Cost of Living Comparison Between Las Cruces, NM and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Las Cruces, NM and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,070 per month in Las Cruces, NM vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,097 per month in Las Cruces, NM vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,125 per month in Las Cruces, NM vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Las Cruces, NM costs about 23% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Las Cruces, NM and Medellin sit above the global median – Las Cruces, NM by 51%, Medellin by 23%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.81 $17.81

$8.02 COP 25.3K

122.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.76 $45.76

$47.87 COP 151.0K

-4.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.92 $11.92

$9.89 COP 31.2K

20.53%

Cappuccino

$5.81 $5.81

$3.13 COP 9,873

85.62%

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

$2.49 $2.49

$1.91 COP 6,019

30.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.51 COP 4,763

42.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.48 $6.48

$3.12 COP 9,853

107.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.83 $8.83

$5.75 COP 18.1K

53.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.44 COP 4,558

-41.67%

White Bread (500g)

$3.52 $3.52

$2.49 COP 7,843

41.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.71 $3.71

$1.77 COP 5,595

109.60%

Eggs

$4.60 $4.60

$2.96 COP 9,336

55.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.61 $13.61

$10.07 COP 31.8K

35.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.15 $12.15

$10.12 COP 31.9K

20.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.84 $17.84

$14.30 COP 45.1K

24.76%

Apples (1kg)

$4.25 $4.25

$4.14 COP 13.0K

2.66%

Banana (1kg)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.61 COP 5,073

25.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.45 $3.45

$2.25 COP 7,083

53.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.99 $3.99

$2.25 COP 7,104

77.33%

Potato (1kg)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.04 COP 6,444

11.76%

Onion (1kg)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.54 COP 4,842

62.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.17 COP 3,691

56.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.90 $1.90

$1.31 COP 4,121

45.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.51 $9.51

$3.90 COP 12.3K

143.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.83 $14.83

$14.01 COP 44.2K

5.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.74 COP 5,498

41.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$2.87 COP 9,053

21.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.22 COP 3,834

-16.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.82 $38.82

$80.5 COP 253.9K

-51.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.31 $2.31

$1.31 COP 4,129

76.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.19 COP 6,899

6.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.5K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.37 COP 4,306

-35.04%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$27.8K COP 87.8M

-4.54%

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

$23.7K $23.7K

$35.8K COP 112.8M

-33.68%

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

$177 $177

$177 COP 559.3K

-0.43%

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

$57.6 $57.6

$13.88 COP 43.8K

314.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$89.5 $89.5

$29.72 COP 93.8K

201.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.53 $49.53

$44.88 COP 141.6K

10.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.85 $10.85

$17.12 COP 54.0K

-36.62%

Cinema Ticket

$9.92 $9.92

$6.65 COP 21.0K

49.17%

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

$688 $688

$813 COP 2.6M

-15.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 29.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 $58.0

$89.5 COP 282.3K

-35.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.08 $32.08

$59.0 COP 186.0K

-45.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.5 $83.5

$138 COP 435.9K

-39.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.9 $99.9

$102 COP 322.1K

-2.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$978 $978

$1,062 COP 3.3M

-7.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$783 $783

$663 COP 2.1M

18.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,696 $1,696

$1,888 COP 6.0M

-10.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,516 $1,516

$1,027 COP 3.2M

47.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,001 $2,001

$4,183 COP 13.2M

-52.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,981 $1,981

$1,675 COP 5.3M

18.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,692 $3,692

$678 COP 2.1M

444.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.7

10.94

-47.90%

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

Last update for Las Cruces, NM: September 14, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Las Cruces, NM versus $1,062 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 445% higher in Las Cruces, NM, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Las Cruces, NM versus $48.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $390 in Las Cruces, NM vs $305 in Medellin – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Las Cruces, NM vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Las Cruces, NM costs about 23% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,105 per month in Las Cruces, NM and $2,521 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $688 per month in Las Cruces, NM and $813 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 28% more in Las Cruces, NM, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,681, than in Las Cruces, NM at $2,070. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Las Cruces, NM it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,681 versus $2,070 in Las Cruces, NM. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Las Cruces, NM makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.