😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,520 in Fort Myers, FL versus $1,013 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,655 in Fort Myers, FL versus $1,602 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,790 in Fort Myers, FL versus $2,192 in Medellin.
😐Living in Fort Myers, FL is roughly 248% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Fort Myers, FL is 163% above, Medellin is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fort Myers, FL
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.11$20.11
$5.99COP 21.4K
235.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.8$80.8
$32.86COP 117.4K
145.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.80$10.80
$7.09COP 25.3K
52.33%
Cappuccino
$4.39$4.39
$1.71COP 6,115
156.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51$2.51
$1.10COP 3,924
128.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99$1.99
$0.78COP 2,781
155.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.07$4.07
$1.68COP 5,997
142.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.93$5.93
$3.07COP 11.0K
93.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fort Myers, FL
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.11$1.11
$1.09COP 3,906
1.83%
White Bread(500g)
$4.15$4.15
$1.26COP 4,508
229.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.63$3.63
$1.38COP 4,922
163.04%
Eggs
$4.40$4.40
$2.19COP 7,827
100.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.99$12.99
$4.40COP 15.7K
195.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.65$11.65
$5.63COP 20.1K
106.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.02$16.02
$8.89COP 31.8K
80.20%
Apples(1kg)
$5.98$5.98
$2.34COP 8,349
155.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56$1.56
$1.06COP 3,777
47.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.24$4.24
$1.50COP 5,374
182.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.82$4.82
$1.38COP 4,924
249.28%
Potato(1kg)
$3.50$3.50
$1.15COP 4,111
204.35%
Onion(1kg)
$3.73$3.73
$1.16COP 4,155
221.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.39$2.39
$0.89COP 3,182
168.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.58$2.58
$0.84COP 2,997
207.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.17$8.17
$2.28COP 8,145
258.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.32$17.32
$10.64COP 38.0K
62.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.15$2.15
$1.20COP 4,284
79.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45$3.45
$2.47COP 8,824
39.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Fort Myers, FL
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.02$2.02
$0.86COP 3,056
134.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$36.89$36.89
$41.40COP 147.9K
-10.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.47$2.47
$1.47COP 5,264
68.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.56$1.56
$1.96COP 7,009
-20.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.85$29.85
$7.74COP 27.6K
285.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.93$0.93
$0.95COP 3,409
-2.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6K$29.6K
$18.1KCOP 64.7M
63.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K$24.9K
$26.5KCOP 94.6M
-6.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fort Myers, FL
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$170$170
$82.3COP 293.7K
106.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.8$61.8
$9.50COP 33.9K
550.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.7$67.7
$24.23COP 86.5K
179.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fort Myers, FL
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.6$52.6
$25.89COP 92.4K
103.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.93$9.93
$19.00COP 67.9K
-47.74%
Cinema Ticket
$14.95$14.95
$3.93COP 14.0K
280.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fort Myers, FL
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,319$1,319
$309COP 1.1M
326.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.2K$14.2K
$5,965COP 21.3M
138.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fort Myers, FL
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.32$42.32
$58.7COP 209.5K
-27.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.25$36.25
$32.35COP 115.5K
12.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.3$83.3
$103COP 366.4K
-18.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.7$87.7
$108COP 387.2K
-19.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fort Myers, FL
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,915$1,915
$476COP 1.7M
302.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,167$2,167
$379COP 1.4M
471.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,145$3,145
$838COP 3.0M
275.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,800$2,800
$724COP 2.6M
286.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,685$2,685
$2,791COP 10.0M
-3.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,767$2,767
$1,211COP 4.3M
128.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fort Myers, FL
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,885$3,885
$512COP 1.8M
659.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.48
13.43
-51.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Fort Myers, FL: May 31, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,915 in Fort Myers, FL and $476 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Fort Myers, FL pays 659% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $81.0 in Fort Myers, FL vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $421 vs $188 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.
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 Myers, FL vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Fort Myers, FL?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 248% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Fort Myers, FL or Medellin?
Fort Myers, FL pays 659% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Fort Myers, FL and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,915 in Fort Myers, FL versus $476 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Fort Myers, FL and Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 123% higher in Fort Myers, FL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Fort Myers, FL or Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $81.0 in Fort Myers, FL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Fort Myers, FL or Medellin?
At $1,013 in Medellin versus $3,520 in Fort Myers, FL, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Fort Myers, FL. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Fort Myers, FL or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Fort Myers, FL, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 248% less than in Fort Myers, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Fort Myers, FL vs other spots: cost of living compared