😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,649 in Gallup, NM versus $1,017 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,892 in Gallup, NM versus $1,602 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,135 in Gallup, NM versus $2,188 in Medellin.
😐Living in Gallup, NM is roughly 161% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Gallup, NM is 97% above, Medellin is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gallup, NM
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.35$20.35
$5.95COP 20.8K
242.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.2$59.2
$33.33COP 116.3K
77.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.84$11.84
$7.23COP 25.2K
63.76%
Cappuccino
$5.95$5.95
$1.63COP 5,687
265.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90$2.90
$1.09COP 3,821
166.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31$2.31
$0.73COP 2,548
216.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.62$6.62
$1.74COP 6,065
280.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.97$6.97
$3.23COP 11.3K
115.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gallup, NM
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15$1.15
$1.05COP 3,662
9.52%
White Bread(500g)
$3.97$3.97
$1.29COP 4,515
207.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.21$3.21
$1.32COP 4,617
143.18%
Eggs
$4.99$4.99
$2.27COP 7,927
119.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.18$16.18
$4.35COP 15.2K
271.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.18$16.18
$5.88COP 20.5K
175.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.23$20.23
$8.61COP 30.0K
134.96%
Apples(1kg)
$5.62$5.62
$2.25COP 7,844
149.78%
Banana(1kg)
$1.29$1.29
$1.07COP 3,733
20.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$6.67$6.67
$1.52COP 5,322
338.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.03$6.03
$1.42COP 4,964
324.65%
Potato(1kg)
$5.54$5.54
$1.17COP 4,084
373.50%
Onion(1kg)
$2.53$2.53
$1.17COP 4,077
116.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.54$1.54
$0.89COP 3,096
73.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.31$2.31
$0.90COP 3,146
156.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.78$9.78
$2.25COP 7,837
334.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.80$12.80
$11.04COP 38.5K
15.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13$2.13
$1.14COP 3,977
86.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.22$4.22
$2.38COP 8,301
77.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Gallup, NM
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.97$1.97
$0.84COP 2,916
134.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.95COP 146.4K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.51$3.51
$1.41COP 4,912
148.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.81$1.81
$1.90COP 6,634
-4.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.52$29.52
$7.75COP 27.0K
280.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.77$0.77
$1.01COP 3,509
-23.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.0K$29.0K
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
64.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.0K$29.0K
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
9.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gallup, NM
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$196$196
$83.7COP 292.1K
134.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.24$44.24
$9.45COP 33.0K
368.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.1$50.1
$24.11COP 84.1K
107.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gallup, NM
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.76$42.76
$25.31COP 88.3K
68.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.14COP 66.8K
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.80$14.80
$4.10COP 14.3K
260.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gallup, NM
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$993$993
$312COP 1.1M
218.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.5K$15.5K
$5,993COP 20.9M
158.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gallup, NM
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.51$48.51
$58.0COP 202.6K
-16.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.6$56.6
$32.56COP 113.6K
73.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.9$88.9
$99.6COP 347.7K
-10.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110$110
$109COP 378.8K
1.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gallup, NM
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$986$986
$482COP 1.7M
104.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,365$1,365
$379COP 1.3M
259.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,832$1,832
$837COP 2.9M
118.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,256$2,256
$723COP 2.5M
212.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,749$2,749
$2,840COP 9.9M
-3.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,045$2,045
$1,223COP 4.3M
67.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gallup, NM
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,424$2,424
$541COP 1.9M
348.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
13.43
-62.77%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gallup, NM: June 8, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $986 in Gallup, NM and $482 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Gallup, NM pays 348% 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: $59.0 in Gallup, NM vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $467 vs $190 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
Gallup, NM vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Gallup, NM?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 161% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Gallup, NM or Medellin?
Gallup, NM pays 348% 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 Gallup, NM and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $986 in Gallup, NM versus $482 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $993 in Gallup, NM versus $312 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Gallup, NM or Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $59.0 in Gallup, NM. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Gallup, NM or Medellin?
At $1,017 in Medellin versus $2,649 in Gallup, NM, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Gallup, NM. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Gallup, NM or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Gallup, NM, 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 161% less than in Gallup, NM. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Gallup, NM vs other spots: cost of living compared