😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,253 in Forbes versus $1,034 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,312 in Forbes versus $1,577 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,370 in Forbes versus $2,120 in Medellin.
😐Living in Forbes is roughly 118% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Forbes is 68% above, Medellin is 23% below.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Forbes
Medellin
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.01A$22.42
$5.92COP 21.4K
170.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.3A$108
$32.75COP 118.2K
135.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.55A$13.37
$7.20COP 26.0K
32.64%
Cappuccino
$3.38A$4.74
$1.70COP 6,140
98.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61A$3.66
$1.10COP 3,966
137.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17A$3.04
$0.72COP 2,605
201.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.52A$9.13
$1.67COP 6,022
290.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.93A$9.70
$3.10COP 11.2K
123.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Forbes
Medellin
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.42A$1.98
$1.06COP 3,809
33.96%
White Bread(500g)
$2.43A$3.40
$1.25COP 4,497
94.40%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98A$2.77
$1.39COP 5,022
42.45%
Eggs
$4.36A$6.10
$2.26COP 8,168
92.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.64A$12.10
$4.33COP 15.6K
99.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.62A$12.06
$5.84COP 21.1K
47.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.74A$19.24
$8.83COP 31.9K
55.61%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24A$4.53
$2.24COP 8,099
44.64%
Banana(1kg)
$2.81A$3.93
$1.08COP 3,882
160.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.95A$4.13
$1.53COP 5,522
92.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.07A$5.70
$1.37COP 4,950
197.08%
Potato(1kg)
$2.39A$3.34
$1.13COP 4,078
111.50%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10A$2.94
$1.12COP 4,036
87.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.11A$2.95
$0.85COP 3,057
148.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.53A$2.14
$0.91COP 3,281
68.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$31.13A$43.59
$2.33COP 8,414
1236.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.48A$18.87
$11.13COP 40.2K
21.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.48A$6.27
$1.19COP 4,309
276.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.23A$7.32
$2.37COP 8,553
120.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Forbes
Medellin
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.62A$3.67
$0.79COP 2,838
231.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$64.1A$89.7
$41.13COP 148.5K
55.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.54A$4.95
$1.44COP 5,184
145.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.53A$2.15
$1.91COP 6,901
-19.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.24A$46.54
$8.02COP 28.9K
314.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13A$1.58
$0.94COP 3,385
20.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.6KA$40.1K
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
59.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3KA$31.2K
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
-16.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Forbes
Medellin
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$186A$260
$84.0COP 303.1K
121.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.73A$38.83
$9.60COP 34.7K
188.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.2A$74.5
$24.16COP 87.2K
120.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Forbes
Medellin
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.41A$69.2
$25.88COP 93.4K
90.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.48A$21.68
$19.04COP 68.7K
-18.70%
Cinema Ticket
$13.18A$18.45
$3.92COP 14.1K
236.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Forbes
Medellin
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,600A$2,240
$306COP 1.1M
422.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.8KA$16.6K
$5,919COP 21.4M
99.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Forbes
Medellin
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.9A$95.0
$57.9COP 209.1K
17.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.2A$71.7
$31.82COP 114.9K
60.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0A$137
$99.9COP 360.6K
-1.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108A$151
$107COP 386.8K
0.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Forbes
Medellin
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,278A$1,789
$487COP 1.8M
162.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,070A$1,499
$368COP 1.3M
190.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,026A$2,836
$826COP 3.0M
145.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,680A$2,352
$716COP 2.6M
134.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,262A$8,767
$2,925COP 10.6M
114.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,125A$7,175
$1,407COP 5.1M
264.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Forbes
Medellin
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$546COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.34
13.43
-52.79%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Forbes: April 26, 2026
Última actualización para Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,278 in Forbes and $487 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $77.0 in Forbes vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $337 vs $190 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Forbes vs Medellin: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
What is the total cost difference between living in Forbes and Medellin?
Forbes and Medellin differ by about 118% in total monthly costs ($2,253 vs $1,034 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Forbes compared to Medellin?
You'd need roughly $3,380 in Forbes and $1,550 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Forbes and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,278 in Forbes versus $487 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Forbes or Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $2,253 per month in Forbes versus $1,034 in Medellin – a 118% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Forbes and Medellin?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 56% less than in Forbes. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,034 in Medellin versus $2,253 in Forbes, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Forbes. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Forbes and Medellin?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Forbes or Medellin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Forbes and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Forbes or Medellin?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 118% less than in Forbes. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.