😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,512 in Inverness versus $1,031 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,544 in Inverness versus $1,599 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,576 in Inverness versus $2,167 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Inverness is roughly 144% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Inverness is 88% above, Medellin is 23% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Inverness
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.60£15.33
$6.16COP 20.1K
234.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$98.9£73.6
$32.60COP 106.1K
203.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.33£6.95
$7.34COP 23.9K
27.11%
Cappuccino
$4.22£3.14
$1.72COP 5,599
145.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23£1.66
$1.05COP 3,420
112.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46£1.08
$0.77COP 2,515
89.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.95£5.17
$1.69COP 5,487
311.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.94£5.16
$3.17COP 10.3K
118.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Inverness
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.67£1.25
$1.05COP 3,423
59.05%
White Bread(500g)
$1.72£1.28
$1.30COP 4,236
32.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.50£1.86
$1.40COP 4,544
78.57%
Eggs
$3.88£2.89
$2.16COP 7,046
79.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.83£7.32
$4.39COP 14.3K
123.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.42£7.01
$5.88COP 19.1K
60.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.25£10.61
$8.64COP 28.1K
64.93%
Apples(1kg)
$2.69£2.01
$2.28COP 7,425
17.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.84£1.37
$1.11COP 3,603
65.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12£1.58
$1.53COP 4,982
38.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35£1.00
$1.35COP 4,410
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.72£1.28
$1.13COP 3,674
52.21%
Onion(1kg)
$1.21£0.90
$1.13COP 3,692
7.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.22£0.91
$0.85COP 2,753
43.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.64£1.22
$0.91COP 2,975
80.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$18.01£13.41
$2.34COP 7,629
669.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.02£8.20
$12.37COP 40.3K
-10.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.97£2.21
$1.20COP 3,909
147.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09£2.30
$2.49COP 8,104
24.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Inverness
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.56£2.65
$0.84COP 2,727
323.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.2£48.55
$40.57COP 132.1K
60.73%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.35£3.98
$1.42COP 4,623
276.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.33£1.74
$1.92COP 6,235
21.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.21£18.02
$7.66COP 24.9K
216.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.90£1.41
$0.99COP 3,223
91.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K£25.7K
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
91.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K£28.8K
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
45.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Inverness
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$384£286
$80.8COP 263.1K
374.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.36£12.93
$9.95COP 32.4K
74.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.04£29.81
$24.18COP 78.7K
65.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Inverness
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.04£32.04
$25.08COP 81.6K
71.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.01£5.97
$19.15COP 62.3K
-58.17%
Cinema Ticket
$14.78£11.00
$3.98COP 13.0K
271.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Inverness
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,095£815
$305COP 993.4K
258.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.4K£13.7K
$6,059COP 19.7M
203.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Inverness
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.3£71.0
$58.1COP 189.2K
63.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.56£27.22
$32.20COP 104.8K
13.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.7£72.0
$101COP 327.9K
-4.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109£81.4
$108COP 350.8K
1.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Inverness
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,344£1,000
$477COP 1.6M
181.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,113£829
$376COP 1.2M
195.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,333£1,737
$845COP 2.7M
176.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,638£1,219
$730COP 2.4M
124.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,208£3,133
$3,215COP 10.5M
30.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,430£2,554
$1,372COP 4.5M
149.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Inverness
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,256£2,424
$617COP 2.0M
427.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.32
13.43
-60.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Inverness: July 12, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,344 in Inverness and $477 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Inverness pays 428% 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: $99.0 in Inverness vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $294 vs $193 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
Inverness vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Inverness or Medellin?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 144% lower than in Inverness. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Inverness or in Medellin?
Average pay runs 428% higher in Inverness, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Inverness compared to Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,344 in Inverness versus $477 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Inverness compared to Medellin?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 61% less than in Inverness. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Inverness and in Medellin?
Childcare runs $1,095 in Inverness versus $305 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Inverness or in Medellin?
At $1,031 in Medellin versus $2,512 in Inverness, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Inverness. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Inverness or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,031 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
How safe is Inverness compared to Medellin?
Safety-wise, Inverness 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 144% less than in Inverness. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.