😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,176 in Farmington, NM versus $1,003 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,583 in Farmington, NM versus $1,573 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,990 in Farmington, NM versus $2,143 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Farmington, NM is roughly 217% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Farmington, NM is 139% above, Medellin is 25% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Farmington, NM
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.72$18.72
$5.91COP 18.6K
216.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.4$74.4
$32.96COP 103.8K
125.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.06$11.06
$7.43COP 23.4K
48.86%
Cappuccino
$5.21$5.21
$1.65COP 5,207
215.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60$2.60
$1.10COP 3,468
136.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94$1.94
$0.78COP 2,458
148.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.99$5.99
$1.72COP 5,412
248.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.19$7.19
$3.18COP 10.0K
126.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Farmington, NM
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.03$1.03
$1.10COP 3,474
-6.36%
White Bread(500g)
$3.48$3.48
$1.26COP 3,962
176.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.33$4.33
$1.38COP 4,349
213.77%
Eggs
$4.11$4.11
$2.18COP 6,858
88.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.15$12.15
$4.49COP 14.1K
170.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.42$11.42
$5.79COP 18.2K
97.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.16$15.16
$8.97COP 28.2K
69.01%
Apples(1kg)
$4.80$4.80
$2.32COP 7,308
106.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55$1.55
$1.06COP 3,352
46.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.32$4.32
$1.52COP 4,774
184.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.74$4.74
$1.36COP 4,270
248.53%
Potato(1kg)
$2.81$2.81
$1.13COP 3,552
148.67%
Onion(1kg)
$2.82$2.82
$1.17COP 3,689
141.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.09$2.09
$0.90COP 2,838
132.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.10$2.10
$0.90COP 2,823
133.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.49$9.49
$2.23COP 7,034
325.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.10$15.10
$12.12COP 38.2K
24.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84$1.84
$1.19COP 3,743
54.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41$3.41
$2.48COP 7,815
37.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Farmington, NM
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.02$2.02
$0.85COP 2,687
137.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.95$29.95
$41.62COP 131.0K
-28.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.58$3.58
$1.42COP 4,459
152.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.64$1.64
$1.95COP 6,141
-15.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.11$29.11
$7.89COP 24.8K
268.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.91$0.91
$0.99COP 3,118
-8.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.5K$29.5K
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
67.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K$25.8K
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
-3.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Farmington, NM
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$186$186
$83.0COP 261.4K
123.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.7$52.7
$9.70COP 30.5K
443.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.8$67.8
$23.52COP 74.1K
188.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Farmington, NM
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.30$43.30
$25.26COP 79.5K
71.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.10COP 60.1K
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.41$13.41
$3.95COP 12.4K
239.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Farmington, NM
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,301$1,301
$316COP 994.2K
311.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.8K$23.8K
$5,975COP 18.8M
297.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Farmington, NM
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.3$50.3
$60.0COP 188.9K
-16.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.54$39.54
$31.82COP 100.2K
24.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.8$85.8
$102COP 320.1K
-15.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111$111
$107COP 338.3K
3.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Farmington, NM
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,019$2,019
$475COP 1.5M
325.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,976$1,976
$374COP 1.2M
428.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,179$3,179
$849COP 2.7M
274.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,138$3,138
$719COP 2.3M
336.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,972$1,972
$3,265COP 10.3M
-39.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,351$2,351
$1,441COP 4.5M
63.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Farmington, NM
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$7,291$7,291
$624COP 2.0M
1067.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.51
13.43
-51.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Farmington, NM: July 26, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,019 in Farmington, NM and $475 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Farmington, NM pays 1068% 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: $74.0 in Farmington, NM vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $386 vs $193 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
Farmington, NM vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Farmington, NM or Medellin?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 217% lower than in Farmington, NM. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Farmington, NM or in Medellin?
Average pay runs 1068% higher in Farmington, NM, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Farmington, NM compared to Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,019 in Farmington, NM versus $475 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Farmington, NM and in Medellin?
Childcare runs $1,301 in Farmington, NM versus $316 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Farmington, NM or in Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 100% higher in Farmington, NM. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Farmington, NM or in Medellin?
At $1,003 in Medellin versus $3,176 in Farmington, NM, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Farmington, NM. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Farmington, NM or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,003 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 217% less than in Farmington, NM. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Farmington, NM vs other spots: cost of living compared