😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,782 in Cromwell versus $1,013 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,789 in Cromwell versus $1,602 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,795 in Cromwell versus $2,192 in Medellin.
😐Living in Cromwell is roughly 76% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Cromwell is 33% above, Medellin is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cromwell
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.86NZ$20.03
$5.99COP 21.4K
98.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.8NZ$121
$32.86COP 117.4K
118.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.89NZ$18.39
$7.09COP 25.3K
53.60%
Cappuccino
$3.35NZ$5.66
$1.71COP 6,115
95.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27NZ$3.83
$1.10COP 3,924
106.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09NZ$3.52
$0.78COP 2,781
167.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.04NZ$11.89
$1.68COP 5,997
319.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.98NZ$10.09
$3.07COP 11.0K
94.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cromwell
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.16NZ$3.64
$1.09COP 3,906
98.17%
White Bread(500g)
$1.97NZ$3.32
$1.26COP 4,508
56.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.89NZ$3.19
$1.38COP 4,922
36.96%
Eggs
$5.49NZ$9.26
$2.19COP 7,827
150.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.12NZ$13.70
$4.40COP 15.7K
84.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.87NZ$18.35
$5.63COP 20.1K
93.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.91NZ$21.80
$8.89COP 31.8K
45.22%
Apples(1kg)
$2.99NZ$5.05
$2.34COP 8,349
27.78%
Banana(1kg)
$2.28NZ$3.84
$1.06COP 3,777
115.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.42NZ$5.78
$1.50COP 5,374
128.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.46NZ$7.53
$1.38COP 4,924
223.19%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00NZ$3.37
$1.15COP 4,111
73.91%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07NZ$3.49
$1.16COP 4,155
78.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.53NZ$4.27
$0.89COP 3,182
184.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07NZ$1.81
$0.84COP 2,997
27.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$24.46NZ$41.30
$2.28COP 8,145
972.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.94NZ$15.09
$10.64COP 38.0K
-15.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.47NZ$4.16
$1.20COP 4,284
105.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68NZ$6.20
$2.47COP 8,824
48.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Cromwell
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.13NZ$3.60
$0.86COP 3,056
147.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$64.9NZ$110
$41.40COP 147.9K
56.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.64NZ$4.45
$1.47COP 5,264
79.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14NZ$1.92
$1.96COP 7,009
-41.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.72NZ$50.2
$7.74COP 27.6K
283.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.65NZ$2.78
$0.95COP 3,409
73.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7KNZ$33.3K
$18.1KCOP 64.7M
8.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4KNZ$42.9K
$26.5KCOP 94.6M
-4.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cromwell
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$101NZ$170
$82.3COP 293.7K
22.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.29NZ$59.6
$9.50COP 33.9K
271.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.7NZ$92.3
$24.23COP 86.5K
125.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cromwell
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.06NZ$62.6
$25.89COP 92.4K
43.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.29NZ$20.75
$19.00COP 67.9K
-35.32%
Cinema Ticket
$9.30NZ$15.70
$3.93COP 14.0K
136.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cromwell
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$576NZ$972
$309COP 1.1M
86.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KNZ$22.4K
$5,965COP 21.3M
122.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cromwell
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.5NZ$111
$58.7COP 209.5K
11.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.42NZ$59.8
$32.35COP 115.5K
9.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.3NZ$161
$103COP 366.4K
-7.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120NZ$203
$108COP 387.2K
11.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cromwell
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$981NZ$1,656
$476COP 1.7M
105.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$779NZ$1,314
$379COP 1.4M
105.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,588NZ$2,681
$838COP 3.0M
89.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,383NZ$2,334
$724COP 2.6M
91.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,516NZ$7,624
$2,791COP 10.0M
61.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,394NZ$5,730
$1,211COP 4.3M
180.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cromwell
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,160NZ$5,334
$512COP 1.8M
517.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.6
13.43
-50.86%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cromwell: June 2, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $981 in Cromwell and $476 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cromwell pays 517% 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: $72.0 in Cromwell vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $323 vs $188 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
Cromwell vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Cromwell?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 76% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cromwell or Medellin?
Cromwell pays 517% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Cromwell and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $981 in Cromwell versus $476 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Cromwell and Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 72% higher in Cromwell. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Cromwell or Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $72.0 in Cromwell. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Cromwell or Medellin?
At $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,782 in Cromwell, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Cromwell. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cromwell or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cromwell, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cromwell or Medellin?
Safety-wise, Cromwell 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 76% less than in Cromwell. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.