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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,090 in Cali versus $1,716 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,649 in Cali versus $2,527 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,208 in Cali versus $3,338 in Medellin.

Living in Cali costs roughly 36% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Cali is 21% below, Medellin is 25% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.70 COP 24.3K

$8.03 COP 25.3K

-4.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.08 COP 120.1K

$48.26 COP 152.3K

-21.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.61 COP 27.2K

$9.77 COP 30.8K

-11.87%

Cappuccino

$1.62 COP 5,111

$2.91 COP 9,185

-44.33%

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

$1.26 COP 3,973

$1.94 COP 6,134

-35.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 COP 2,755

$1.52 COP 4,801

-42.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.25 COP 10.2K

$3.09 COP 9,759

5.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 COP 12.1K

$5.74 COP 18.1K

-32.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 COP 4,969

$1.36 COP 4,304

15.44%

White Bread (500g)

$1.99 COP 6,282

$2.39 COP 7,534

-16.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 COP 4,765

$1.70 COP 5,366

-11.18%

Eggs

$2.83 COP 8,921

$2.87 COP 9,056

-1.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.43 COP 20.3K

$9.94 COP 31.4K

-35.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.06 COP 22.3K

$10.78 COP 34.0K

-34.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.39 COP 32.8K

$14.73 COP 46.5K

-29.46%

Apples (1kg)

$3.49 COP 11.0K

$4.09 COP 12.9K

-14.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 COP 4,456

$1.57 COP 4,960

-10.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.76 COP 5,542

$2.13 COP 6,708

-17.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.75 COP 5,522

$2.21 COP 6,985

-20.81%

Potato (1kg)

$1.45 COP 4,584

$2.05 COP 6,460

-29.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.57 COP 4,949

$1.50 COP 4,747

4.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 COP 3,640

$1.19 COP 3,755

-3.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 COP 3,272

$1.16 COP 3,654

-10.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.70 COP 11.7K

$3.90 COP 12.3K

-5.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.26 COP 41.8K

$14.44 COP 45.6K

-8.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 COP 4,569

$1.58 COP 4,997

-8.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 COP 7,990

$2.83 COP 8,923

-10.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 COP 3,422

$1.17 COP 3,686

-7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.95 COP 94.5K

$77.7 COP 245.3K

-61.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 COP 2,662

$1.28 COP 4,054

-34.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.09 COP 6,602

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.62 COP 27.2K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 COP 4,114

$1.30 COP 4,096

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

$27.7K COP 87.3M

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

$35.7K COP 112.6M

$35.5K COP 112.0M

0.49%

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

$114 COP 358.3K

$176 COP 555.6K

-35.51%

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

$13.49 COP 42.6K

$13.37 COP 42.2K

0.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.05 COP 98.0K

$29.89 COP 94.3K

3.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.87 COP 91.1K

$44.76 COP 141.2K

-35.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.06 COP 53.8K

Cinema Ticket

$8.43 COP 26.6K

$6.20 COP 19.6K

35.97%

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

$793 COP 2.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,019 COP 28.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.3 COP 253.3K

$85.6 COP 270.1K

-6.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.4 COP 171.6K

$58.5 COP 184.5K

-7.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$124 COP 391.8K

$136 COP 430.1K

-8.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 343.7K

$103 COP 325.4K

5.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$641 COP 2.0M

$1,060 COP 3.3M

-39.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 COP 944.9K

$680 COP 2.1M

-55.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,577 COP 5.0M

$2,012 COP 6.3M

-21.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$493 COP 1.6M

$1,169 COP 3.7M

-57.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,111 COP 13.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,701 COP 5.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 COP 1.9M

$665 COP 2.1M

-11.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.58

10.94

5.85%

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

Last update for Cali: September 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $641 in Cali and $1,060 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 13% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $38.00 in Cali vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $244 vs $303 per month, with Cali cheaper across the board.

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

Cali vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cali is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 57% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 13% lower in Medellin. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $641 in Cali versus $1,060 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Cali – a meal for two runs $38.00 versus $48.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

A monthly transit pass in Cali runs roughly 160% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,090 in Cali versus $1,716 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cali but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Cali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Cali is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Cali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 57% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.