Cost of Living Comparison Between Erdenet and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Erdenet and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $368 in Erdenet versus $1,716 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $624 in Erdenet versus $2,527 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $880 in Erdenet versus $3,338 in Medellin.

Living in Erdenet costs roughly 79% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Erdenet is 73% below, Medellin is 25% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.08 MNT 14.7K

$8.03 COP 25.3K

-49.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.80 MNT 99.9K

$48.26 COP 152.0K

-42.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.09 MNT 14.7K

$9.77 COP 30.8K

-58.14%

Cappuccino

$2.17 MNT 7,799

$2.91 COP 9,167

-25.43%

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

$0.61 MNT 2,187

$1.94 COP 6,122

-68.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 MNT 1,576

$1.52 COP 4,792

-71.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.70 MNT 6,096

$3.09 COP 9,740

-44.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 MNT 5,886

$5.74 COP 18.1K

-71.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 MNT 3,658

$1.36 COP 4,296

-25.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 MNT 3,013

$2.39 COP 7,519

-64.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.74 MNT 9,835

$1.70 COP 5,356

61.18%

Eggs

$1.94 MNT 6,979

$2.87 COP 9,038

-32.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.06 MNT 25.4K

$9.94 COP 31.3K

-28.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.92 MNT 24.9K

$10.78 COP 34.0K

-35.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.53 MNT 16.3K

$14.73 COP 46.4K

-69.25%

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 MNT 8,217

$4.09 COP 12.9K

-44.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 MNT 5,908

$1.57 COP 4,950

4.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 MNT 5,917

$2.13 COP 6,695

-22.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 MNT 4,936

$2.21 COP 6,972

-38.01%

Potato (1kg)

$1.36 MNT 4,875

$2.05 COP 6,447

-33.66%

Onion (1kg)

$0.79 MNT 2,846

$1.50 COP 4,737

-47.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.37 MNT 4,936

$1.19 COP 3,747

15.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 MNT 3,341

$1.16 COP 3,647

-19.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.85 MNT 10.2K

$3.90 COP 12.3K

-26.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.55 MNT 19.9K

$14.44 COP 45.5K

-61.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 MNT 5,921

$1.58 COP 4,987

4.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 MNT 5,840

$2.83 COP 8,905

-42.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 MNT 628

$1.17 COP 3,679

-85.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.20 MNT 69.0K

$77.7 COP 244.8K

-75.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.65 MNT 2,349

$1.28 COP 4,045

-49.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 MNT 1,558

$2.09 COP 6,589

-79.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.62 COP 27.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 MNT 2,686

$1.30 COP 4,088

-42.31%

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

$27.7K COP 87.1M

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

$35.5K COP 111.8M

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

$59.5 MNT 213.7K

$176 COP 554.5K

-66.24%

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

$2.83 MNT 10.2K

$13.37 COP 42.1K

-78.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.97 MNT 50.2K

$29.89 COP 94.1K

-53.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.76 COP 141.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.06 COP 53.7K

Cinema Ticket

$6.20 COP 19.5K

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

$278 MNT 999.6K

$793 COP 2.5M

-64.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,519 MNT 9.1M

$9,019 COP 28.4M

-72.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.6 COP 269.6K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.5 COP 184.1K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$136 COP 429.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 COP 324.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,060 COP 3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 COP 2.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,012 COP 6.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,169 COP 3.7M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,111 COP 12.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,701 COP 5.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$223 MNT 802.7K

$665 COP 2.1M

-66.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

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

Last update for Erdenet: August 31, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Medellin pays 198% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $28.00 in Erdenet vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $186 vs $303 per month, with Erdenet 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

Erdenet vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Erdenet and Medellin differ by about 366% in total monthly costs ($368 vs $1,716 including rent). Erdenet is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 198% lower in Medellin. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Childcare runs $278 in Erdenet versus $793 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 63% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $368 in Erdenet versus $1,716 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Erdenet but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Erdenet the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Erdenet 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 Erdenet gentler on the wallet – expenses run 366% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.