Cost of Living Comparison Between Chesapeake, VA and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Chesapeake, VA and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,521 per month in Chesapeake, VA vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,529 per month in Chesapeake, VA vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,537 per month in Chesapeake, VA vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Chesapeake, VA costs about 148% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Chesapeake, VA sits 88% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.99 $12.99

$5.95 COP 20.8K

118.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.6 $75.6

$33.33 COP 116.3K

126.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.80 $9.80

$7.23 COP 25.2K

35.55%

Cappuccino

$5.42 $5.42

$1.63 COP 5,687

232.52%

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

$2.32 $2.32

$1.09 COP 3,821

112.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 $2.07

$0.73 COP 2,548

183.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.72 $5.72

$1.74 COP 6,065

228.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.95 $5.95

$3.23 COP 11.3K

84.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.05 COP 3,662

-13.33%

White Bread (500g)

$4.06 $4.06

$1.29 COP 4,515

214.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.12 $3.12

$1.32 COP 4,617

136.36%

Eggs

$3.27 $3.27

$2.27 COP 7,927

44.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.51 $13.51

$4.35 COP 15.2K

210.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.16 $8.16

$5.88 COP 20.5K

38.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.65 $16.65

$8.61 COP 30.0K

93.38%

Apples (1kg)

$5.06 $5.06

$2.25 COP 7,844

124.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.07 COP 3,733

-2.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$1.52 COP 5,322

280.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.47 $4.47

$1.42 COP 4,964

214.79%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$1.17 COP 4,084

136.75%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.17 COP 4,077

146.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.58 $1.58

$0.89 COP 3,096

77.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$0.90 COP 3,146

143.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.63 $7.63

$2.25 COP 7,837

239.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.06 $15.06

$11.04 COP 38.5K

36.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$1.14 COP 3,977

53.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.38 COP 8,301

31.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$0.84 COP 2,916

140.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$70.3 $70.3

$41.95 COP 146.4K

67.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.41 COP 4,912

74.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.90 COP 6,634

-38.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.90 $14.90

$7.75 COP 27.0K

92.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.01 COP 3,509

-18.81%

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

$29.7K $29.7K

$17.6K COP 61.4M

69.15%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$26.5K COP 92.5M

-0.49%

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

$184 $184

$83.7 COP 292.1K

119.97%

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

$53.4 $53.4

$9.45 COP 33.0K

465.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.7 $53.7

$24.11 COP 84.1K

122.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.84 $42.84

$25.31 COP 88.3K

69.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$13.06 $13.06

$4.10 COP 14.3K

218.54%

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

$1,485 $1,485

$312 COP 1.1M

375.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.9K $18.9K

$5,993 COP 20.9M

214.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.6 $52.6

$58.0 COP 202.6K

-9.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.94 $19.94

$32.56 COP 113.6K

-38.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.8 $69.8

$99.6 COP 347.7K

-29.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.1 $59.1

$109 COP 378.8K

-45.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,773 $1,773

$482 COP 1.7M

267.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,387 $1,387

$379 COP 1.3M

265.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,293 $2,293

$837 COP 2.9M

173.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,864 $1,864

$723 COP 2.5M

157.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,813 $1,813

$2,840 COP 9.9M

-36.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,593 $1,593

$1,223 COP 4.3M

30.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,228 $4,228

$541 COP 1.9M

681.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

13.43

-51.38%

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

Last update for Chesapeake, VA: June 7, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,773 in Chesapeake, VA versus $482 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 682% higher in Chesapeake, VA, 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 $76.0 in Chesapeake, VA versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $375 vs $190 – 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

Chesapeake, VA vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chesapeake, VA is pricier by about 148%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,781 per month in Chesapeake, VA and $1,525 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $1,485 per month in Chesapeake, VA and $312 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 98% more in Chesapeake, VA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Chesapeake, VA at $2,521. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chesapeake, VA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

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