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Cost of Living Comparison Between Des Moines, IA and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Des Moines, IA and Medellin

😐 Solo nomad: Des Moines, IA is 87.8% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 109.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Des Moines, IA is 81.5% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 89.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Des Moines, IA
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.97 $15.97
$5.91 COP 22.5K
170.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.6 $78.6
$32.19 COP 122.7K
144.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.86 $11.86
$7.21 COP 27.5K
64.49%
Cappuccino
$4.79 $4.79
$1.65 COP 6,284
190.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 $2.37
$1.11 COP 4,224
113.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 $1.94
$0.71 COP 2,716
173.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.1 $5.1
$1.74 COP 6,637
193.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.89 $6.89
$3.19 COP 12.2K
115.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Des Moines, IA
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.92 $0.92
$1.1 COP 4,176
-16.36%
White Bread (500g)
$2.57 $2.57
$1.3 COP 4,965
97.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.22 $2.22
$1.39 COP 5,302
59.71%
Eggs
$3.51 $3.51
$2.18 COP 8,302
61.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.55 $12.55
$4.54 COP 17.3K
176.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.49 $10.49
$5.85 COP 22.3K
79.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.1 $13.1
$8.62 COP 32.8K
51.97%
Apples (1kg)
$4.39 $4.39
$2.24 COP 8,539
95.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.5 $1.5
$1.07 COP 4,080
40.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.64 $3.64
$1.53 COP 5,822
137.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.54 $3.54
$1.41 COP 5,377
151.06%
Potato (1kg)
$1.68 $1.68
$1.12 COP 4,269
50.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.97 $2.97
$1.14 COP 4,343
160.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.25 $2.25
$0.9 COP 3,418
150.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13 $1.13
$0.91 COP 3,481
24.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.07 $7.07
$2.34 COP 8,932
202.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.81 $13.81
$9.94 COP 37.9K
38.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.15 COP 4,369
53.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.02 $4.02
$2.38 COP 9,066
68.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Des Moines, IA
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.71 $1.71
$0.81 COP 3,069
111.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$58.3 $58.3
$40.57 COP 154.6K
43.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.03 $2.03
$1.46 COP 5,572
39.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.26 $1.26
$1.99 COP 7,570
-36.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.95 $19.95
$7.96 COP 30.3K
150.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 $0.76
$1.01 COP 3,844
-24.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$17.7K COP 67.3M
45.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K $24.9K
$26.8K COP 102.1M
-7.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Des Moines, IA
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$142 $142
$80.8 COP 308K
76.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.1 $52.1
$9.39 COP 35.8K
454.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.5 $54.5
$23.51 COP 89.6K
131.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Des Moines, IA
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$65.5 $65.5
$25.61 COP 97.6K
155.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.02 $20.02
$18.95 COP 72.2K
5.65%
Cinema Ticket
$14.74 $14.74
$4.12 COP 15.7K
257.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Des Moines, IA
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,364 $1,364
$306 COP 1.2M
345.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12K $12K
$5,875 COP 22.4M
103.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Des Moines, IA
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.7 $52.7
$58.8 COP 224K
-10.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.5 $41.5
$31.9 COP 121.5K
30.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.5 $71.5
$102 COP 387.4K
-29.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 $124
$108 COP 413K
13.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Des Moines, IA
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,219 $1,219
$478 COP 1.8M
155.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$906 $906
$375 COP 1.4M
141.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,730 $1,730
$838 COP 3.2M
106.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,467 $1,467
$727 COP 2.8M
101.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,294 $2,294
$2,251 COP 8.6M
1.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,275 $2,275
$1,598 COP 6.1M
42.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Des Moines, IA
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,582 $3,582
$517 COP 2M
592.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.5
13.43
-51.60%

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

Last update for Des Moines, IA: December 1, 2025

Last update for Medellin: December 1, 2025

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