Cost of Living Comparison Between Carlsbad, NM and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Carlsbad, NM and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,425 per month in Carlsbad, NM vs $1,018 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,475 per month in Carlsbad, NM vs $1,609 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,524 per month in Carlsbad, NM vs $2,200 in Medellin, rent included.

Carlsbad, NM costs about 138% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Carlsbad, NM sits 82% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.16 $19.16

$5.93 COP 19.0K

223.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.31 $49.31

$33.12 COP 106.0K

48.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.92 $11.92

$7.12 COP 22.8K

67.42%

Cappuccino

$6.35 $6.35

$1.71 COP 5,457

271.35%

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

$1.98 $1.98

$1.05 COP 3,356

88.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.27 $1.27

$0.72 COP 2,311

76.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.97 $4.97

$1.72 COP 5,502

188.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.99 $5.99

$3.17 COP 10.2K

88.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.06 COP 3,408

-14.15%

White Bread (500g)

$2.41 $2.41

$1.31 COP 4,192

83.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.05 $2.05

$1.33 COP 4,256

54.14%

Eggs

$3.57 $3.57

$2.28 COP 7,298

56.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.87 $7.87

$4.42 COP 14.1K

78.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.96 $9.96

$5.92 COP 18.9K

68.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.20 $12.20

$8.64 COP 27.7K

41.20%

Apples (1kg)

$3.07 $3.07

$2.34 COP 7,504

31.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.10 COP 3,527

-3.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.18 $4.18

$1.47 COP 4,698

184.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.38 COP 4,415

84.06%

Potato (1kg)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.17 COP 3,754

115.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.86 $1.86

$1.17 COP 3,744

58.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$0.90 COP 2,890

144.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 $1.52

$0.84 COP 2,693

80.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.82 $11.82

$2.33 COP 7,449

407.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.18 $15.18

$11.92 COP 38.1K

27.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 $2.07

$1.15 COP 3,673

80.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.76 $4.76

$2.42 COP 7,749

96.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$0.84 COP 2,687

134.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.83 COP 130.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.41 COP 4,517

15.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.91 COP 6,127

-14.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.78 $26.78

$7.83 COP 25.0K

242.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 $0.73

$0.94 COP 3,020

-22.34%

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

$19.2K $19.2K

$17.8K COP 57.0M

8.03%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$27.1K COP 86.7M

-6.88%

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

$165 $165

$83.3 COP 266.4K

97.79%

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

$64.8 $64.8

$9.66 COP 30.9K

571.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.9 $62.9

$24.22 COP 77.5K

159.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.86 $42.86

$25.22 COP 80.7K

69.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.33 COP 61.9K

Cinema Ticket

$11.62 $11.62

$4.07 COP 13.0K

185.50%

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

$582 $582

$307 COP 981.2K

89.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,921 $6,921

$5,981 COP 19.1M

15.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.77 $39.77

$60.0 COP 191.9K

-33.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.43 $43.43

$32.65 COP 104.5K

33.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.5 $96.5

$101 COP 323.5K

-4.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.8 $80.8

$108 COP 345.7K

-25.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,577 $1,577

$476 COP 1.5M

231.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,354 $1,354

$379 COP 1.2M

257.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,658 $2,658

$816 COP 2.6M

225.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,182 $2,182

$707 COP 2.3M

208.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,857 $1,857

$3,190 COP 10.2M

-41.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,848 $1,848

$1,446 COP 4.6M

27.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,191 $4,191

$622 COP 2.0M

574.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.25

13.43

-75.80%

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

Last update for Carlsbad, NM: July 22, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,577 in Carlsbad, NM 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 574% higher in Carlsbad, NM, 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 $49.00 in Carlsbad, NM versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $192 – making Medellin 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

Carlsbad, NM vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,425 in Carlsbad, NM, $1,018 in Medellin – roughly 138% apart. Carlsbad, NM costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,638 per month in Carlsbad, NM and $1,527 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Carlsbad, NM and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 59% more in Carlsbad, NM, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,018, than in Carlsbad, NM at $2,425. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Carlsbad, NM it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,018 in Medellin to $2,425 in Carlsbad, NM. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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