6K
$24.36 COP 87.7K
-0.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cali
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$19.57 COP 70.5K
$26.02 COP 93.7K
-24.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.55 COP 52.4K
$18.92 COP 68.1K
-23.10%
Cinema Ticket
$4.75 COP 17.1K
$3.89 COP 14.0K
22.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cali
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$223 COP 801.4K
$304 COP 1.1M
-26.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,060 COP 21.8M
$5,902 COP 21.3M
2.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cali
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.9 COP 230.0K
$58.7 COP 211.3K
8.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.39 COP 156.2K
$32.48 COP 116.9K
33.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.4 COP 275.0K
$102 COP 366.3K
-24.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.2 COP 321.0K
$108 COP 389.4K
-17.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cali
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$241 COP 867.5K
$474 COP 1.7M
-49.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$185 COP 667.7K
$371 COP 1.3M
-49.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$617 COP 2.2M
$848 COP 3.1M
-27.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$407 COP 1.5M
$716 COP 2.6M
-43.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,145 COP 4.1M
$2,871 COP 10.3M
-60.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$916 COP 3.3M
$1,375 COP 5.0M
-33.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cali
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$503 COP 1.8M
$542 COP 1.9M
-7.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.58
13.43
-13.78%

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

Last update for Cali: April 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 13, 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

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