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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $836 per month in Cartago vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,266 per month in Cartago vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,696 per month in Cartago vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Cartago is about 19% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Cartago and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Cartago 37% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.64 COP 11.9K

$6.16 COP 20.1K

-40.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.68 COP 93.4K

$32.60 COP 106.1K

-12.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.29 COP 23.7K

$7.34 COP 23.9K

-0.68%

Cappuccino

$1.59 COP 5,176

$1.72 COP 5,600

-7.56%

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

$0.87 COP 2,830

$1.05 COP 3,420

-17.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 COP 1,855

$0.77 COP 2,515

-25.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.00 COP 3,268

$1.69 COP 5,488

-40.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 COP 8,176

$3.17 COP 10.3K

-20.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 COP 4,023

$1.05 COP 3,423

18.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 COP 4,922

$1.30 COP 4,236

16.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 COP 4,119

$1.40 COP 4,544

-9.29%

Eggs

$2.52 COP 8,205

$2.16 COP 7,047

16.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.11 COP 13.4K

$4.39 COP 14.3K

-6.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.49 COP 17.9K

$5.88 COP 19.1K

-6.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.76 COP 25.2K

$8.64 COP 28.1K

-10.19%

Apples (1kg)

$2.43 COP 7,910

$2.28 COP 7,426

6.58%

Banana (1kg)

$0.91 COP 2,979

$1.11 COP 3,604

-18.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 COP 3,887

$1.53 COP 4,983

-22.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.27 COP 4,150

$1.35 COP 4,410

-5.93%

Potato (1kg)

$0.81 COP 2,630

$1.13 COP 3,674

-28.32%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,455

$1.13 COP 3,692

-6.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 COP 2,280

$0.85 COP 2,753

-17.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 COP 2,245

$0.91 COP 2,975

-24.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.85 COP 9,265

$2.34 COP 7,630

21.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.59 COP 41.0K

$12.37 COP 40.3K

1.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 COP 3,651

$1.20 COP 3,909

-6.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 COP 6,133

$2.49 COP 8,104

-24.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 COP 2,224

$0.84 COP 2,728

-19.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.88 COP 97.3K

$40.57 COP 132.1K

-26.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.54 COP 5,001

$1.42 COP 4,623

8.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 COP 6,132

$1.92 COP 6,235

-2.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.65 COP 31.4K

$7.66 COP 24.9K

25.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,224

$0.99 COP 3,223

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

$21.7K COP 70.7M

$18.0K COP 58.7M

20.42%

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

$30.4K COP 98.8M

$26.6K COP 86.7M

13.98%

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

$83.1 COP 270.5K

$80.8 COP 263.1K

2.83%

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

$8.68 COP 28.3K

$9.95 COP 32.4K

-12.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 78.7K

$24.18 COP 78.7K

-0.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.67 COP 77.0K

$25.08 COP 81.7K

-5.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$4.97 COP 16.2K

$3.98 COP 13.0K

24.87%

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

$225 COP 731.6K

$305 COP 993.5K

-26.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,871 COP 19.1M

$6,059 COP 19.7M

-3.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.2 COP 205.7K

$58.1 COP 189.2K

8.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.52 COP 144.9K

$32.20 COP 104.8K

38.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.6 COP 246.1K

$101 COP 327.9K

-24.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.1 COP 296.5K

$108 COP 350.8K

-15.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$284 COP 924.0K

$477 COP 1.6M

-40.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 COP 775.4K

$376 COP 1.2M

-36.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$527 COP 1.7M

$845 COP 2.7M

-37.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$428 COP 1.4M

$730 COP 2.4M

-41.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,740 COP 5.7M

$3,215 COP 10.5M

-45.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,273 COP 4.1M

$1,372 COP 4.5M

-7.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$347 COP 1.1M

$617 COP 2.0M

-43.67%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $284 in Cartago versus $477 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 78% higher in Medellin, 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 $29.00 in Cartago versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $185 vs $193 – making Cartago 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

Cartago vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 23%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,254 per month in Cartago and $1,546 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cartago, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $836 in Cartago and $1,031 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 36% less in Cartago. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cartago, where all-in costs run around $836, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Cartago it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cartago – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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