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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,086 per month in Cartagena vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,604 per month in Cartagena vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,121 per month in Cartagena vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Cartagena costs about 8% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Cartagena and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Cartagena 18% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.93 COP 18.7K

$5.91 COP 18.6K

0.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.34 COP 149.1K

$32.96 COP 103.8K

43.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.95 COP 31.3K

$7.43 COP 23.4K

33.92%

Cappuccino

$1.57 COP 4,950

$1.65 COP 5,207

-4.85%

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

$0.82 COP 2,579

$1.10 COP 3,468

-25.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 COP 2,128

$0.78 COP 2,458

-12.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.31 COP 4,111

$1.72 COP 5,412

-23.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 COP 9,107

$3.18 COP 10.0K

-9.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 COP 3,590

$1.10 COP 3,474

3.64%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 COP 5,777

$1.26 COP 3,962

45.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,324

$1.38 COP 4,349

-0.72%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 6,910

$2.18 COP 6,858

0.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.81 COP 21.5K

$4.49 COP 14.1K

51.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.22 COP 19.6K

$5.79 COP 18.2K

7.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.77 COP 24.5K

$8.97 COP 28.2K

-13.38%

Apples (1kg)

$3.26 COP 10.3K

$2.32 COP 7,308

40.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 COP 6,014

$1.06 COP 3,352

80.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.45 COP 4,556

$1.52 COP 4,774

-4.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.62 COP 5,101

$1.36 COP 4,270

19.12%

Potato (1kg)

$1.61 COP 5,074

$1.13 COP 3,552

42.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,400

$1.17 COP 3,689

-7.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 COP 3,177

$0.90 COP 2,838

12.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 COP 1,865

$0.90 COP 2,823

-34.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.35 COP 7,403

$2.23 COP 7,034

5.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.80 COP 59.2K

$12.12 COP 38.2K

55.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 COP 3,083

$1.19 COP 3,743

-17.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 COP 3,081

$2.48 COP 7,815

-60.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 COP 3,311

$0.85 COP 2,687

23.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.98 COP 91.2K

$41.62 COP 131.0K

-30.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.46 COP 7,753

$1.42 COP 4,459

73.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.37 COP 7,461

$1.95 COP 6,141

21.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.86 COP 15.3K

$7.89 COP 24.8K

-38.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 COP 3,204

$0.99 COP 3,118

3.03%

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

$21.1K COP 66.5M

$17.6K COP 55.4M

19.96%

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

$24.0K COP 75.7M

$26.8K COP 84.4M

-10.27%

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

$143 COP 449.0K

$83.0 COP 261.4K

71.80%

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

$10.93 COP 34.4K

$9.70 COP 30.5K

12.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.27 COP 79.6K

$23.52 COP 74.1K

7.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.26 COP 111.0K

$25.26 COP 79.5K

39.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.60 COP 27.1K

$19.10 COP 60.1K

-54.97%

Cinema Ticket

$2.84 COP 8,948

$3.95 COP 12.4K

-28.10%

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

$144 COP 453.7K

$316 COP 994.2K

-54.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,062 COP 19.1M

$5,975 COP 18.8M

1.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.97 COP 151.0K

$60.0 COP 188.9K

-20.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.50 COP 121.2K

$31.82 COP 100.2K

20.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 COP 393.7K

$102 COP 320.1K

23.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 COP 351.2K

$107 COP 338.3K

3.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$720 COP 2.3M

$475 COP 1.5M

51.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$333 COP 1.0M

$374 COP 1.2M

-10.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,292 COP 4.1M

$849 COP 2.7M

52.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$471 COP 1.5M

$719 COP 2.3M

-34.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,492 COP 11.0M

$3,265 COP 10.3M

6.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$935 COP 2.9M

$1,441 COP 4.5M

-35.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$467 COP 1.5M

$624 COP 2.0M

-25.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

11.69%

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

Last update for Cartagena: July 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $720 in Cartagena versus $475 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 34% higher in Medellin, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Cartagena versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $223 vs $193 – 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

Cartagena vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cartagena costs about 8% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,629 per month in Cartagena and $1,504 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.

Kindergarten costs $144 per month in Cartagena and $316 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% more in Cartagena, 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 $1,003, than in Cartagena at $1,086. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cartagena it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,003 versus $1,086 in Cartagena. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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