🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $854 in Cimislia versus $1,034 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,247 in Cimislia versus $1,577 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,639 in Cimislia versus $2,120 in Medellin.
🙂Living in Cimislia costs roughly 17% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Cimislia36% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cimislia
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.90MDL 119
$5.92COP 21.5K
16.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.54MDL 408
$32.75COP 119.1K
-28.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.57MDL 131
$7.20COP 26.2K
5.14%
Cappuccino
$1.80MDL 31.19
$1.70COP 6,186
5.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MDL 15.72
$1.10COP 3,996
-17.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70MDL 12.06
$0.72COP 2,625
-2.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.16MDL 20.00
$1.67COP 6,067
-30.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35MDL 40.68
$3.10COP 11.3K
-24.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cimislia
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04MDL 17.99
$1.06COP 3,837
-1.89%
White Bread(500g)
$0.42MDL 7.33
$1.25COP 4,531
-66.40%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.45MDL 25.02
$1.39COP 5,060
4.32%
Eggs
$2.08MDL 36.06
$2.26COP 8,229
-7.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.90MDL 154
$4.33COP 15.8K
105.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.98MDL 68.9
$5.84COP 21.2K
-31.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97MDL 155
$8.83COP 32.1K
1.59%
Apples(1kg)
$0.56MDL 9.63
$2.24COP 8,159
-75.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77MDL 30.59
$1.08COP 3,911
63.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.49MDL 25.87
$1.53COP 5,563
-2.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MDL 35.67
$1.37COP 4,987
50.36%
Potato(1kg)
$0.61MDL 10.48
$1.13COP 4,109
-46.02%
Onion(1kg)
$0.58MDL 10.12
$1.12COP 4,067
-48.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.32MDL 22.79
$0.85COP 3,080
55.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85MDL 14.65
$0.91COP 3,305
-6.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.24MDL 56.2
$2.33COP 8,477
39.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.64MDL 80.3
$11.13COP 40.5K
-58.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19MDL 20.55
$1.19COP 4,342
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93MDL 33.37
$2.37COP 8,617
-18.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Cimislia
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30MDL 5.20
$0.79COP 2,859
-62.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.13COP 149.6K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.99MDL 34.51
$1.44COP 5,223
38.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.27MDL 4.71
$1.91COP 6,952
-85.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MDL 93.3
$8.02COP 29.2K
-32.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.38MDL 23.84
$0.94COP 3,410
46.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.6KMDL 564.8K
$17.9KCOP 65.2M
82.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.8KMDL 533.6K
$26.8KCOP 97.4M
15.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cimislia
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$173MDL 2,994
$84.0COP 305.4K
106.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.62MDL 132
$9.60COP 34.9K
-20.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.91MDL 189
$24.16COP 87.9K
-54.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cimislia
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$17.29MDL 299
$25.88COP 94.1K
-33.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.04COP 69.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.59MDL 131
$3.92COP 14.2K
93.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cimislia
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$394MDL 6,817
$306COP 1.1M
28.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,539MDL 130.5K
$5,919COP 21.5M
27.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cimislia
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.7MDL 1,137
$57.9COP 210.6K
13.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.8MDL 914
$31.82COP 115.7K
65.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114MDL 1,968
$99.9COP 363.3K
13.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123MDL 2,137
$107COP 389.7K
15.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cimislia
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$234MDL 4,043
$487COP 1.8M
-52.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$173MDL 3,000
$368COP 1.3M
-52.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$349MDL 6,035
$826COP 3.0M
-57.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$286MDL 4,957
$716COP 2.6M
-60.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$767MDL 13.3K
$2,925COP 10.6M
-73.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$710MDL 12.3K
$1,407COP 5.1M
-49.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cimislia
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$440MDL 7,617
$546COP 2.0M
-19.33%
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: April 26, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $234 in Cimislia and $487 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 24% 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: $24.00 in Cimislia vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $169 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 21% 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 24% 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: $234 in Cimislia versus $487 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 $1,034 in Medellin – a 21% 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 $1,034 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 21% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.