🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $827 in Cimislia versus $1,641 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,161 in Cimislia versus $2,447 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,496 in Cimislia versus $3,253 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Cimislia costs roughly 50% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Cimislia is 40% below, Medellin is 19% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cimislia
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.15MDL 123
$8.04COP 24.8K
-11.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.96MDL 394
$48.29COP 148.6K
-52.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.82MDL 186
$9.42COP 29.0K
14.86%
Cappuccino
$1.76MDL 30.25
$2.94COP 9,040
-40.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MDL 19.00
$1.86COP 5,735
-40.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68MDL 11.66
$1.46COP 4,479
-53.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.15MDL 19.76
$3.21COP 9,882
-64.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35MDL 40.31
$5.71COP 17.6K
-58.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cimislia
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06MDL 18.20
$1.44COP 4,428
-26.39%
White Bread(500g)
$0.43MDL 7.35
$2.40COP 7,389
-82.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.66MDL 28.42
$1.70COP 5,228
-2.35%
Eggs
$2.12MDL 36.32
$2.89COP 8,896
-26.64%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.88MDL 118
$10.06COP 30.9K
-31.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.19MDL 72.0
$9.97COP 30.7K
-57.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.47MDL 111
$14.20COP 43.7K
-54.44%
Apples(1kg)
$0.60MDL 10.33
$3.98COP 12.3K
-84.92%
Banana(1kg)
$2.30MDL 39.45
$1.58COP 4,878
45.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.43MDL 24.62
$2.15COP 6,624
-33.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MDL 35.83
$2.30COP 7,078
-9.13%
Potato(1kg)
$0.56MDL 9.60
$2.00COP 6,169
-72.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.56MDL 9.55
$1.51COP 4,646
-62.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.46MDL 7.82
$1.20COP 3,701
-61.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60MDL 10.29
$1.28COP 3,946
-53.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.39MDL 58.2
$3.84COP 11.8K
-11.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.53MDL 77.8
$14.01COP 43.1K
-67.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MDL 20.53
$1.71COP 5,256
-29.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08MDL 35.68
$2.74COP 8,440
-24.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Cimislia
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30MDL 5.19
$1.25COP 3,834
-76.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$77.9COP 239.7K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.97MDL 50.9
$1.31COP 4,016
126.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.27MDL 4.68
$2.17COP 6,680
-87.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.78MDL 99.3
$8.29COP 25.5K
-30.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.50MDL 25.69
$1.36COP 4,172
10.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3KMDL 605.8K
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
28.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9KMDL 426.8K
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
-31.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cimislia
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$229MDL 3,930
$169COP 519.2K
35.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.26MDL 142
$13.57COP 41.8K
-39.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.48MDL 197
$28.32COP 87.2K
-59.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cimislia
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$17.84MDL 306
$45.71COP 140.7K
-60.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.22COP 53.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.12MDL 139
$6.65COP 20.5K
22.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cimislia
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$115MDL 1,970
$803COP 2.5M
-85.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,514MDL 94.6K
$9,190COP 28.3M
-40.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cimislia
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.58MDL 799
$87.4COP 268.8K
-46.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$59.4COP 182.7K
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$58.0MDL 995
$139COP 427.5K
-58.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$51.5MDL 884
$102COP 314.0K
-49.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cimislia
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$230MDL 3,945
$1,071COP 3.3M
-78.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$175MDL 2,998
$653COP 2.0M
-73.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$352MDL 6,046
$1,925COP 5.9M
-81.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$289MDL 4,951
$1,048COP 3.2M
-72.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$758MDL 13.0K
$4,123COP 12.7M
-81.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$696MDL 11.9K
$1,697COP 5.2M
-58.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cimislia
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$434MDL 7,441
$655COP 2.0M
-33.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8
10.94
-26.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cimislia: September 6, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $230 in Cimislia and $1,071 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 51% 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 $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $155 vs $300 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 99% 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 51% 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: $230 in Cimislia versus $1,071 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 94% 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 $827 per month in Cimislia versus $1,641 in Medellin – a 99% 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 $827 in Cimislia versus $1,641 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 $827 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 99% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.