Cost of Living Comparison Between Cartago and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Cartago and Medellin

🙂 Solo nomad: Cartago is 3.9% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 21.5% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Cartago is 23.6% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 21.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cartago
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.69 COP 15.4K
$6.23 COP 26K
-40.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.24 COP 121.9K
$32.34 COP 134.8K
-9.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.45 COP 31K
$7.39 COP 30.8K
0.81%
Cappuccino
$1.61 COP 6,713
$1.72 COP 7,155
-6.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 COP 3,954
$1.1 COP 4,575
-13.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57 COP 2,375
$0.73 COP 3,060
-21.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.05 COP 4,386
$1.66 COP 6,916
-36.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 COP 10.5K
$3.2 COP 13.3K
-21.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cartago
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 COP 5,078
$1.09 COP 4,552
11.93%
White Bread (500g)
$1.49 COP 6,205
$1.24 COP 5,188
20.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.2 COP 4,990
$1.33 COP 5,544
-9.77%
Eggs
$2.46 COP 10.2K
$2.22 COP 9,252
10.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.16 COP 17.4K
$4.55 COP 19K
-8.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.31 COP 22.1K
$5.71 COP 23.8K
-7.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.78 COP 32.4K
$8.59 COP 35.8K
-9.43%
Apples (1kg)
$2.42 COP 10.1K
$2.26 COP 9,410
7.08%
Banana (1kg)
$0.98 COP 4,089
$1.07 COP 4,461
-8.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.14 COP 4,749
$1.51 COP 6,293
-24.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.32 COP 5,507
$1.42 COP 5,911
-7.04%
Potato (1kg)
$0.86 COP 3,597
$1.11 COP 4,619
-22.52%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,637
$1.18 COP 4,932
-5.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 COP 3,000
$0.89 COP 3,718
-19.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65 COP 2,720
$0.84 COP 3,507
-22.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.89 COP 12K
$2.35 COP 9,809
22.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.2 COP 46.7K
$9.34 COP 38.9K
19.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 COP 4,669
$1.18 COP 4,927
-5.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 COP 8,135
$2.49 COP 10.4K
-21.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Cartago
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.67 COP 2,789
$0.83 COP 3,464
-19.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$41.9 COP 174.7K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.54 COP 6,438
$1.41 COP 5,899
9.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 8,110
$1.96 COP 8,164
-0.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.47 COP 39.5K
$7.85 COP 32.7K
20.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 COP 3,812
$1.02 COP 4,265
-10.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.2K COP 92.6M
$17.6K COP 73.4M
26.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.1K COP 125.4M
$26.2K COP 109.2M
14.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cartago
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 COP 336.9K
$82.5 COP 344.1K
-2.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.89 COP 37.1K
$9.44 COP 39.4K
-5.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.59 COP 102.5K
$23.51 COP 98K
4.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cartago
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.96 COP 95.7K
$25.68 COP 107.1K
-10.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.14 COP 79.8K
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.88 COP 20.3K
$3.96 COP 16.5K
23.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cartago
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$230 COP 960.1K
$305 COP 1.3M
-24.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,041 COP 25.2M
$5,925 COP 24.7M
1.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cartago
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.9 COP 266.5K
$57.9 COP 241.4K
10.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.35 COP 184.9K
$31.59 COP 131.7K
40.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.2 COP 325.9K
$103 COP 430.1K
-24.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 COP 370.5K
$106 COP 440.5K
-15.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cartago
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$285 COP 1.2M
$489 COP 2M
-41.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$238 COP 993.8K
$379 COP 1.6M
-37.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$521 COP 2.2M
$827 COP 3.4M
-37.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$425 COP 1.8M
$729 COP 3M
-41.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,457 COP 6.1M
$2,190 COP 9.1M
-33.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,219 COP 5.1M
$1,532 COP 6.4M
-20.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cartago
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$303 COP 1.3M
$550 COP 2.3M
-44.85%
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 Cartago: October 28, 2025

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

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