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 $3,469 per month in Fontana, CA vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,136 per month in Fontana, CA vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,804 per month in Fontana, CA vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Fontana, CA costs about 241% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Fontana, CA sits 158% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.27 $18.27

$5.95 COP 20.8K

207.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.1 $79.1

$33.33 COP 116.3K

137.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.15 $12.15

$7.23 COP 25.2K

68.05%

Cappuccino

$4.88 $4.88

$1.63 COP 5,687

199.39%

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

$2.94 $2.94

$1.09 COP 3,821

169.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 $2.24

$0.73 COP 2,548

206.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$1.74 COP 6,065

294.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.96 $6.96

$3.23 COP 11.3K

115.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.05 COP 3,662

6.67%

White Bread (500g)

$4.12 $4.12

$1.29 COP 4,515

219.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.55 $4.55

$1.32 COP 4,617

244.70%

Eggs

$4.94 $4.94

$2.27 COP 7,927

117.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.12 $12.12

$4.35 COP 15.2K

178.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.12 $16.12

$5.88 COP 20.5K

174.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.18 $15.18

$8.61 COP 30.0K

76.31%

Apples (1kg)

$4.54 $4.54

$2.25 COP 7,844

101.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.07 COP 3,733

76.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$1.52 COP 5,322

184.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.56 $5.56

$1.42 COP 4,964

291.55%

Potato (1kg)

$4.57 $4.57

$1.17 COP 4,084

290.60%

Onion (1kg)

$3.17 $3.17

$1.17 COP 4,077

170.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.44 $1.44

$0.89 COP 3,096

61.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$0.90 COP 3,146

140.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.20 $11.20

$2.25 COP 7,837

397.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.14 $16.14

$11.04 COP 38.5K

46.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.14 COP 3,977

77.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$2.38 COP 8,301

45.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$0.84 COP 2,916

132.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.59 $44.59

$41.95 COP 146.4K

6.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.50 $6.50

$1.41 COP 4,912

360.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.24 $4.24

$1.90 COP 6,634

123.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.24 $29.24

$7.75 COP 27.0K

277.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.01 COP 3,509

23.76%

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

$24.1K $24.1K

$17.6K COP 61.4M

37.33%

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

$24.2K $24.2K

$26.5K COP 92.5M

-8.59%

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

$266 $266

$83.7 COP 292.1K

217.29%

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

$54.4 $54.4

$9.45 COP 33.0K

475.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.3 $59.3

$24.11 COP 84.1K

145.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.45 $42.45

$25.31 COP 88.3K

67.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$13.73 $13.73

$4.10 COP 14.3K

234.88%

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

$1,186 $1,186

$312 COP 1.1M

280.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.0K $23.0K

$5,993 COP 20.9M

284.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.29 $47.29

$58.0 COP 202.6K

-18.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.06 $34.06

$32.56 COP 113.6K

4.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.0 $90.0

$99.6 COP 347.7K

-9.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.6 $91.6

$109 COP 378.8K

-15.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,011 $2,011

$482 COP 1.7M

316.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,128 $2,128

$379 COP 1.3M

460.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,222 $3,222

$837 COP 2.9M

284.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,779 $3,779

$723 COP 2.5M

422.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,187 $5,187

$541 COP 1.9M

859.05%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,011 in Fontana, CA versus $482 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 859% 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 $79.0 in Fontana, CA versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $433 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 241% 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 $5,203 per month in Fontana, CA and $1,525 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 $3,469 in Fontana, CA and $1,017 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 6% 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 $1,017, than in Fontana, CA at $3,469. 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 $1,017 versus $3,469 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.