Cost of Living Comparison Between Fargo, ND and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Fargo, ND and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,100 per month in Fargo, ND vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,236 per month in Fargo, ND vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,372 per month in Fargo, ND vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Fargo, ND costs about 107% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Fargo, ND sits 57% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.72 $14.72

$5.99 COP 21.5K

145.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.4 $50.4

$32.86 COP 118.1K

53.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.84 $10.84

$7.09 COP 25.5K

52.89%

Cappuccino

$5.37 $5.37

$1.71 COP 6,154

214.04%

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

$2.56 $2.56

$1.10 COP 3,949

132.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$0.78 COP 2,798

157.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.74 $5.74

$1.68 COP 6,035

241.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.29 $8.29

$3.07 COP 11.0K

170.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.09 COP 3,930

11.93%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 $3.39

$1.26 COP 4,536

169.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.86 $5.86

$1.38 COP 4,953

324.64%

Eggs

$4.03 $4.03

$2.19 COP 7,876

84.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.30 $12.30

$4.40 COP 15.8K

179.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.17 $15.17

$5.63 COP 20.2K

169.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.24 $19.24

$8.89 COP 32.0K

116.42%

Apples (1kg)

$8.18 $8.18

$2.34 COP 8,401

249.57%

Banana (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.06 COP 3,801

155.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.37 $6.37

$1.50 COP 5,408

324.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.78 $4.78

$1.38 COP 4,955

246.38%

Potato (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$1.15 COP 4,137

226.09%

Onion (1kg)

$3.52 $3.52

$1.16 COP 4,181

203.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 $1.96

$0.89 COP 3,202

120.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$0.84 COP 3,016

211.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.15 $9.15

$2.28 COP 8,196

301.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.81 $18.81

$10.64 COP 38.2K

76.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.20 COP 4,311

112.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.93 $4.93

$2.47 COP 8,880

99.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 $1.47

$0.86 COP 3,075

70.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.80 $41.80

$41.40 COP 148.8K

0.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.58 $4.58

$1.47 COP 5,297

211.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.96 COP 7,053

-16.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.94 $28.94

$7.74 COP 27.8K

273.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$0.95 COP 3,430

-10.53%

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

$32.6K $32.6K

$18.1K COP 65.2M

79.92%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$26.5K COP 95.2M

-4.94%

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

$162 $162

$82.3 COP 295.6K

97.48%

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

$54.8 $54.8

$9.50 COP 34.1K

476.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.0 $57.0

$24.23 COP 87.1K

135.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.4 $54.4

$25.89 COP 93.0K

110.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 68.3K

Cinema Ticket

$13.90 $13.90

$3.93 COP 14.1K

253.69%

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

$1,223 $1,223

$309 COP 1.1M

295.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.2K $23.2K

$5,965 COP 21.4M

288.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.1 $50.1

$58.7 COP 210.8K

-14.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.64 $46.64

$32.35 COP 116.2K

44.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.9 $90.9

$103 COP 368.7K

-11.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$108 COP 389.6K

0.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$946 $946

$476 COP 1.7M

98.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$746 $746

$379 COP 1.4M

97.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,523 $2,523

$838 COP 3.0M

200.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,528 $1,528

$724 COP 2.6M

111.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,802 $1,802

$2,791 COP 10.0M

-35.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,806 $1,806

$1,211 COP 4.4M

49.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,727 $3,727

$512 COP 1.8M

628.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.56

13.43

-51.15%

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

Last update for Fargo, ND: May 31, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $946 in Fargo, ND versus $476 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 628% higher in Fargo, ND, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Fargo, ND versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $480 vs $188 – 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

Fargo, ND vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Fargo, ND costs about 107% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,151 per month in Fargo, ND and $1,519 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Fargo, ND and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,100 in Fargo, ND and $1,013 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Fargo, ND at $2,100. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Fargo, ND it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,013 versus $2,100 in Fargo, ND. 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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Fargo, ND makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.