Cost of Living Comparison Between Diego Martin and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Diego Martin and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,365 per month in Diego Martin vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,283 per month in Diego Martin vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,202 per month in Diego Martin vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Diego Martin is about 19% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Diego Martin and Medellin sit above the global median – Diego Martin by 0%, Medellin by 23%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.21 TTD 68.7

$8.02 COP 25.0K

27.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$87.2 TTD 587

$47.87 COP 149.4K

82.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.03 TTD 60.8

$9.89 COP 30.8K

-8.70%

Cappuccino

$3.80 TTD 25.58

$3.13 COP 9,767

21.41%

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

$1.23 TTD 8.29

$1.91 COP 5,954

-35.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 TTD 5.16

$1.51 COP 4,712

-49.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 TTD 15.06

$3.12 COP 9,747

-28.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 TTD 19.39

$5.75 COP 17.9K

-49.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.38 TTD 15.99

$1.44 COP 4,509

65.28%

White Bread (500g)

$2.23 TTD 14.99

$2.49 COP 7,759

-10.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.91 TTD 19.60

$1.77 COP 5,535

64.41%

Eggs

$4.29 TTD 28.84

$2.96 COP 9,235

44.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.60 TTD 44.42

$10.07 COP 31.4K

-34.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.19 TTD 68.6

$10.12 COP 31.6K

0.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.70 TTD 58.6

$14.30 COP 44.6K

-39.16%

Apples (1kg)

$5.53 TTD 37.21

$4.14 COP 12.9K

33.57%

Banana (1kg)

$2.48 TTD 16.70

$1.61 COP 5,019

54.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.67 TTD 24.66

$2.25 COP 7,007

63.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.26 TTD 28.64

$2.25 COP 7,028

89.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.73 TTD 4.89

$2.04 COP 6,375

-64.22%

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 TTD 4.87

$1.54 COP 4,790

-53.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.49 TTD 10.02

$1.17 COP 3,651

27.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 TTD 7.70

$1.31 COP 4,077

-12.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.67 TTD 38.14

$3.90 COP 12.2K

45.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.92 TTD 121

$14.01 COP 43.7K

27.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 TTD 10.45

$1.74 COP 5,439

-10.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 TTD 20.70

$2.87 COP 8,956

7.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 TTD 6.14

$1.22 COP 3,792

-25.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.9 TTD 504

$80.5 COP 251.1K

-6.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.00 TTD 6.72

$1.31 COP 4,084

-23.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.92 TTD 6.21

$2.19 COP 6,825

-57.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.95 TTD 101

$8.71 COP 27.2K

71.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 TTD 7.48

$1.37 COP 4,260

-18.98%

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

$14.4K TTD 97.2K

$27.8K COP 86.9M

-48.12%

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

$41.9K TTD 282.0K

$35.8K COP 111.6M

17.17%

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

$44.77 TTD 301

$177 COP 553.2K

-74.75%

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

$42.81 TTD 288

$13.88 COP 43.3K

208.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.22 TTD 304

$29.72 COP 92.8K

52.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.58 TTD 300

$44.88 COP 140.1K

-0.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 53.4K

Cinema Ticket

$8.81 TTD 59.3

$6.65 COP 20.7K

32.48%

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

$391 TTD 2,633

$813 COP 2.5M

-51.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.0K TTD 73.8K

$9,187 COP 28.7M

19.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 TTD 364

$89.5 COP 279.3K

-39.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.45 TTD 245

$59.0 COP 184.0K

-38.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.8 TTD 597

$138 COP 431.2K

-35.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.0 TTD 599

$102 COP 318.7K

-12.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$657 TTD 4,420

$1,062 COP 3.3M

-38.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$441 TTD 2,970

$663 COP 2.1M

-33.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,442 TTD 9,700

$1,888 COP 5.9M

-23.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$952 TTD 6,403

$1,027 COP 3.2M

-7.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,781 TTD 12.0K

$678 COP 2.1M

162.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.75

10.94

-47.44%

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

Last update for Diego Martin: September 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $657 in Diego Martin versus $1,062 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 163% higher in Diego Martin, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $87.0 in Diego Martin versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $323 vs $305 – 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

Diego Martin vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 23% more than Diego Martin, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,047 per month in Diego Martin and $2,521 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Diego Martin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $87.0 in Diego Martin and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Diego Martin, where all-in costs run around $1,365, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Diego Martin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Diego Martin costs $1,365 versus $1,681 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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