Cost of Living Comparison Between Fayetteville, AR and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Fayetteville, AR and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,148 per month in Fayetteville, AR vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,338 per month in Fayetteville, AR vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,528 per month in Fayetteville, AR vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Fayetteville, AR costs about 114% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Fayetteville, AR sits 61% above the global median, while Medellin is 25% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fayetteville, AR
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.47 $16.47
$5.91 COP 18.9K
178.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.7 $60.7
$32.96 COP 105.2K
84.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.98 $8.98
$7.43 COP 23.7K
20.86%
Cappuccino
$4.94 $4.94
$1.65 COP 5,276
199.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 $2.08
$1.10 COP 3,514
89.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36 $1.36
$0.78 COP 2,491
74.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.08 $5.08
$1.72 COP 5,484
195.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.17 $6.17
$3.18 COP 10.1K
94.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fayetteville, AR
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.90 $0.90
$1.10 COP 3,521
-18.18%
White Bread (500g)
$3.38 $3.38
$1.26 COP 4,015
168.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.11 $3.11
$1.38 COP 4,407
125.36%
Eggs
$2.92 $2.92
$2.18 COP 6,950
33.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.08 $8.08
$4.49 COP 14.3K
79.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.37 $8.37
$5.79 COP 18.5K
44.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.61 $13.61
$8.97 COP 28.6K
51.73%
Apples (1kg)
$4.55 $4.55
$2.32 COP 7,405
96.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.06 COP 3,397
33.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.67 $2.67
$1.52 COP 4,838
75.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.88 $3.88
$1.36 COP 4,327
185.29%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 $1.91
$1.13 COP 3,599
69.03%
Onion (1kg)
$2.41 $2.41
$1.17 COP 3,738
105.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.53 $1.53
$0.90 COP 2,876
70.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.00 $2.00
$0.90 COP 2,861
122.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.72 $8.72
$2.23 COP 7,128
291.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.71 $14.71
$12.12 COP 38.7K
21.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 $1.73
$1.19 COP 3,793
45.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 $2.16
$2.48 COP 7,920
-12.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Fayetteville, AR
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.98 $1.98
$0.85 COP 2,723
132.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$41.62 COP 132.8K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.42 COP 4,518
71.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.24 $1.24
$1.95 COP 6,223
-36.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.28 $24.28
$7.89 COP 25.2K
207.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.80 $0.80
$0.99 COP 3,160
-19.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.7K $23.7K
$17.6K COP 56.2M
34.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$26.8K COP 85.5M
-2.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fayetteville, AR
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 $176
$83.0 COP 264.9K
111.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.7 $52.7
$9.70 COP 30.9K
443.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.4 $63.4
$23.52 COP 75.0K
169.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fayetteville, AR
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.3 $71.3
$25.26 COP 80.6K
182.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.10 COP 60.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.56 $12.56
$3.95 COP 12.6K
217.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fayetteville, AR
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,051 $1,051
$316 COP 1.0M
232.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.6K $18.6K
$5,975 COP 19.1M
211.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fayetteville, AR
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.0 $54.0
$60.0 COP 191.4K
-9.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.67 $41.67
$31.82 COP 101.5K
30.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.8 $99.8
$102 COP 324.4K
-1.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 $116
$107 COP 342.8K
8.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fayetteville, AR
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,562 $1,562
$475 COP 1.5M
228.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,014 $1,014
$374 COP 1.2M
171.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,778 $2,778
$849 COP 2.7M
227.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,070 $2,070
$719 COP 2.3M
187.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,648 $2,648
$3,265 COP 10.4M
-18.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,263 $2,263
$1,441 COP 4.6M
57.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fayetteville, AR
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,520 $3,520
$624 COP 2.0M
463.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.58
13.43
-51.01%

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

Last update for Fayetteville, AR: July 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,562 in Fayetteville, AR versus $475 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 464% 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 $61.0 in Fayetteville, AR versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $318 vs $193 – 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: $2,148 in Fayetteville, AR, $1,003 in Medellin – roughly 114% 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 $3,222 per month in Fayetteville, AR and $1,504 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 $61.0 in Fayetteville, AR and $33.00 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 65% 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 $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Fayetteville, AR at $2,148. 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 $1,003 in Medellin to $2,148 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.

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