Cost of Living Comparison Between Columbia, SC and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Columbia, SC and Medellin

😐 Solo nomad: Columbia, SC is 82% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 115.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Columbia, SC is 87% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 86.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Columbia, SC
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.21 $18.21
$6.23 COP 26K
192.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.5 $60.5
$32.34 COP 134.8K
86.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.9 $11.9
$7.39 COP 30.8K
61.03%
Cappuccino
$3.82 $3.82
$1.72 COP 7,155
122.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 $2.37
$1.1 COP 4,575
115.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 $1.86
$0.73 COP 3,060
154.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.41 $4.41
$1.66 COP 6,916
165.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.6 $5.6
$3.2 COP 13.3K
75.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Columbia, SC
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.87 $0.87
$1.09 COP 4,552
-20.18%
White Bread (500g)
$2.61 $2.61
$1.24 COP 5,188
110.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.64 $3.64
$1.33 COP 5,544
173.68%
Eggs
$4.26 $4.26
$2.22 COP 9,252
91.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.39 $9.39
$4.55 COP 19K
106.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.99 $12.99
$5.71 COP 23.8K
127.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.61 $22.61
$8.59 COP 35.8K
163.21%
Apples (1kg)
$5.21 $5.21
$2.26 COP 9,410
130.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 $1.84
$1.07 COP 4,461
71.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.27 $5.27
$1.51 COP 6,293
249.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.27 $3.27
$1.42 COP 5,911
130.28%
Potato (1kg)
$3.19 $3.19
$1.11 COP 4,619
187.39%
Onion (1kg)
$4.63 $4.63
$1.18 COP 4,932
292.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.99 $1.99
$0.89 COP 3,718
123.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.89 $1.89
$0.84 COP 3,507
125.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.53 $8.53
$2.35 COP 9,809
262.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.84 $14.84
$9.34 COP 38.9K
58.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02 $2.02
$1.18 COP 4,927
71.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 $2.64
$2.49 COP 10.4K
6.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Columbia, SC
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.96 $1.96
$0.83 COP 3,464
136.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.68 $40.68
$41.9 COP 174.7K
-2.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.03 $2.03
$1.41 COP 5,899
43.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.96 COP 8,164
-22.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.06 $18.06
$7.85 COP 32.7K
130.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 $0.76
$1.02 COP 4,265
-25.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4K $30.4K
$17.6K COP 73.4M
72.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K $25.6K
$26.2K COP 109.2M
-2.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Columbia, SC
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$218 $218
$82.5 COP 344.1K
164.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.7 $53.7
$9.44 COP 39.4K
469.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.2 $60.2
$23.51 COP 98K
156.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Columbia, SC
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.01 $40.01
$25.68 COP 107.1K
55.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.01 $7.01
$19.14 COP 79.8K
-63.38%
Cinema Ticket
$15.19 $15.19
$3.96 COP 16.5K
283.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Columbia, SC
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,431 $1,431
$305 COP 1.3M
369.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.3K $22.3K
$5,925 COP 24.7M
276.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Columbia, SC
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7 $56.7
$57.9 COP 241.4K
-2.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.31 $35.31
$31.59 COP 131.7K
11.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.3 $80.3
$103 COP 430.1K
-22.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 $116
$106 COP 440.5K
9.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Columbia, SC
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,306 $1,306
$489 COP 2M
166.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$904 $904
$379 COP 1.6M
138.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,200 $2,200
$827 COP 3.4M
166.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,290 $1,290
$729 COP 3M
76.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,827 $1,827
$2,190 COP 9.1M
-16.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,750 $1,750
$1,532 COP 6.4M
14.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Columbia, SC
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,526 $3,526
$550 COP 2.3M
541.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.54
13.43
-51.30%

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

Last update for Columbia, SC: October 29, 2025

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

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