🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $853 in Cimislia versus $1,003 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,262 in Cimislia versus $1,573 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,671 in Cimislia versus $2,143 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Cimislia costs roughly 15% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Cimislia36% lower, Medellin25% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cimislia
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.94MDL 122
$5.91COP 18.9K
17.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.86MDL 418
$32.96COP 105.2K
-27.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.62MDL 134
$7.43COP 23.7K
2.56%
Cappuccino
$1.73MDL 30.41
$1.65COP 5,276
4.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MDL 16.07
$1.10COP 3,514
-16.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66MDL 11.57
$0.78COP 2,491
-15.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.14MDL 19.97
$1.72COP 5,484
-33.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37MDL 41.58
$3.18COP 10.1K
-25.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cimislia
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.03MDL 18.02
$1.10COP 3,521
-6.36%
White Bread(500g)
$0.42MDL 7.38
$1.26COP 4,015
-66.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.47MDL 25.72
$1.38COP 4,407
6.52%
Eggs
$2.06MDL 36.14
$2.18COP 6,950
-5.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.96MDL 157
$4.49COP 14.3K
99.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.06MDL 71.3
$5.79COP 18.5K
-29.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83MDL 155
$8.97COP 28.6K
-1.56%
Apples(1kg)
$0.60MDL 10.55
$2.32COP 7,405
-74.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.82MDL 31.84
$1.06COP 3,397
71.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50MDL 26.37
$1.52COP 4,838
-1.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.07MDL 36.36
$1.36COP 4,327
52.21%
Potato(1kg)
$0.55MDL 9.71
$1.13COP 3,599
-51.33%
Onion(1kg)
$0.59MDL 10.32
$1.17COP 3,738
-49.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.34MDL 23.59
$0.90COP 2,876
48.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89MDL 15.59
$0.90COP 2,861
-1.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.14MDL 55.1
$2.23COP 7,128
40.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.67MDL 81.8
$12.12COP 38.7K
-61.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15MDL 20.12
$1.19COP 3,793
-3.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00MDL 35.14
$2.48COP 7,920
-19.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Cimislia
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.28MDL 4.87
$0.85COP 2,723
-67.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.62COP 132.8K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.04MDL 35.75
$1.42COP 4,518
43.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.27MDL 4.75
$1.95COP 6,223
-86.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.37MDL 94.2
$7.89COP 25.2K
-31.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.38MDL 24.24
$0.99COP 3,160
39.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.9KMDL 560.4K
$17.6KCOP 56.2M
81.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6KMDL 536.7K
$26.8KCOP 85.5M
14.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cimislia
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169MDL 2,964
$83.0COP 264.9K
103.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.56MDL 133
$9.70COP 30.9K
-22.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.93MDL 192
$23.52COP 75.0K
-53.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cimislia
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$17.23MDL 302
$25.26COP 80.6K
-31.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.10COP 60.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.82MDL 137
$3.95COP 12.6K
97.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cimislia
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$398MDL 6,976
$316COP 1.0M
25.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,682MDL 134.8K
$5,975COP 19.1M
28.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cimislia
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.3MDL 1,162
$60.0COP 191.4K
10.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.7MDL 942
$31.82COP 101.5K
68.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114MDL 1,992
$102COP 324.4K
11.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121MDL 2,125
$107COP 342.8K
12.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cimislia
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$235MDL 4,116
$475COP 1.5M
-50.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$170MDL 2,976
$374COP 1.2M
-54.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$346MDL 6,070
$849COP 2.7M
-59.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$289MDL 5,069
$719COP 2.3M
-59.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$743MDL 13.0K
$3,265COP 10.4M
-77.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$675MDL 11.8K
$1,441COP 4.6M
-53.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cimislia
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$430MDL 7,545
$624COP 2.0M
-31.12%
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: July 26, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $235 in Cimislia and $475 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 45% 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 $170 vs $193 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 18% 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 in Medellin?
On paper, salaries run 45% lower in Medellin. 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 compared to Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $235 in Cimislia versus $475 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Cimislia or in Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 13% 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 $853 per month in Cimislia versus $1,003 in Medellin – a 18% 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 in Medellin?
At $853 in Cimislia versus $1,003 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 $853 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 18% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.