Cost of Living Comparison Between College Park, MD and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between College Park, MD and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,468 per month in College Park, MD vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,819 per month in College Park, MD vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,169 per month in College Park, MD vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

College Park, MD costs about 102% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both College Park, MD and Medellin sit above the global median – College Park, MD by 152%, Medellin by 25%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.17 $19.17

$8.03 COP 25.3K

138.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.6 $89.6

$48.26 COP 152.3K

85.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.68 $10.68

$9.77 COP 30.8K

9.31%

Cappuccino

$5.06 $5.06

$2.91 COP 9,185

73.88%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 $2.83

$1.94 COP 6,134

45.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.52 COP 4,801

48.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.73 $6.73

$3.09 COP 9,759

117.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.16 $8.16

$5.74 COP 18.1K

42.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.36 COP 4,304

-17.65%

White Bread (500g)

$3.53 $3.53

$2.39 COP 7,534

47.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$1.70 COP 5,366

224.71%

Eggs

$4.85 $4.85

$2.87 COP 9,056

68.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.65 $12.65

$9.94 COP 31.4K

27.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.65 $12.65

$10.78 COP 34.0K

17.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.24 $23.24

$14.73 COP 46.5K

57.77%

Apples (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$4.09 COP 12.9K

59.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.57 COP 4,960

-1.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.30 $7.30

$2.13 COP 6,708

242.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.49 $5.49

$2.21 COP 6,985

148.42%

Potato (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$2.05 COP 6,460

136.10%

Onion (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$1.50 COP 4,747

124.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.51 $2.51

$1.19 COP 3,755

110.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.16 COP 3,654

104.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$3.90 COP 12.3K

254.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.26 $15.26

$14.44 COP 45.6K

5.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.58 COP 4,997

12.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 $3.66

$2.83 COP 8,923

29.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.98 $2.98

$1.17 COP 3,686

154.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.7 COP 245.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 $1.79

$1.28 COP 4,054

39.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.40 $1.40

$2.09 COP 6,602

-33.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.98 $23.98

$8.62 COP 27.2K

178.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.30 COP 4,096

-29.23%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.7K $35.7K

$27.7K COP 87.3M

29.09%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.3K $25.3K

$35.5K COP 112.0M

-28.84%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$216 $216

$176 COP 555.6K

22.79%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$53.5 $53.5

$13.37 COP 42.2K

300.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$81.3 $81.3

$29.89 COP 94.3K

171.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.80 $40.80

$44.76 COP 141.2K

-8.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.06 COP 53.8K

Cinema Ticket

$14.83 $14.83

$6.20 COP 19.6K

139.19%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,964 $1,964

$793 COP 2.5M

147.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$34.9K $34.9K

$9,019 COP 28.5M

287.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.6 $51.6

$85.6 COP 270.1K

-39.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.04 $48.04

$58.5 COP 184.5K

-17.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.7 $90.7

$136 COP 430.1K

-33.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$133 $133

$103 COP 325.4K

28.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,295 $2,295

$1,060 COP 3.3M

116.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,092 $2,092

$680 COP 2.1M

207.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,830 $3,830

$2,012 COP 6.3M

90.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,154 $3,154

$1,169 COP 3.7M

169.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,111 COP 13.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,701 COP 5.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,326 $6,326

$665 COP 2.1M

850.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.23

10.94

-43.05%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for College Park, MD: August 30, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,295 in College Park, MD versus $1,060 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 851% higher in College Park, MD, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in College Park, MD versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $464 vs $303 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

College Park, MD vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,468 in College Park, MD, $1,716 in Medellin – roughly 102% apart. College Park, MD costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,202 per month in College Park, MD and $2,574 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,468 in College Park, MD and $1,716 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,964 per month in College Park, MD and $793 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,716, than in College Park, MD at $3,468. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in College Park, MD it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,716 in Medellin to $3,468 in College Park, MD. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, College Park, MD makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.