Cost of Living Comparison Between Fontana, CA and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Fontana, CA and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,460 per month in Fontana, CA vs $1,030 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,199 per month in Fontana, CA vs $1,586 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,938 per month in Fontana, CA vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Fontana, CA costs about 236% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Fontana, CA sits 158% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.84 $17.84

$5.92 COP 21.2K

201.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.8 $80.8

$33.17 COP 118.7K

143.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.18 $12.18

$7.25 COP 25.9K

68.00%

Cappuccino

$5.11 $5.11

$1.71 COP 6,137

198.83%

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

$2.82 $2.82

$1.09 COP 3,915

158.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$0.77 COP 2,743

196.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.05 $7.05

$1.75 COP 6,254

302.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.90 $6.90

$3.18 COP 11.4K

116.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.06 COP 3,792

10.38%

White Bread (500g)

$4.00 $4.00

$1.30 COP 4,657

207.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.72 $4.72

$1.38 COP 4,926

242.03%

Eggs

$4.95 $4.95

$2.21 COP 7,908

123.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.98 $11.98

$4.52 COP 16.2K

165.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.31 $16.31

$5.80 COP 20.7K

181.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.66 $15.66

$8.97 COP 32.1K

74.58%

Apples (1kg)

$4.42 $4.42

$2.29 COP 8,182

93.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.94 $1.94

$1.06 COP 3,791

83.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.50 $4.50

$1.51 COP 5,411

198.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$1.36 COP 4,869

312.50%

Potato (1kg)

$4.44 $4.44

$1.16 COP 4,146

282.76%

Onion (1kg)

$3.19 $3.19

$1.17 COP 4,174

172.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.44 $1.44

$0.83 COP 2,960

73.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$0.85 COP 3,043

156.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.05 $11.05

$2.35 COP 8,423

370.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.99 $15.99

$11.09 COP 39.7K

44.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$1.15 COP 4,133

74.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.55 $3.55

$2.47 COP 8,853

43.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.06 $2.06

$0.79 COP 2,827

160.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.63 $45.63

$41.85 COP 149.8K

9.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.65 $6.65

$1.44 COP 5,140

361.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.39 $4.39

$1.90 COP 6,793

131.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.76 $29.76

$7.70 COP 27.6K

286.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.03 COP 3,680

19.42%

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

$23.7K $23.7K

$17.7K COP 63.3M

34.25%

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

$24.5K $24.5K

$27.0K COP 96.7M

-9.37%

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

$264 $264

$81.4 COP 291.4K

223.86%

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

$53.0 $53.0

$9.42 COP 33.7K

462.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.2 $60.2

$23.77 COP 85.1K

153.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.56 $42.56

$25.86 COP 92.6K

64.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.34 COP 69.2K

Cinema Ticket

$14.21 $14.21

$4.05 COP 14.5K

250.86%

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

$1,193 $1,193

$312 COP 1.1M

281.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.2K $23.2K

$6,067 COP 21.7M

281.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.63 $46.63

$58.9 COP 210.7K

-20.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.11 $34.11

$32.82 COP 117.5K

3.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.4 $89.4

$100 COP 359.6K

-11.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.4 $89.4

$106 COP 380.3K

-15.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,961 $1,961

$490 COP 1.8M

300.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,101 $2,101

$371 COP 1.3M

466.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,203 $3,203

$838 COP 3.0M

282.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,768 $3,768

$715 COP 2.6M

427.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,952 COP 10.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,394 COP 5.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,129 $5,129

$532 COP 1.9M

864.05%

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 Fontana, CA: April 21, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,961 in Fontana, CA versus $490 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 864% higher in Fontana, CA, 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 $81 in Fontana, CA versus $33 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $435 vs $190 – 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

Fontana, CA vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Fontana, CA costs about 236% 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 $5,191 per month in Fontana, CA and $1,544 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,460 in Fontana, CA and $1,030 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 9% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,030, than in Fontana, CA at $3,460. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Fontana, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,030 versus $3,460 in Fontana, CA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Fontana, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.