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

😐 Solo nomad: Cartago is 34% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 50.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Cartago is 34.3% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 25.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cartago
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 ₡3,712
$6.14 COP 22.1K
31.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.71 ₡14.5K
$33.05 COP 119.0K
-4.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.87 ₡4,066
$7.32 COP 26.4K
21.17%
Cappuccino
$3.79 ₡1,738
$1.66 COP 5,971
128.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 ₡908
$1.10 COP 3,977
80.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 ₡591
$0.78 COP 2,815
65.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.00 ₡918
$1.71 COP 6,172
16.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53 ₡2,079
$3.17 COP 11.4K
42.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cartago
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.04 ₡935
$1.11 COP 4,002
83.78%
White Bread (500g)
$2.14 ₡979
$1.31 COP 4,707
63.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 ₡997
$1.38 COP 4,967
57.25%
Eggs
$2.93 ₡1,345
$2.22 COP 7,989
31.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.00 ₡3,670
$4.34 COP 15.6K
84.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.22 ₡4,231
$5.80 COP 20.9K
58.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.92 ₡6,387
$8.98 COP 32.3K
55.01%
Apples (1kg)
$4.63 ₡2,126
$2.26 COP 8,143
104.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ₡557
$1.11 COP 4,013
9.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.04 ₡1,855
$1.46 COP 5,271
176.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.65 ₡1,215
$1.37 COP 4,916
93.43%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 ₡905
$1.11 COP 3,999
77.48%
Onion (1kg)
$1.94 ₡888
$1.16 COP 4,188
67.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 ₡471
$0.89 COP 3,202
15.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 ₡895
$0.87 COP 3,116
124.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.43 ₡2,489
$2.35 COP 8,473
131.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.92 ₡6,842
$10.86 COP 39.1K
37.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.50 ₡1,146
$1.20 COP 4,319
108.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82 ₡835
$2.48 COP 8,923
-26.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Cartago
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.02 ₡467
$0.79 COP 2,835
29.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$70.0 ₡32.1K
$40.77 COP 146.8K
71.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.40 ₡643
$1.42 COP 5,124
-1.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.77 ₡814
$1.91 COP 6,882
-7.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.03 ₡3,685
$7.65 COP 27.5K
4.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.39 ₡639
$0.97 COP 3,481
43.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.0K ₡17.4M
$18.1K COP 65.2M
109.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.8K ₡15.0M
$26.3K COP 94.7M
24.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cartago
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$47.57 ₡21.8K
$81.3 COP 292.8K
-41.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.60 ₡11.7K
$9.63 COP 34.7K
165.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.5 ₡26.4K
$24.36 COP 87.7K
136.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cartago
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.2 ₡25.8K
$26.02 COP 93.7K
115.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.98 ₡11.0K
$18.92 COP 68.1K
26.74%
Cinema Ticket
$6.54 ₡3,002
$3.89 COP 14.0K
68.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cartago
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 ₡226.6K
$304 COP 1.1M
62.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,231 ₡3.3M
$5,902 COP 21.3M
22.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cartago
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ₡28.6K
$58.7 COP 211.3K
6.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.1 ₡23.5K
$32.48 COP 116.9K
57.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 ₡49.7K
$102 COP 366.3K
6.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.8 ₡36.6K
$108 COP 389.4K
-26.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cartago
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$759 ₡348.2K
$474 COP 1.7M
60.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$591 ₡271.3K
$371 COP 1.3M
59.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$735 ₡337.4K
$848 COP 3.1M
-13.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$778 ₡357.0K
$716 COP 2.6M
8.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,871 COP 10.3M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,375 COP 5.0M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cartago
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,295 ₡594.0K
$542 COP 1.9M
139.14%
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: April 14, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 13, 2026

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

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