😐A single person spends $1,884 per month in Cesano Maderno vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,909 per month in Cesano Maderno vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,934 per month in Cesano Maderno vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Cesano Maderno costs about 86% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Cesano Maderno sits 41% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cesano Maderno
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.40€20.13
$5.99COP 21.4K
290.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.6€78.8
$32.86COP 117.4K
178.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.12€12.15
$7.09COP 25.3K
99.15%
Cappuccino
$2.02€1.74
$1.71COP 6,115
18.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40€2.93
$1.10COP 3,924
209.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22€1.05
$0.78COP 2,781
56.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.73€5.79
$1.68COP 5,997
300.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.72€4.92
$3.07COP 11.0K
86.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cesano Maderno
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87€1.61
$1.09COP 3,906
71.56%
White Bread(500g)
$2.27€1.95
$1.26COP 4,508
80.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.51€3.02
$1.38COP 4,922
154.35%
Eggs
$4.30€3.70
$2.19COP 7,827
96.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.21€16.52
$4.40COP 15.7K
336.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.28€11.42
$5.63COP 20.1K
135.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$23.79€20.46
$8.89COP 31.8K
167.60%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71€2.33
$2.34COP 8,349
15.81%
Banana(1kg)
$2.39€2.06
$1.06COP 3,777
125.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.47€2.13
$1.50COP 5,374
64.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.55€3.05
$1.38COP 4,924
157.25%
Potato(1kg)
$2.10€1.81
$1.15COP 4,111
82.61%
Onion(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$1.16COP 4,155
57.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.30
$0.89COP 3,182
69.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50€0.43
$0.84COP 2,997
-40.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85€5.89
$2.28COP 8,145
200.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.38€3.76
$10.64COP 38.0K
-58.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55€1.33
$1.20COP 4,284
29.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47€1.26
$2.47COP 8,824
-40.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Cesano Maderno
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.79€1.54
$0.86COP 3,056
108.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$42.83€36.85
$41.40COP 147.9K
3.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.89€5.06
$1.47COP 5,264
300.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19€1.89
$1.96COP 7,009
11.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$39.94€34.35
$7.74COP 27.6K
416.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.05€1.76
$0.95COP 3,409
115.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2K€28.5K
$18.1KCOP 64.7M
82.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4K€30.5K
$26.5KCOP 94.6M
33.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cesano Maderno
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$250€215
$82.3COP 293.7K
204.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.60€9.98
$9.50COP 33.9K
22.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.15€30.24
$24.23COP 86.5K
45.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cesano Maderno
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.1€46.57
$25.89COP 92.4K
109.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.08€19.86
$19.00COP 67.9K
21.47%
Cinema Ticket
$11.59€9.97
$3.93COP 14.0K
194.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cesano Maderno
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$718€617
$309COP 1.1M
131.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,684€5,750
$5,965COP 21.3M
12.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cesano Maderno
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$113€97.5
$58.7COP 209.5K
93.27%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.2€45.73
$32.35COP 115.5K
64.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116€99.7
$103COP 366.4K
12.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$169€146
$108COP 387.2K
55.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cesano Maderno
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$761€655
$476COP 1.7M
59.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$579€498
$379COP 1.4M
52.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,216€1,046
$838COP 3.0M
45.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$943€811
$724COP 2.6M
30.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,008€2,587
$2,791COP 10.0M
7.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,053€1,766
$1,211COP 4.3M
69.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cesano Maderno
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$512COP 1.8M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.25
13.43
-75.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cesano Maderno: May 31, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $761 in Cesano Maderno 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $92.0 in Cesano Maderno versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $365 vs $188 – making Medellin 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
Cesano Maderno vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cesano Maderno or Medellin?
Cesano Maderno costs about 86% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Cesano Maderno vs Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,826 per month in Cesano Maderno and $1,519 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Cesano Maderno or Medellin?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Cesano Maderno compared to Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,884 in Cesano Maderno and $1,013 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Cesano Maderno vs Medellin?
Public transport costs about 3% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Cesano Maderno or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Cesano Maderno at $1,884. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cesano Maderno it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Cesano Maderno or Medellin?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,013 versus $1,884 in Cesano Maderno. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Cesano Maderno compared to Medellin?
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.
Should I move to Cesano Maderno or Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cesano Maderno makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Cesano Maderno vs other spots: cost of living compared