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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $700 in El Viejo versus $1,034 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,148 in El Viejo versus $1,577 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,597 in El Viejo versus $2,120 in Medellin.

Living in El Viejo costs roughly 32% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: El Viejo 48% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.97 NIO 183

$5.92 COP 21.5K

-16.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.56 NIO 1,311

$32.75 COP 119.1K

8.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.10 NIO 262

$7.20 COP 26.2K

-1.39%

Cappuccino

$2.43 NIO 89.6

$1.70 COP 6,186

42.94%

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

$0.84 NIO 30.84

$1.10 COP 3,996

-23.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 NIO 27.34

$0.72 COP 2,625

2.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.33 NIO 49.15

$1.67 COP 6,067

-20.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 NIO 75.8

$3.10 COP 11.3K

-33.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 NIO 46.55

$1.06 COP 3,837

18.87%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 NIO 90.6

$1.25 COP 4,531

96.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 NIO 66.2

$1.39 COP 5,060

29.50%

Eggs

$2.24 NIO 82.7

$2.26 COP 8,229

-0.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.39 NIO 420

$4.33 COP 15.8K

163.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.54 NIO 241

$5.84 COP 21.2K

11.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.95 NIO 293

$8.83 COP 32.1K

-9.97%

Apples (1kg)

$4.01 NIO 148

$2.24 COP 8,159

79.02%

Banana (1kg)

$0.89 NIO 32.84

$1.08 COP 3,911

-17.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.78 NIO 65.8

$1.53 COP 5,563

16.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 NIO 83.0

$1.37 COP 4,987

64.23%

Potato (1kg)

$3.99 NIO 147

$1.13 COP 4,109

253.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 NIO 81.0

$1.12 COP 4,067

96.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 NIO 39.25

$0.85 COP 3,080

24.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 NIO 37.05

$0.91 COP 3,305

10.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.72 NIO 100

$2.33 COP 8,477

16.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.78 NIO 545

$11.13 COP 40.5K

32.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 NIO 52.2

$1.19 COP 4,342

19.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 NIO 82.4

$2.37 COP 8,617

-5.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,859

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 149.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.48 NIO 54.5

$1.44 COP 5,223

2.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,952

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.89 NIO 254

$8.02 COP 29.2K

-14.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 NIO 50.1

$0.94 COP 3,410

44.68%

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

$22.9K NIO 844.8K

$17.9K COP 65.2M

27.89%

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

$26.8K NIO 988.8K

$26.8K COP 97.4M

0.14%

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

$99.6 NIO 3,670

$84.0 COP 305.4K

18.60%

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

$17.05 NIO 629

$9.60 COP 34.9K

77.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.08 NIO 1,367

$24.16 COP 87.9K

53.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 94.1K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 69.3K

Cinema Ticket

$8.14 NIO 300

$3.92 COP 14.2K

107.65%

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

$122 NIO 4,514

$306 COP 1.1M

-60.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,932 NIO 218.7K

$5,919 COP 21.5M

0.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.7 NIO 2,827

$57.9 COP 210.6K

32.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$72.3 NIO 2,664

$31.82 COP 115.7K

127.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$133 NIO 4,894

$99.9 COP 363.3K

32.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 NIO 3,908

$107 COP 389.7K

-1.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.25

13.43

-23.68%

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

Last update for El Viejo: April 28, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $36.00 in El Viejo vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $262 vs $190 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

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

El Viejo is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 48% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,050 in El Viejo and $1,550 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Childcare runs $122 in El Viejo versus $306 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in El Viejo – a meal for two runs $36.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $700 in El Viejo versus $1,034 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in El Viejo but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes El Viejo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, El Viejo is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, El Viejo 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.

Expats usually find El Viejo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 48% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.