😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,487 in Inverness versus $1,013 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,556 in Inverness versus $1,602 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,626 in Inverness versus $2,192 in Medellin.
😐Living in Inverness is roughly 146% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Inverness is 86% above, Medellin is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Inverness
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.65£15.38
$5.99COP 21.4K
244.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$98.2£73.2
$32.86COP 117.2K
198.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.77£7.27
$7.09COP 25.3K
37.80%
Cappuccino
$4.26£3.18
$1.71COP 6,105
149.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23£1.66
$1.10COP 3,918
102.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45£1.08
$0.78COP 2,776
85.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.82£5.08
$1.68COP 5,987
305.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.94£5.17
$3.07COP 10.9K
126.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Inverness
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.72£1.28
$1.09COP 3,899
57.80%
White Bread(500g)
$1.66£1.24
$1.26COP 4,500
31.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.42£1.80
$1.38COP 4,914
75.36%
Eggs
$3.85£2.87
$2.19COP 7,813
75.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.93£7.39
$4.40COP 15.7K
125.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.34£6.96
$5.63COP 20.1K
65.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.91£10.36
$8.89COP 31.7K
56.47%
Apples(1kg)
$2.69£2.00
$2.34COP 8,334
14.96%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77£1.32
$1.06COP 3,771
66.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.16£1.61
$1.50COP 5,365
44.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38£1.03
$1.38COP 4,915
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.65£1.23
$1.15COP 4,104
43.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.26£0.94
$1.16COP 4,148
8.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.27£0.94
$0.89COP 3,176
42.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.65£1.23
$0.84COP 2,992
96.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$18.48£13.76
$2.28COP 8,131
710.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.18£8.33
$10.64COP 37.9K
5.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.91£2.16
$1.20COP 4,276
142.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08£2.30
$2.47COP 8,809
24.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Inverness
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.58£2.67
$0.86COP 3,051
316.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$64.8£48.25
$41.40COP 147.6K
56.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.21£3.88
$1.47COP 5,255
254.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.35£1.75
$1.96COP 6,997
19.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.17£18.00
$7.74COP 27.6K
212.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.91£1.42
$0.95COP 3,403
101.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.2K£26.2K
$18.1KCOP 64.6M
94.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K£28.6K
$26.5KCOP 94.4M
45.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Inverness
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$385£287
$82.3COP 293.2K
368.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.60£13.11
$9.50COP 33.9K
85.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.28£30.00
$24.23COP 86.4K
66.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Inverness
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.68£32.53
$25.89COP 92.3K
68.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.10£6.03
$19.00COP 67.7K
-57.37%
Cinema Ticket
$15.00£11.17
$3.93COP 14.0K
281.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Inverness
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,092£814
$309COP 1.1M
253.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.0K£13.4K
$5,965COP 21.3M
201.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Inverness
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.2£70.9
$58.7COP 209.1K
62.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.04£26.85
$32.35COP 115.3K
11.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.0£72.2
$103COP 365.7K
-5.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107£79.5
$108COP 386.5K
-1.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Inverness
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,334£994
$476COP 1.7M
180.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,109£826
$379COP 1.4M
192.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,300£1,713
$838COP 3.0M
174.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,621£1,207
$724COP 2.6M
123.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,148£3,090
$2,791COP 9.9M
48.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,399£2,531
$1,211COP 4.3M
180.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Inverness
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,328£2,479
$512COP 1.8M
550.27%
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,334 in Inverness and $476 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Inverness pays 550% 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: $98.0 in Inverness vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 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
Inverness vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Inverness or Medellin?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 146% 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 Medellin?
Inverness pays 550% more on average, 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 vs Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,334 in Inverness versus $476 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Inverness vs Medellin?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 56% 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 Medellin?
Childcare runs $1,092 in Inverness versus $309 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 Medellin?
At $1,013 in Medellin versus $2,487 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 $1,013 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 146% less than in Inverness. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.