Cost of Living Comparison Between Cartagena and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Cartagena and Medellin

😐 Solo nomad: Cartagena is 17.1% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 7.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Cartagena is 14.4% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 2.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cartagena
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.96 COP 24.8K
$6.23 COP 26K
-4.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.85 COP 195.3K
$32.34 COP 134.8K
44.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.9 COP 41.3K
$7.39 COP 30.8K
33.96%
Cappuccino
$1.65 COP 6,894
$1.72 COP 7,155
-4.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.8 COP 3,333
$1.1 COP 4,575
-27.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 COP 2,946
$0.73 COP 3,060
-2.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.3 COP 5,428
$1.66 COP 6,916
-21.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 COP 12K
$3.2 COP 13.3K
-10.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cartagena
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.2 COP 4,999
$1.09 COP 4,552
10.09%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 COP 7,626
$1.24 COP 5,188
47.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.32 COP 5,518
$1.33 COP 5,544
-0.75%
Eggs
$2.11 COP 8,808
$2.22 COP 9,252
-4.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.12 COP 29.7K
$4.55 COP 19K
56.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.13 COP 25.6K
$5.71 COP 23.8K
7.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.78 COP 32.4K
$8.59 COP 35.8K
-9.43%
Apples (1kg)
$3.26 COP 13.6K
$2.26 COP 9,410
44.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.93 COP 8,044
$1.07 COP 4,461
80.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.47 COP 6,118
$1.51 COP 6,293
-2.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 COP 6,620
$1.42 COP 5,911
11.97%
Potato (1kg)
$1.56 COP 6,485
$1.11 COP 4,619
40.54%
Onion (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,470
$1.18 COP 4,932
-9.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.05 COP 4,389
$0.89 COP 3,718
17.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64 COP 2,665
$0.84 COP 3,507
-23.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.27 COP 9,446
$2.35 COP 9,809
-3.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.76 COP 99.1K
$9.34 COP 38.9K
154.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.97 COP 4,055
$1.18 COP 4,927
-17.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98 COP 4,090
$2.49 COP 10.4K
-60.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Cartagena
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.06 COP 4,412
$0.83 COP 3,464
27.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.09 COP 117.1K
$41.9 COP 174.7K
-32.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$1.41 COP 5,899
76.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.44 COP 10.2K
$1.96 COP 8,164
24.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.97 COP 20.7K
$7.85 COP 32.7K
-36.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COP 4,064
$1.02 COP 4,265
-4.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5K COP 89.7M
$17.6K COP 73.4M
22.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9K COP 99.6M
$26.2K COP 109.2M
-8.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cartagena
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$141 COP 586.1K
$82.5 COP 344.1K
70.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.92 COP 45.5K
$9.44 COP 39.4K
15.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.73 COP 103.1K
$23.51 COP 98K
5.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cartagena
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.51 COP 148K
$25.68 COP 107.1K
38.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.69 COP 36.2K
$19.14 COP 79.8K
-54.60%
Cinema Ticket
$2.94 COP 12.3K
$3.96 COP 16.5K
-25.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cartagena
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$143 COP 594.7K
$305 COP 1.3M
-53.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,872 COP 24.5M
$5,925 COP 24.7M
-0.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cartagena
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.11 COP 204.8K
$57.9 COP 241.4K
-15.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.16 COP 163.3K
$31.59 COP 131.7K
23.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$125 COP 521.4K
$103 COP 430.1K
21.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 COP 474.6K
$106 COP 440.5K
7.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cartagena
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$724 COP 3M
$489 COP 2M
48.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$335 COP 1.4M
$379 COP 1.6M
-11.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,312 COP 5.5M
$827 COP 3.4M
58.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$477 COP 2M
$729 COP 3M
-34.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,840 COP 11.8M
$2,190 COP 9.1M
29.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,905 COP 12.1M
$1,532 COP 6.4M
89.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cartagena
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$577 COP 2.4M
$550 COP 2.3M
4.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
15
13.43
11.69%

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

Last update for Cartagena: October 28, 2025

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

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