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: $717 in El Viejo versus $1,017 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,152 in El Viejo versus $1,602 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,588 in El Viejo versus $2,188 in Medellin.

Living in El Viejo costs roughly 30% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: El Viejo 47% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.02 NIO 184

$5.95 COP 20.8K

-15.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.76 NIO 1,273

$33.33 COP 116.3K

4.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.88 NIO 252

$7.23 COP 25.2K

-4.84%

Cappuccino

$2.43 NIO 89.1

$1.63 COP 5,687

49.08%

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

$0.80 NIO 29.35

$1.09 COP 3,821

-26.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 NIO 26.83

$0.73 COP 2,548

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.29 NIO 47.28

$1.74 COP 6,065

-25.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 NIO 72.3

$3.23 COP 11.3K

-39.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 NIO 44.68

$1.05 COP 3,662

16.19%

White Bread (500g)

$2.48 NIO 90.8

$1.29 COP 4,515

92.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.82 NIO 66.7

$1.32 COP 4,617

37.88%

Eggs

$2.24 NIO 81.9

$2.27 COP 7,927

-1.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.03 NIO 404

$4.35 COP 15.2K

153.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.49 NIO 238

$5.88 COP 20.5K

10.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.02 NIO 294

$8.61 COP 30.0K

-6.85%

Apples (1kg)

$3.94 NIO 144

$2.25 COP 7,844

75.11%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 NIO 30.69

$1.07 COP 3,733

-21.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 NIO 66.6

$1.52 COP 5,322

19.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.29 NIO 83.8

$1.42 COP 4,964

61.27%

Potato (1kg)

$3.83 NIO 140

$1.17 COP 4,084

227.35%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 NIO 80.2

$1.17 COP 4,077

87.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 NIO 38.86

$0.89 COP 3,096

19.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 NIO 37.26

$0.90 COP 3,146

13.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.63 NIO 96.5

$2.25 COP 7,837

16.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.79 NIO 542

$11.04 COP 38.5K

33.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 NIO 51.1

$1.14 COP 3,977

21.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 NIO 82.1

$2.38 COP 8,301

-5.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.52 NIO 55.7

$1.41 COP 4,912

7.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.76 NIO 248

$7.75 COP 27.0K

-12.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 NIO 47.76

$1.01 COP 3,509

28.71%

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

$22.8K NIO 836.0K

$17.6K COP 61.4M

29.85%

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

$25.9K NIO 949.7K

$26.5K COP 92.5M

-2.13%

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

$97.2 NIO 3,558

$83.7 COP 292.1K

16.10%

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

$16.79 NIO 615

$9.45 COP 33.0K

77.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.30 NIO 1,366

$24.11 COP 84.1K

54.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$8.08 NIO 296

$4.10 COP 14.3K

97.07%

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

$124 NIO 4,551

$312 COP 1.1M

-60.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,090 NIO 223.1K

$5,993 COP 20.9M

1.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.5 NIO 2,800

$58.0 COP 202.6K

31.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$72.9 NIO 2,669

$32.56 COP 113.6K

123.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$131 NIO 4,809

$99.6 COP 347.7K

31.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 NIO 4,005

$109 COP 378.8K

0.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $35.00 in El Viejo vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $260 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 42% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,075 in El Viejo and $1,525 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 $124 in El Viejo versus $312 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 $35.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $717 in El Viejo versus $1,017 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 42% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.