😐A single person spends $2,356 per month in Fayetteville, AR vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,545 per month in Fayetteville, AR vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,734 per month in Fayetteville, AR vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Fayetteville, AR costs about 44% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Fayetteville, AR and Medellin sit above the global median – Fayetteville, AR by 71%, Medellin by 19%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fayetteville, AR
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.77$16.77
$8.04COP 24.8K
108.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.2$77.2
$48.29COP 148.6K
59.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.39$9.39
$9.42COP 29.0K
-0.32%
Cappuccino
$5.20$5.20
$2.94COP 9,040
76.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20$2.20
$1.86COP 5,735
18.28%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70$1.70
$1.46COP 4,479
16.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.16$6.16
$3.21COP 9,882
91.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.92$6.92
$5.71COP 17.6K
21.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fayetteville, AR
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.96$0.96
$1.44COP 4,428
-33.33%
White Bread(500g)
$3.58$3.58
$2.40COP 7,389
49.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.42$3.42
$1.70COP 5,228
101.18%
Eggs
$5.47$5.47
$2.89COP 8,896
89.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.26$8.26
$10.06COP 30.9K
-17.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.44$8.44
$9.97COP 30.7K
-15.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.34$13.34
$14.20COP 43.7K
-6.06%
Apples(1kg)
$4.57$4.57
$3.98COP 12.3K
14.82%
Banana(1kg)
$1.48$1.48
$1.58COP 4,878
-6.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.80$2.80
$2.15COP 6,624
30.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.08$4.08
$2.30COP 7,078
77.39%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97$1.97
$2.00COP 6,169
-1.50%
Onion(1kg)
$2.49$2.49
$1.51COP 4,646
64.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.53$1.53
$1.20COP 3,701
27.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.04$2.04
$1.28COP 3,946
59.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.67$8.67
$3.84COP 11.8K
125.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.22$15.22
$14.01COP 43.1K
8.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91$1.91
$1.71COP 5,256
11.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04$3.04
$2.74COP 8,440
10.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Fayetteville, AR
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.25COP 3,834
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$77.9COP 239.7K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.71$2.71
$1.31COP 4,016
106.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.28$1.28
$2.17COP 6,680
-41.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$30.16$30.16
$8.29COP 25.5K
263.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.90$0.90
$1.36COP 4,172
-33.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8K$34.8K
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
26.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K$25.5K
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
-30.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fayetteville, AR
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177$177
$169COP 519.2K
5.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$56.5$56.5
$13.57COP 41.8K
316.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.9$61.9
$28.32COP 87.2K
118.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fayetteville, AR
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$71.2$71.2
$45.71COP 140.7K
55.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.22COP 53.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.02$10.02
$6.65COP 20.5K
50.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fayetteville, AR
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,070$1,070
$803COP 2.5M
33.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.5K$23.5K
$9,190COP 28.3M
155.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fayetteville, AR
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.5$52.5
$87.4COP 268.8K
-39.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.84$38.84
$59.4COP 182.7K
-34.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108$108
$139COP 427.5K
-22.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$149$149
$102COP 314.0K
45.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fayetteville, AR
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,462$1,462
$1,071COP 3.3M
36.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,144$1,144
$653COP 2.0M
75.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,804$2,804
$1,925COP 5.9M
45.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,102$2,102
$1,048COP 3.2M
100.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,657$2,657
$4,123COP 12.7M
-35.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,240$2,240
$1,697COP 5.2M
31.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fayetteville, AR
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,556$3,556
$655COP 2.0M
442.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.04
10.94
-44.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Fayetteville, AR: September 7, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,462 in Fayetteville, AR versus $1,071 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 443% higher in Fayetteville, AR, 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 $77.0 in Fayetteville, AR versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $339 vs $300 – 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
Fayetteville, AR vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Fayetteville, AR and in Medellin compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,356 in Fayetteville, AR, $1,641 in Medellin – roughly 44% apart. Fayetteville, AR costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Fayetteville, AR compared to Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,534 per month in Fayetteville, AR and $2,462 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Fayetteville, AR and Medellin?
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.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $77.0 in Fayetteville, AR and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 13% more in Fayetteville, AR, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,641, than in Fayetteville, AR at $2,356. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Fayetteville, AR it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Fayetteville, AR and Medellin?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,641 in Medellin to $2,356 in Fayetteville, AR. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Fayetteville, AR or Medellin safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Fayetteville, AR and Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Fayetteville, AR makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Fayetteville, AR vs other spots: cost of living compared