🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $854 in Cimislia versus $1,017 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,271 in Cimislia versus $1,602 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,687 in Cimislia versus $2,188 in Medellin.
🙂Living in Cimislia costs roughly 16% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Cimislia36% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cimislia
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.81MDL 118
$5.95COP 20.6K
14.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.43MDL 405
$33.33COP 115.1K
-29.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.55MDL 130
$7.23COP 25.0K
4.43%
Cappuccino
$1.77MDL 30.54
$1.63COP 5,629
8.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MDL 15.71
$1.09COP 3,782
-16.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68MDL 11.79
$0.73COP 2,522
-6.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.16MDL 19.99
$1.74COP 6,003
-33.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37MDL 40.88
$3.23COP 11.2K
-26.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cimislia
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.07MDL 18.46
$1.05COP 3,625
1.90%
White Bread(500g)
$0.42MDL 7.33
$1.29COP 4,469
-67.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51MDL 25.99
$1.32COP 4,570
14.39%
Eggs
$2.16MDL 37.26
$2.27COP 7,846
-4.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.60MDL 149
$4.35COP 15.0K
97.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.14MDL 71.5
$5.88COP 20.3K
-29.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.72MDL 151
$8.61COP 29.7K
1.28%
Apples(1kg)
$0.56MDL 9.67
$2.25COP 7,763
-75.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MDL 31.24
$1.07COP 3,695
69.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.47MDL 25.44
$1.52COP 5,267
-3.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.01MDL 34.68
$1.42COP 4,914
41.55%
Potato(1kg)
$0.61MDL 10.45
$1.17COP 4,042
-47.86%
Onion(1kg)
$0.55MDL 9.53
$1.17COP 4,035
-52.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.35MDL 23.35
$0.89COP 3,064
51.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85MDL 14.63
$0.90COP 3,114
-5.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.17MDL 54.7
$2.25COP 7,757
40.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.71MDL 81.4
$11.04COP 38.1K
-57.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19MDL 20.62
$1.14COP 3,936
4.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00MDL 34.49
$2.38COP 8,216
-15.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Cimislia
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.28MDL 4.81
$0.84COP 2,886
-66.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.95COP 144.9K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.04MDL 35.15
$1.41COP 4,861
44.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.27MDL 4.67
$1.90COP 6,567
-85.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.41MDL 93.4
$7.75COP 26.8K
-30.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.44MDL 24.87
$1.01COP 3,473
42.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.5KMDL 561.3K
$17.6KCOP 60.7M
84.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.5KMDL 543.8K
$26.5KCOP 91.5M
18.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cimislia
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169MDL 2,919
$83.7COP 289.1K
102.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.50MDL 130
$9.45COP 32.6K
-20.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.01MDL 190
$24.11COP 83.3K
-54.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cimislia
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$17.35MDL 300
$25.31COP 87.4K
-31.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.14COP 66.1K
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.66MDL 132
$4.10COP 14.2K
86.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cimislia
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$383MDL 6,621
$312COP 1.1M
22.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,740MDL 133.7K
$5,993COP 20.7M
29.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cimislia
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.8MDL 1,119
$58.0COP 200.5K
11.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.6MDL 925
$32.56COP 112.5K
64.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113MDL 1,959
$99.6COP 344.1K
13.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124MDL 2,137
$109COP 375.0K
14.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cimislia
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$228MDL 3,940
$482COP 1.7M
-52.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$172MDL 2,965
$379COP 1.3M
-54.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$342MDL 5,912
$837COP 2.9M
-59.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$287MDL 4,950
$723COP 2.5M
-60.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$757MDL 13.1K
$2,840COP 9.8M
-73.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$701MDL 12.1K
$1,223COP 4.2M
-42.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cimislia
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$429MDL 7,410
$541COP 1.9M
-20.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.24
13.43
-31.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cimislia: June 8, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $228 in Cimislia and $482 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 26% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $23.00 in Cimislia vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $170 vs $190 per month, with Cimislia cheaper across the board.
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
Cimislia vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cimislia or Medellin?
Cimislia wins on cost – living expenses run 19% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cimislia the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Cimislia or Medellin?
On paper, Medellin earns 26% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Cimislia vs Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $228 in Cimislia versus $482 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Cimislia or Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Cimislia compared to Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $854 per month in Cimislia versus $1,017 in Medellin – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Cimislia or Medellin?
At $854 in Cimislia versus $1,017 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Cimislia but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Cimislia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Cimislia or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Cimislia delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $854 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Cimislia hard to pass up.
How safe is Cimislia compared to Medellin?
Safety-wise, Cimislia and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Cimislia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.