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

😐 Solo nomad: Cartago is 58.3% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 51.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Cartago is 43.8% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 28.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cartago
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8 ₡4,006
$6.23 COP 26K
28.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.92 ₡16K
$32.34 COP 134.8K
-1.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.07 ₡4,540
$7.39 COP 30.8K
22.73%
Cappuccino
$3.85 ₡1,929
$1.72 COP 7,155
123.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 ₡1,020
$1.1 COP 4,575
85.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22 ₡613
$0.73 COP 3,060
67.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.04 ₡1,021
$1.66 COP 6,916
22.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68 ₡2,345
$3.2 COP 13.3K
46.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cartago
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.98 ₡989
$1.09 COP 4,552
81.65%
White Bread (500g)
$2.2 ₡1,103
$1.24 COP 5,188
77.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.2 ₡1,103
$1.33 COP 5,544
65.41%
Eggs
$2.87 ₡1,439
$2.22 COP 9,252
29.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.06 ₡4,037
$4.55 COP 19K
77.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.9 ₡4,456
$5.71 COP 23.8K
55.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.87 ₡6,946
$8.59 COP 35.8K
61.47%
Apples (1kg)
$4.4 ₡2,205
$2.26 COP 9,410
94.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 ₡585
$1.07 COP 4,461
9.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.93 ₡1,970
$1.51 COP 6,293
160.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.7 ₡1,352
$1.42 COP 5,911
90.14%
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 ₡989
$1.11 COP 4,619
78.38%
Onion (1kg)
$1.93 ₡968
$1.18 COP 4,932
63.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.97 ₡486
$0.89 COP 3,718
8.99%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.03 ₡1,017
$0.84 COP 3,507
141.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.37 ₡2,688
$2.35 COP 9,809
128.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.79 ₡6,901
$9.34 COP 38.9K
47.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.4 ₡1,203
$1.18 COP 4,927
103.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 ₡878
$2.49 COP 10.4K
-29.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Cartago
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.06 ₡531
$0.83 COP 3,464
27.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$69 ₡34.5K
$41.9 COP 174.7K
64.63%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.35 ₡677
$1.41 COP 5,899
-4.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.77 ₡886
$1.96 COP 8,164
-9.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.7 ₡3,855
$7.85 COP 32.7K
-1.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.39 ₡695
$1.02 COP 4,265
36.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.2K ₡18.6M
$17.6K COP 73.4M
111.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K ₡16.6M
$26.2K COP 109.2M
26.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cartago
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$48.99 ₡24.5K
$82.5 COP 344.1K
-40.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.87 ₡12.9K
$9.44 COP 39.4K
174.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.3 ₡28.2K
$23.51 COP 98K
139.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cartago
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.7 ₡28.9K
$25.68 COP 107.1K
124.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.16 ₡12.1K
$19.14 COP 79.8K
26.23%
Cinema Ticket
$6.38 ₡3,192
$3.96 COP 16.5K
61.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cartago
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$490 ₡245.4K
$305 COP 1.3M
60.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,079 ₡3.5M
$5,925 COP 24.7M
19.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cartago
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.7 ₡30.9K
$57.9 COP 241.4K
6.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.2 ₡26.1K
$31.59 COP 131.7K
65.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 ₡54K
$103 COP 430.1K
4.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.5 ₡39.8K
$106 COP 440.5K
-24.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cartago
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$776 ₡388.3K
$489 COP 2M
58.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$606 ₡303.4K
$379 COP 1.6M
59.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$734 ₡367.6K
$827 COP 3.4M
-11.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$753 ₡377.1K
$729 COP 3M
3.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,190 COP 9.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,532 COP 6.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cartago
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,613 ₡807.4K
$550 COP 2.3M
193.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10
13.43
-25.54%

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

Last update for Cartago: October 27, 2025

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

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