Cost of Living Comparison Between Lake Forest, CA and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Lake Forest, CA and Medellin

😐 Solo nomad: Lake Forest, CA is 112.5% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 191% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Lake Forest, CA is 133.2% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 190.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lake Forest, CA
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.57 $24.57
$6.23 COP 26K
294.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$32.34 COP 134.8K
209.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.11 $10.11
$7.39 COP 30.8K
36.81%
Cappuccino
$5.91 $5.91
$1.72 COP 7,155
243.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 $2.72
$1.1 COP 4,575
147.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 $2.24
$0.73 COP 3,060
206.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.48 $8.48
$1.66 COP 6,916
410.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.84 $8.84
$3.2 COP 13.3K
176.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lake Forest, CA
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 $1.24
$1.09 COP 4,552
13.76%
White Bread (500g)
$4.27 $4.27
$1.24 COP 5,188
244.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.61 $4.61
$1.33 COP 5,544
246.62%
Eggs
$4.47 $4.47
$2.22 COP 9,252
101.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.47 $12.47
$4.55 COP 19K
174.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.03 $17.03
$5.71 COP 23.8K
198.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.22 $19.22
$8.59 COP 35.8K
123.75%
Apples (1kg)
$6.56 $6.56
$2.26 COP 9,410
190.27%
Banana (1kg)
$1.9 $1.9
$1.07 COP 4,461
77.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.14 $4.14
$1.51 COP 6,293
174.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.42 $5.42
$1.42 COP 5,911
281.69%
Potato (1kg)
$3.21 $3.21
$1.11 COP 4,619
189.19%
Onion (1kg)
$3.08 $3.08
$1.18 COP 4,932
161.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.91 $1.91
$0.89 COP 3,718
114.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.12 $2.12
$0.84 COP 3,507
152.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.75 $9.75
$2.35 COP 9,809
314.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.65 $19.65
$9.34 COP 38.9K
110.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.18 COP 4,927
49.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.9 $3.9
$2.49 COP 10.4K
56.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Lake Forest, CA
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.42 $3.42
$0.83 COP 3,464
312.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$41.9 COP 174.7K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.04 $3.04
$1.41 COP 5,899
115.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.68 $2.68
$1.96 COP 8,164
36.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.53 $29.53
$7.85 COP 32.7K
276.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 $1.29
$1.02 COP 4,265
26.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5K $28.5K
$17.6K COP 73.4M
61.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K $26.5K
$26.2K COP 109.2M
1.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lake Forest, CA
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$202 $202
$82.5 COP 344.1K
145.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.8 $54.8
$9.44 COP 39.4K
480.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.9 $71.9
$23.51 COP 98K
205.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lake Forest, CA
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51 $51
$25.68 COP 107.1K
98.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.14 COP 79.8K
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.17 $17.17
$3.96 COP 16.5K
333.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lake Forest, CA
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,823 $1,823
$305 COP 1.3M
497.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.1K $24.1K
$5,925 COP 24.7M
306.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lake Forest, CA
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.2 $62.2
$57.9 COP 241.4K
7.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.13 $41.13
$31.59 COP 131.7K
30.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 $103
$103 COP 430.1K
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150 $150
$106 COP 440.5K
41.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lake Forest, CA
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,433 $1,433
$489 COP 2M
192.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,501 $1,501
$379 COP 1.6M
296.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,096 $3,096
$827 COP 3.4M
274.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,805 $2,805
$729 COP 3M
284.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,100 $8,100
$2,190 COP 9.1M
269.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,128 $7,128
$1,532 COP 6.4M
365.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lake Forest, CA
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,899 $6,899
$550 COP 2.3M
1154.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.49
13.43
-51.68%

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

Last update for Lake Forest, CA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

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