Cost of Living Comparison Between El Congo and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between El Congo and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $578 per month in El Congo vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $605 per month in El Congo vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $631 per month in El Congo vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

El Congo is about 42% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both El Congo and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – El Congo 57% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.9K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 105.2K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.7K

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,276

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

$1.10 COP 3,514

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,491

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,484

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.1K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,521

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,015

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,407

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,950

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.3K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.5K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.6K

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,405

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,397

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,838

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,327

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,599

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,738

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,876

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,861

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,128

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.7K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,793

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,920

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,723

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 132.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,518

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,223

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 25.2K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,160

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

$17.6K COP 56.2M

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

$26.8K COP 85.5M

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

$83.0 COP 264.9K

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

$9.70 COP 30.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 75.0K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 80.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.6K

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

$316 COP 1.0M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 19.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 191.4K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 101.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 324.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 342.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$726 $726

$475 COP 1.5M

52.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$566 $566

$374 COP 1.2M

51.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$962 $962

$849 COP 2.7M

13.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$632 $632

$719 COP 2.3M

-12.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,316 $4,316

$3,265 COP 10.4M

32.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,290 $1,290

$1,441 COP 4.6M

-10.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$932 $932

$624 COP 2.0M

49.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.72

13.43

-57.41%

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

Last update for El Congo: July 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $726 in El Congo versus $475 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 49% higher in El Congo, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

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

El Congo vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $578 in El Congo, $1,003 in Medellin – roughly 73% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $867 per month in El Congo and $1,504 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in El Congo, where all-in costs run around $578, than in Medellin at $1,003. In El Congo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $578 in El Congo to $1,003 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with El Congo. 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.