Cost of Living Comparison Between Irati and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Irati and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $724 in Irati versus $1,017 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,184 in Irati versus $1,602 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,644 in Irati versus $2,188 in Medellin.

Living in Irati costs roughly 29% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Irati 46% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Irati
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.37 R$37.29
$5.95 COP 20.8K
23.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.87 R$182
$33.33 COP 116.3K
7.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.15 R$31.11
$7.23 COP 25.2K
-14.94%
Cappuccino
$1.34 R$6.80
$1.63 COP 5,687
-17.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98 R$4.97
$1.09 COP 3,821
-10.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 R$3.36
$0.73 COP 2,548
-9.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.23 R$6.23
$1.74 COP 6,065
-29.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 R$9.43
$3.23 COP 11.3K
-42.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Irati
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.73 R$3.70
$1.05 COP 3,662
-30.48%
White Bread (500g)
$1.05 R$5.32
$1.29 COP 4,515
-18.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.67 R$3.41
$1.32 COP 4,617
-49.24%
Eggs
$1.28 R$6.46
$2.27 COP 7,927
-43.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.88 R$29.79
$4.35 COP 15.2K
35.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.16 R$15.97
$5.88 COP 20.5K
-46.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.35 R$37.19
$8.61 COP 30.0K
-14.63%
Apples (1kg)
$1.31 R$6.65
$2.25 COP 7,844
-41.78%
Banana (1kg)
$0.70 R$3.53
$1.07 COP 3,733
-34.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.73 R$3.72
$1.52 COP 5,322
-51.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.21 R$6.12
$1.42 COP 4,964
-14.79%
Potato (1kg)
$0.74 R$3.77
$1.17 COP 4,084
-36.75%
Onion (1kg)
$0.55 R$2.80
$1.17 COP 4,077
-52.99%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.43 R$2.15
$0.89 COP 3,096
-51.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 R$2.72
$0.90 COP 3,146
-40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.94 R$9.82
$2.25 COP 7,837
-13.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.57 R$38.31
$11.04 COP 38.5K
-31.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 R$5.02
$1.14 COP 3,977
-13.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 R$7.43
$2.38 COP 8,301
-38.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Irati
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 R$4.37
$0.84 COP 2,916
2.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.30 R$194
$41.95 COP 146.4K
-8.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.29 R$6.53
$1.41 COP 4,912
-8.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.65 R$3.30
$1.90 COP 6,634
-65.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.16 R$26.13
$7.75 COP 27.0K
-33.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.04 R$5.28
$1.01 COP 3,509
2.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.3K R$82.5K
$17.6K COP 61.4M
-7.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6K R$119.2K
$26.5K COP 92.5M
-11.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Irati
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$53.1 R$269
$83.7 COP 292.1K
-36.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.22 R$66.9
$9.45 COP 33.0K
39.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.80 R$80.0
$24.11 COP 84.1K
-34.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Irati
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.08 R$112
$25.31 COP 88.3K
-12.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.98 R$111
$19.14 COP 66.8K
14.84%
Cinema Ticket
$6.20 R$31.37
$4.10 COP 14.3K
51.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Irati
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$268 R$1,356
$312 COP 1.1M
-14.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,535 R$28.0K
$5,993 COP 20.9M
-7.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Irati
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.38 R$230
$58.0 COP 202.6K
-21.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.00 R$223
$32.56 COP 113.6K
35.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.1 R$411
$99.6 COP 347.7K
-18.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$52.6 R$266
$109 COP 378.8K
-51.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Irati
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$315 R$1,592
$482 COP 1.7M
-34.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$214 R$1,085
$379 COP 1.3M
-43.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$583 R$2,951
$837 COP 2.9M
-30.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$421 R$2,132
$723 COP 2.5M
-41.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,511 R$7,647
$2,840 COP 9.9M
-46.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,128 R$5,709
$1,223 COP 4.3M
-7.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Irati
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 R$2,542
$541 COP 1.9M
-7.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.2
13.43
-24.05%

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

Last update for Irati: June 7, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $315 in Irati and $482 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 8% 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: $36.00 in Irati vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $135 vs $190, with Irati cheaper for home cooking.

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
Irati vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Irati or Medellin?
Irati wins on cost – living expenses run 40% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Irati the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Irati or Medellin?
On paper, Medellin earns 8% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Irati vs Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $315 in Irati versus $482 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Irati vs Medellin?
A monthly transit pass in Irati runs roughly 10% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Irati and Medellin?
Childcare runs $268 in Irati versus $312 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Irati or Medellin?
At $724 in Irati versus $1,017 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Irati but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Irati the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Irati or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Irati delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $724 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Irati hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Irati gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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