Cost of Living Comparison Between Cuenca and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Cuenca and Medellin

🙂 Solo nomad: Cuenca is 3.9% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 10.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Cuenca is 7.4% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 16.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cuenca
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.44 $3.44
$6.23 COP 26K
-44.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.89 $24.89
$32.34 COP 134.8K
-23.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.07 $7.07
$7.39 COP 30.8K
-4.33%
Cappuccino
$2.47 $2.47
$1.72 COP 7,155
43.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 $0.79
$1.1 COP 4,575
-28.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 $0.66
$0.73 COP 3,060
-9.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.02 $2.02
$1.66 COP 6,916
21.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42 $3.42
$3.2 COP 13.3K
6.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cuenca
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 $1.14
$1.09 COP 4,552
4.59%
White Bread (500g)
$1.68 $1.68
$1.24 COP 5,188
35.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.5 $1.5
$1.33 COP 5,544
12.78%
Eggs
$2.18 $2.18
$2.22 COP 9,252
-1.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.57 $5.57
$4.55 COP 19K
22.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.47 $5.47
$5.71 COP 23.8K
-4.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.36 $6.36
$8.59 COP 35.8K
-25.96%
Apples (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$2.26 COP 9,410
-35.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.07 COP 4,461
-2.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.16 $1.16
$1.51 COP 6,293
-23.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.06 $1.06
$1.42 COP 5,911
-25.35%
Potato (1kg)
$1.48 $1.48
$1.11 COP 4,619
33.33%
Onion (1kg)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.18 COP 4,932
-12.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.46 $0.46
$0.89 COP 3,718
-48.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 $1.07
$0.84 COP 3,507
27.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.77 $5.77
$2.35 COP 9,809
145.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.91 $9.91
$9.34 COP 38.9K
6.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43 $1.43
$1.18 COP 4,927
21.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16 $3.16
$2.49 COP 10.4K
26.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Cuenca
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 $0.34
$0.83 COP 3,464
-59.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.02 $27.02
$41.9 COP 174.7K
-35.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.68 $0.68
$1.41 COP 5,899
-51.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.98 $0.98
$1.96 COP 8,164
-50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.4 $13.4
$7.85 COP 32.7K
70.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.66 $0.66
$1.02 COP 4,265
-35.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K $29.7K
$17.6K COP 73.4M
68.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29K $29K
$26.2K COP 109.2M
10.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cuenca
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.72 $39.72
$82.5 COP 344.1K
-51.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.99 $13.99
$9.44 COP 39.4K
48.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.92 $30.92
$23.51 COP 98K
31.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cuenca
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.84 $28.84
$25.68 COP 107.1K
12.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.06 $5.06
$19.14 COP 79.8K
-73.56%
Cinema Ticket
$7.45 $7.45
$3.96 COP 16.5K
88.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cuenca
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$259 $259
$305 COP 1.3M
-14.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,712 $5,712
$5,925 COP 24.7M
-3.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cuenca
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 $55.7
$57.9 COP 241.4K
-3.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.2 $53.2
$31.59 COP 131.7K
68.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 $100
$103 COP 430.1K
-2.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.6 $66.6
$106 COP 440.5K
-37.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cuenca
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$366 $366
$489 COP 2M
-25.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$330 $330
$379 COP 1.6M
-12.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$682 $682
$827 COP 3.4M
-17.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$508 $508
$729 COP 3M
-30.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,328 $1,328
$2,190 COP 9.1M
-39.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,185 $1,185
$1,532 COP 6.4M
-22.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cuenca
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$481 $481
$550 COP 2.3M
-12.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.48
13.43
-14.52%

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

Last update for Cuenca: October 27, 2025

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

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