😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,041 in Ciudad Obregon versus $1,030 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,634 in Ciudad Obregon versus $1,586 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,228 in Ciudad Obregon versus $2,143 in Medellin.
😐Living in Ciudad Obregon is roughly 1% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Ciudad Obregon22% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ciudad Obregon
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.50MX$182
$5.92COP 21.2K
77.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.84MX$586
$33.17COP 118.7K
2.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.89MX$119
$7.25COP 25.9K
-4.97%
Cappuccino
$2.23MX$38.63
$1.71COP 6,137
30.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69MX$12.00
$1.09COP 3,915
-36.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58MX$10.08
$0.77COP 2,743
-24.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.28MX$22.26
$1.75COP 6,254
-26.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81MX$31.36
$3.18COP 11.4K
-43.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ciudad Obregon
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.45
$1.06COP 3,792
60.38%
White Bread(500g)
$2.14MX$37.13
$1.30COP 4,657
64.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.42MX$24.62
$1.38COP 4,926
2.90%
Eggs
$2.25MX$39.01
$2.21COP 7,908
1.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.70MX$81.4
$4.52COP 16.2K
3.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.30MX$91.9
$5.80COP 20.7K
-8.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.31MX$161
$8.97COP 32.1K
3.79%
Apples(1kg)
$1.80MX$31.13
$2.29COP 8,182
-21.40%
Banana(1kg)
$1.83MX$31.65
$1.06COP 3,791
72.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.76MX$30.54
$1.51COP 5,411
16.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.62MX$28.08
$1.36COP 4,869
19.12%
Potato(1kg)
$1.73MX$30.00
$1.16COP 4,146
49.14%
Onion(1kg)
$1.73MX$30.01
$1.17COP 4,174
47.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.76
$0.83COP 2,960
30.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.37MX$23.79
$0.85COP 3,043
61.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.05MX$70.1
$2.35COP 8,423
72.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.00MX$173
$11.09COP 39.7K
-9.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.94MX$33.65
$1.15COP 4,133
68.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81MX$48.76
$2.47COP 8,853
13.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Ciudad Obregon
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.61MX$10.64
$0.79COP 2,827
-22.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.85COP 149.8K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.61MX$27.93
$1.44COP 5,140
11.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.60MX$27.76
$1.90COP 6,793
-15.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.48MX$147
$7.70COP 27.6K
10.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26MX$21.78
$1.03COP 3,680
22.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.9KMX$293.2K
$17.7KCOP 63.3M
-4.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$402.8K
$27.0KCOP 96.7M
-13.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ciudad Obregon
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$99.3MX$1,722
$81.4COP 291.4K
22.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.59MX$392
$9.42COP 33.7K
139.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.78MX$464
$23.77COP 85.1K
12.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ciudad Obregon
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.57MX$634
$25.86COP 92.6K
41.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.64MX$271
$19.34COP 69.2K
-19.13%
Cinema Ticket
$3.56MX$61.7
$4.05COP 14.5K
-12.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ciudad Obregon
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$289MX$5,015
$312COP 1.1M
-7.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,690MX$81.3K
$6,067COP 21.7M
-22.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ciudad Obregon
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.87MX$743
$58.9COP 210.7K
-27.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.02MX$555
$32.82COP 117.5K
-2.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$62.3MX$1,079
$100COP 359.6K
-38.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$62.7MX$1,087
$106COP 380.3K
-40.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ciudad Obregon
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$499MX$8,655
$490COP 1.8M
2.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$399MX$6,910
$371COP 1.3M
7.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$940MX$16.3K
$838COP 3.0M
12.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$775MX$13.4K
$715COP 2.6M
8.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,012MX$34.9K
$2,952COP 10.6M
-31.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,283MX$22.2K
$1,394COP 5.0M
-7.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ciudad Obregon
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,223MX$21.2K
$532COP 1.9M
129.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.5
13.43
-14.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ciudad Obregon: April 22, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $499 in Ciudad Obregon and $490 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ciudad Obregon pays 130% 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: $34 in Ciudad Obregon vs $33 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $222 vs $190 per month, with Medellin 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
Ciudad Obregon vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ciudad Obregon or Medellin?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Ciudad Obregon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ciudad Obregon or Medellin?
Ciudad Obregon pays 130% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ciudad Obregon vs Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $499 in Ciudad Obregon versus $490 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Ciudad Obregon and Medellin?
Childcare runs $289 in Ciudad Obregon versus $312 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Ciudad Obregon vs Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $34.00 in Ciudad Obregon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Ciudad Obregon or Medellin?
At $1,030 in Medellin versus $1,041 in Ciudad Obregon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Ciudad Obregon. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ciudad Obregon or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,030 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
How safe is Ciudad Obregon compared to Medellin?
Safety-wise, Ciudad Obregon 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 Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Ciudad Obregon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Ciudad Obregon vs other spots: cost of living compared