Cost of Living Comparison Between Ibague and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Ibague and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $604 in Ibague versus $1,031 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $912 in Ibague versus $1,599 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,221 in Ibague versus $2,167 in Medellin.

Living in Ibague costs roughly 41% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ibague 55% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.95 COP 16.1K

$6.16 COP 20.1K

-19.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.16 COP 72.1K

$32.60 COP 106.1K

-32.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.85 COP 15.8K

$7.34 COP 23.9K

-33.92%

Cappuccino

$1.00 COP 3,268

$1.72 COP 5,599

-41.86%

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

$0.93 COP 3,032

$1.05 COP 3,420

-11.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 COP 2,092

$0.77 COP 2,515

-16.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.71 COP 2,303

$1.69 COP 5,487

-57.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 COP 7,218

$3.17 COP 10.3K

-29.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 COP 3,829

$1.05 COP 3,423

12.38%

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 COP 2,314

$1.30 COP 4,236

-45.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.75 COP 2,451

$1.40 COP 4,544

-46.43%

Eggs

$1.96 COP 6,365

$2.16 COP 7,046

-9.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.78 COP 15.5K

$4.39 COP 14.3K

8.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.52 COP 11.5K

$5.88 COP 19.1K

-40.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.70 COP 15.3K

$8.64 COP 28.1K

-45.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.85 COP 9,262

$2.28 COP 7,425

25.00%

Banana (1kg)

$0.46 COP 1,513

$1.11 COP 3,603

-58.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.75 COP 2,457

$1.53 COP 4,982

-50.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 COP 1,607

$1.35 COP 4,410

-63.70%

Potato (1kg)

$0.50 COP 1,635

$1.13 COP 3,674

-55.75%

Onion (1kg)

$0.37 COP 1,210

$1.13 COP 3,692

-67.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 COP 1,637

$0.85 COP 2,753

-41.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 COP 1,401

$0.91 COP 2,975

-52.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.86 COP 9,312

$2.34 COP 7,629

22.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.56 COP 34.4K

$12.37 COP 40.3K

-14.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 COP 1,637

$1.20 COP 3,909

-58.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 COP 2,079

$2.49 COP 8,104

-74.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 COP 2,356

$0.84 COP 2,727

-14.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.46 COP 4,768

$1.42 COP 4,623

2.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 COP 4,999

$1.92 COP 6,235

-19.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 COP 7,785

$7.66 COP 24.9K

-68.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,235

$0.99 COP 3,223

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

$15.8K COP 51.6M

$18.0K COP 58.7M

-12.14%

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

$25.5K COP 83.1M

$26.6K COP 86.7M

-4.08%

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

$46.53 COP 151.5K

$80.8 COP 263.1K

-42.42%

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

$6.08 COP 19.8K

$9.95 COP 32.4K

-38.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.74 COP 70.8K

$24.18 COP 78.7K

-10.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.33 COP 144.3K

$25.08 COP 81.6K

76.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 12.8K

$3.98 COP 13.0K

-1.26%

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

$60.5 COP 196.9K

$305 COP 993.4K

-80.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,429 COP 7.9M

$6,059 COP 19.7M

-59.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 COP 194.8K

$58.1 COP 189.2K

2.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.30 COP 137.7K

$32.20 COP 104.8K

31.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.7 COP 279.1K

$101 COP 327.9K

-14.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.7 COP 194.5K

$108 COP 350.8K

-44.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$227 COP 739.2K

$477 COP 1.6M

-52.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$144 COP 468.7K

$376 COP 1.2M

-61.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$398 COP 1.3M

$845 COP 2.7M

-52.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$210 COP 684.6K

$730 COP 2.4M

-71.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,419 COP 4.6M

$3,215 COP 10.5M

-55.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$974 COP 3.2M

$1,372 COP 4.5M

-29.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$530 COP 1.7M

$617 COP 2.0M

-14.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.93

13.43

-3.72%

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

Last update for Ibague: July 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $227 in Ibague and $477 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 16% 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: $22.00 in Ibague vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $133 vs $193 per month, with Ibague 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

Ibague vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ibague is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 71% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 16% lower in Medellin. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $227 in Ibague versus $477 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 45% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $604 per month in Ibague versus $1,031 in Medellin – a 71% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $604 in Ibague versus $1,031 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ibague but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Ibague the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Ibague is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Ibague gentler on the wallet – expenses run 71% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.