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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $821 per month in Cartago vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,255 per month in Cartago vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,689 per month in Cartago vs $2,192 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 39% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.71 COP 13.3K

$5.99 COP 21.4K

-38.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.89 COP 103.2K

$32.86 COP 117.4K

-12.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.33 COP 26.2K

$7.09 COP 25.3K

3.39%

Cappuccino

$1.57 COP 5,610

$1.71 COP 6,115

-8.19%

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

$0.92 COP 3,289

$1.10 COP 3,924

-16.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 COP 2,112

$0.78 COP 2,781

-24.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.01 COP 3,622

$1.68 COP 5,997

-39.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 COP 9,265

$3.07 COP 11.0K

-15.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 COP 4,398

$1.09 COP 3,906

12.84%

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 COP 5,454

$1.26 COP 4,508

21.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 COP 4,452

$1.38 COP 4,922

-9.42%

Eggs

$2.46 COP 8,767

$2.19 COP 7,827

12.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.5K

$4.40 COP 15.7K

-1.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.48 COP 19.6K

$5.63 COP 20.1K

-2.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.55 COP 26.9K

$8.89 COP 31.8K

-15.07%

Apples (1kg)

$2.46 COP 8,802

$2.34 COP 8,349

5.13%

Banana (1kg)

$0.92 COP 3,300

$1.06 COP 3,777

-13.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.14 COP 4,073

$1.50 COP 5,374

-24.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,714

$1.38 COP 4,924

-4.35%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 COP 3,102

$1.15 COP 4,111

-24.35%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,952

$1.16 COP 4,155

-4.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 COP 2,542

$0.89 COP 3,182

-20.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 COP 2,501

$0.84 COP 2,997

-16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.81 COP 10.0K

$2.28 COP 8,145

23.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.32 COP 40.4K

$10.64 COP 38.0K

6.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 COP 3,781

$1.20 COP 4,284

-11.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 COP 6,969

$2.47 COP 8,824

-21.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 COP 2,463

$0.86 COP 3,056

-19.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.69 COP 106.0K

$41.40 COP 147.9K

-28.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.52 COP 5,442

$1.47 COP 5,264

3.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.89 COP 6,741

$1.96 COP 7,009

-3.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.87 COP 35.2K

$7.74 COP 27.6K

27.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,359

$0.95 COP 3,409

-1.05%

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

$21.8K COP 78.0M

$18.1K COP 64.7M

20.41%

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

$30.0K COP 107.1M

$26.5K COP 94.6M

13.25%

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

$80.6 COP 287.7K

$82.3 COP 293.7K

-2.03%

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

$8.70 COP 31.1K

$9.50 COP 33.9K

-8.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.15 COP 86.2K

$24.23 COP 86.5K

-0.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.66 COP 84.5K

$25.89 COP 92.4K

-8.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

Cinema Ticket

$4.91 COP 17.5K

$3.93 COP 14.0K

24.94%

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

$224 COP 799.3K

$309 COP 1.1M

-27.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,901 COP 21.1M

$5,965 COP 21.3M

-1.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.6 COP 227.1K

$58.7 COP 209.5K

8.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.20 COP 157.8K

$32.35 COP 115.5K

36.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.4 COP 276.2K

$103 COP 366.4K

-24.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.4 COP 322.8K

$108 COP 387.2K

-16.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$281 COP 1.0M

$476 COP 1.7M

-41.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 COP 849.6K

$379 COP 1.4M

-37.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$527 COP 1.9M

$838 COP 3.0M

-37.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$424 COP 1.5M

$724 COP 2.6M

-41.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,428 COP 5.1M

$2,791 COP 10.0M

-48.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,172 COP 4.2M

$1,211 COP 4.3M

-3.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$308 COP 1.1M

$512 COP 1.8M

-39.79%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $281 in Cartago 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 66% 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: $182 vs $188 – 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 $1,231 per month in Cartago and $1,519 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 $821 in Cartago and $1,013 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 39% 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 $821, than in Medellin at $1,013. 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.