πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $3,222 in Farmington, NM versus $1,017 in Medellin.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $4,522 in Farmington, NM versus $1,602 in Medellin.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,822 in Farmington, NM versus $2,188 in Medellin.
πLiving in Farmington, NM is roughly 217% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Farmington, NM is 140% above, Medellin is 24% below.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Farmington, NM
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.35$19.35
$5.95COPΒ 20.8K
225.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.9$73.9
$33.33COPΒ 116.3K
121.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.03$11.03
$7.23COPΒ 25.2K
52.56%
Cappuccino
$5.05$5.05
$1.63COPΒ 5,687
209.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56$2.56
$1.09COPΒ 3,821
134.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99$1.99
$0.73COPΒ 2,548
172.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.86$5.86
$1.74COPΒ 6,065
236.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.19$7.19
$3.23COPΒ 11.3K
122.60%
π Groceries & Markets
Farmington, NM
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05$1.05
$1.05COPΒ 3,662
-
White Bread(500g)
$3.49$3.49
$1.29COPΒ 4,515
170.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.42$4.42
$1.32COPΒ 4,617
234.85%
Eggs
$4.26$4.26
$2.27COPΒ 7,927
87.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.35$12.35
$4.35COPΒ 15.2K
183.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.56$11.56
$5.88COPΒ 20.5K
96.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.51$15.51
$8.61COPΒ 30.0K
80.14%
Apples(1kg)
$4.99$4.99
$2.25COPΒ 7,844
121.78%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64$1.64
$1.07COPΒ 3,733
53.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.17$4.17
$1.52COPΒ 5,322
174.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.81$4.81
$1.42COPΒ 4,964
238.73%
Potato(1kg)
$2.86$2.86
$1.17COPΒ 4,084
144.44%
Onion(1kg)
$2.87$2.87
$1.17COPΒ 4,077
145.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.11$2.11
$0.89COPΒ 3,096
137.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.19$2.19
$0.90COPΒ 3,146
143.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.72$9.72
$2.25COPΒ 7,837
332.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.14$15.14
$11.04COPΒ 38.5K
37.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86$1.86
$1.14COPΒ 3,977
63.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26$3.26
$2.38COPΒ 8,301
36.97%
π Getting Around
Farmington, NM
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.98$1.98
$0.84COPΒ 2,916
135.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.84$29.84
$41.95COPΒ 146.4K
-28.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.41$3.41
$1.41COPΒ 4,912
141.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59$1.59
$1.90COPΒ 6,634
-16.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.63$28.63
$7.75COPΒ 27.0K
269.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83$0.83
$1.01COPΒ 3,509
-17.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3K$29.3K
$17.6KCOPΒ 61.4M
66.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K$26.0K
$26.5KCOPΒ 92.5M
-2.02%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Farmington, NM
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$185$185
$83.7COPΒ 292.1K
120.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.8$53.8
$9.45COPΒ 33.0K
469.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.8$66.8
$24.11COPΒ 84.1K
177.06%
π Sport & Entertainment
Farmington, NM
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.21$43.21
$25.31COPΒ 88.3K
70.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.14COPΒ 66.8K
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.47$13.47
$4.10COPΒ 14.3K
228.54%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Farmington, NM
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,304$1,304
$312COPΒ 1.1M
318.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.8K$23.8K
$5,993COPΒ 20.9M
297.23%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Farmington, NM
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.2$51.2
$58.0COPΒ 202.6K
-11.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.46$40.46
$32.56COPΒ 113.6K
24.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.4$85.4
$99.6COPΒ 347.7K
-14.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113$113
$109COPΒ 378.8K
4.26%
π Accommodation & Living
Farmington, NM
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,038$2,038
$482COPΒ 1.7M
322.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,979$1,979
$379COPΒ 1.3M
421.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,127$3,127
$837COPΒ 2.9M
273.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,152$3,152
$723COPΒ 2.5M
335.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,042$2,042
$2,840COPΒ 9.9M
-28.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,393$2,393
$1,223COPΒ 4.3M
95.69%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Farmington, NM
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$7,156$7,156
$541COPΒ 1.9M
1223.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.51
13.43
-51.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Farmington, NM: June 8, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,038 in Farmington, NM and $482 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Farmington, NM pays 1223% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $74.0 in Farmington, NM vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $392 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
Farmington, NM vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Farmington, NM or Medellin?
Medellin wins on cost β 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 Medellin?
Farmington, NM pays 1223% more on average, 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 vs Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,038 in Farmington, NM versus $482 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 Medellin?
Childcare runs $1,304 in Farmington, NM versus $312 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 Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 107% 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 Medellin?
At $1,017 in Medellin versus $3,222 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 β similar infrastructure at $1,017 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 β 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