Cost of Living Comparison Between Columbus, OH and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Columbus, OH and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,562 per month in Columbus, OH vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,849 per month in Columbus, OH vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,135 per month in Columbus, OH vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Columbus, OH costs about 153% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Columbus, OH sits 91% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.35 $20.35

$5.99 COP 21.3K

239.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.5 $80.5

$32.86 COP 116.9K

144.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.98 $10.98

$7.09 COP 25.2K

54.87%

Cappuccino

$4.88 $4.88

$1.71 COP 6,093

185.38%

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

$2.59 $2.59

$1.10 COP 3,910

135.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$0.78 COP 2,771

188.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.85 $5.85

$1.68 COP 5,976

248.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.88 $6.88

$3.07 COP 10.9K

124.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.09 COP 3,892

-16.51%

White Bread (500g)

$3.03 $3.03

$1.26 COP 4,492

140.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$1.38 COP 4,905

197.10%

Eggs

$3.18 $3.18

$2.19 COP 7,799

45.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.13 $13.13

$4.40 COP 15.7K

198.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.81 $13.81

$5.63 COP 20.0K

145.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.22 $16.22

$8.89 COP 31.6K

82.45%

Apples (1kg)

$5.97 $5.97

$2.34 COP 8,319

155.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 $1.30

$1.06 COP 3,764

22.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.54 $5.54

$1.50 COP 5,355

269.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$1.38 COP 4,906

275.36%

Potato (1kg)

$3.60 $3.60

$1.15 COP 4,097

213.04%

Onion (1kg)

$3.05 $3.05

$1.16 COP 4,141

162.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 $2.28

$0.89 COP 3,170

156.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$0.84 COP 2,986

153.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.34 $9.34

$2.28 COP 8,116

309.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.70 $17.70

$10.64 COP 37.9K

66.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 $2.00

$1.20 COP 4,268

66.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.47 COP 8,793

4.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

$0.86 COP 3,045

130.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$61.2 $61.2

$41.40 COP 147.3K

47.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.47 COP 5,245

106.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.96 COP 6,984

-34.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.23 $27.23

$7.74 COP 27.5K

251.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$0.95 COP 3,397

-14.74%

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

$30.2K $30.2K

$18.1K COP 64.5M

66.72%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.5K COP 94.2M

-1.04%

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

$270 $270

$82.3 COP 292.7K

227.90%

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

$59.7 $59.7

$9.50 COP 33.8K

528.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.0 $67.0

$24.23 COP 86.2K

176.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.42 $45.42

$25.89 COP 92.1K

75.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.26 $39.26

$19.00 COP 67.6K

106.63%

Cinema Ticket

$12.23 $12.23

$3.93 COP 14.0K

211.20%

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

$1,225 $1,225

$309 COP 1.1M

295.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K $15.1K

$5,965 COP 21.2M

153.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 $55.5

$58.7 COP 208.7K

-5.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.48 $39.48

$32.35 COP 115.1K

22.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.0 $81.0

$103 COP 365.1K

-21.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 $105

$108 COP 385.8K

-2.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,548 $1,548

$476 COP 1.7M

225.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,183 $1,183

$379 COP 1.3M

212.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,962 $2,962

$838 COP 3.0M

253.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,095 $2,095

$724 COP 2.6M

189.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,455 $3,455

$2,791 COP 9.9M

23.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,791 $1,791

$1,211 COP 4.3M

47.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,750 $3,750

$512 COP 1.8M

632.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

13.43

-51.53%

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

Last update for Columbus, OH: June 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,548 in Columbus, OH versus $476 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 633% higher in Columbus, OH, 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 $80.0 in Columbus, OH versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $413 vs $188 – 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

Columbus, OH vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Columbus, OH costs about 153% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,844 per month in Columbus, OH and $1,519 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 $2,562 in Columbus, OH and $1,013 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 48% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Columbus, OH at $2,562. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Columbus, OH it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,013 versus $2,562 in Columbus, OH. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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