😐A single person spends $1,239 per month in Las Marias vs $1,030 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,927 per month in Las Marias vs $1,586 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,615 per month in Las Marias vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Las Marias costs about 20% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Las Marias and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Las Marias8% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Las Marias
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.72$16.72
$5.92COP 21.2K
182.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.4$79.4
$33.17COP 118.7K
139.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.59$9.59
$7.25COP 25.9K
32.28%
Cappuccino
$3.30$3.30
$1.71COP 6,137
92.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71$1.71
$1.09COP 3,915
56.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39$1.39
$0.77COP 2,743
80.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.06$3.06
$1.75COP 6,254
74.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88$3.88
$3.18COP 11.4K
22.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Las Marias
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.36$2.36
$1.06COP 3,792
122.64%
White Bread(500g)
$3.45$3.45
$1.30COP 4,657
165.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.21$2.21
$1.38COP 4,926
60.14%
Eggs
$5.80$5.80
$2.21COP 7,908
162.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.98$8.98
$4.52COP 16.2K
98.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.56$8.56
$5.80COP 20.7K
47.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.80$12.80
$8.97COP 32.1K
42.70%
Apples(1kg)
$5.79$5.79
$2.29COP 8,182
152.84%
Banana(1kg)
$2.63$2.63
$1.06COP 3,791
148.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.79$3.79
$1.51COP 5,411
150.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.03$4.03
$1.36COP 4,869
196.32%
Potato(1kg)
$4.05$4.05
$1.16COP 4,146
249.14%
Onion(1kg)
$3.06$3.06
$1.17COP 4,174
161.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.01$3.01
$0.83COP 2,960
262.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.94$1.94
$0.85COP 3,043
128.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.41$11.41
$2.35COP 8,423
385.53%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$11.09COP 39.7K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.44$2.44
$1.15COP 4,133
112.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14$3.14
$2.47COP 8,853
27.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Las Marias
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.79COP 2,827
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.85COP 149.8K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.44COP 5,140
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.47$1.47
$1.90COP 6,793
-22.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.90$14.90
$7.70COP 27.6K
93.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.92$0.92
$1.03COP 3,680
-10.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.6K$36.6K
$17.7KCOP 63.3M
106.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K$26.4K
$27.0KCOP 96.7M
-2.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Las Marias
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$320$320
$81.4COP 291.4K
292.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$78.0$78.0
$9.42COP 33.7K
728.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.6$72.6
$23.77COP 85.1K
205.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Las Marias
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$25.86COP 92.6K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.34COP 69.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.40$11.40
$4.05COP 14.5K
181.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Las Marias
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$462$462
$312COP 1.1M
47.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.2K$10.2K
$6,067COP 21.7M
68.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Las Marias
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.67$46.67
$58.9COP 210.7K
-20.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.1$57.1
$32.82COP 117.5K
74.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.3$90.3
$100COP 359.6K
-10.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105$105
$106COP 380.3K
-1.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Las Marias
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$490COP 1.8M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$371COP 1.3M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,820$1,820
$838COP 3.0M
117.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$715COP 2.6M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,952COP 10.6M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,394COP 5.0M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Las Marias
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$532COP 1.9M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.71
13.43
-57.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Las Marias: April 21, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $0 in Las Marias versus $490 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $79 in Las Marias versus $33 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $350 vs $190 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Marias vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Las Marias or Medellin?
Las Marias costs about 20% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Las Marias vs Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,859 per month in Las Marias and $1,544 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does it cost to live in Las Marias compared to Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,239 in Las Marias and $1,030 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Las Marias and Medellin?
Kindergarten costs $462 per month in Las Marias and $312 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Las Marias or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,030, than in Las Marias at $1,239. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Las Marias it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Las Marias or Medellin?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,030 versus $1,239 in Las Marias. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Las Marias compared to Medellin?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Las Marias or Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Las Marias makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Las Marias vs other spots: cost of living compared