Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Lauderdale, FL and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Lauderdale, FL and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,290 per month in Fort Lauderdale, FL vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,092 per month in Fort Lauderdale, FL vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,894 per month in Fort Lauderdale, FL vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Fort Lauderdale, FL costs about 225% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Fort Lauderdale, FL sits 145% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.86 $20.86

$5.99 COP 21.5K

248.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$109 $109

$32.86 COP 118.1K

230.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 $10.64

$7.09 COP 25.5K

50.07%

Cappuccino

$4.85 $4.85

$1.71 COP 6,154

183.63%

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

$2.69 $2.69

$1.10 COP 3,949

144.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$0.78 COP 2,798

167.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.01 $6.01

$1.68 COP 6,035

257.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.53 $6.53

$3.07 COP 11.0K

112.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.09 COP 3,930

-11.01%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$1.26 COP 4,536

229.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.35 $3.35

$1.38 COP 4,953

142.75%

Eggs

$3.83 $3.83

$2.19 COP 7,876

74.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.76 $11.76

$4.40 COP 15.8K

167.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.39 $9.39

$5.63 COP 20.2K

66.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.94 $18.94

$8.89 COP 32.0K

113.05%

Apples (1kg)

$5.46 $5.46

$2.34 COP 8,401

133.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.06 COP 3,801

43.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$1.50 COP 5,408

191.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$1.38 COP 4,955

288.41%

Potato (1kg)

$3.47 $3.47

$1.15 COP 4,137

201.74%

Onion (1kg)

$3.47 $3.47

$1.16 COP 4,181

199.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.25 $2.25

$0.89 COP 3,202

152.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$0.84 COP 3,016

141.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.91 $9.91

$2.28 COP 8,196

334.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.55 $10.55

$10.64 COP 38.2K

-0.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$1.20 COP 4,311

45.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.47 COP 8,880

10.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.39 $2.39

$0.86 COP 3,075

177.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$71.8 $71.8

$41.40 COP 148.8K

73.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.46 $4.46

$1.47 COP 5,297

203.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.96 COP 7,053

-18.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.78 $21.78

$7.74 COP 27.8K

181.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$0.95 COP 3,430

-12.63%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$18.1K COP 65.2M

45.21%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$26.5K COP 95.2M

-5.25%

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

$172 $172

$82.3 COP 295.6K

109.00%

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

$58.9 $58.9

$9.50 COP 34.1K

520.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.4 $69.4

$24.23 COP 87.1K

186.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.8 $74.8

$25.89 COP 93.0K

188.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.45 $13.45

$19.00 COP 68.3K

-29.21%

Cinema Ticket

$14.72 $14.72

$3.93 COP 14.1K

274.55%

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

$810 $810

$309 COP 1.1M

161.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K $15.9K

$5,965 COP 21.4M

166.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.39 $47.39

$58.7 COP 210.8K

-19.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.53 $45.53

$32.35 COP 116.2K

40.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.1 $89.1

$103 COP 368.7K

-13.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.2 $95.2

$108 COP 389.6K

-12.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,298 $2,298

$476 COP 1.7M

382.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,961 $1,961

$379 COP 1.4M

417.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,674 $3,674

$838 COP 3.0M

338.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,627 $3,627

$724 COP 2.6M

401.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,363 $5,363

$2,791 COP 10.0M

92.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,159 $4,159

$1,211 COP 4.4M

243.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,530 $4,530

$512 COP 1.8M

785.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

13.43

-51.38%

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

Last update for Fort Lauderdale, FL: June 2, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,298 in Fort Lauderdale, FL versus $476 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 785% higher in Fort Lauderdale, FL, 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 $109 in Fort Lauderdale, FL versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $386 vs $188 – 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

Fort Lauderdale, FL vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Fort Lauderdale, FL costs about 225% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,934 per month in Fort Lauderdale, FL and $1,519 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.

Kindergarten costs $810 per month in Fort Lauderdale, FL and $309 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 105% more in Fort Lauderdale, FL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Fort Lauderdale, FL at $3,290. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Fort Lauderdale, FL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,013 versus $3,290 in Fort Lauderdale, FL. 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, Fort Lauderdale, FL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.