Cost of Living Comparison Between Leticia and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Leticia and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $804 in Leticia versus $1,013 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,223 in Leticia versus $1,602 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,641 in Leticia versus $2,192 in Medellin.

Living in Leticia costs roughly 21% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Leticia 40% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Leticia
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.93 COP 14.0K
$5.99 COP 21.4K
-34.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.76 COP 84.8K
$32.86 COP 117.4K
-27.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 26.4K
$7.09 COP 25.3K
4.23%
Cappuccino
$1.51 COP 5,386
$1.71 COP 6,115
-11.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 COP 3,129
$1.10 COP 3,924
-20.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 COP 2,207
$0.78 COP 2,781
-20.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.16 COP 4,145
$1.68 COP 5,997
-30.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20 COP 7,867
$3.07 COP 11.0K
-28.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Leticia
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,755
$1.09 COP 3,906
-3.67%
White Bread (500g)
$1.23 COP 4,403
$1.26 COP 4,508
-2.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.96 COP 3,422
$1.38 COP 4,922
-30.43%
Eggs
$1.88 COP 6,716
$2.19 COP 7,827
-14.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.34 COP 15.5K
$4.40 COP 15.7K
-1.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.33 COP 19.0K
$5.63 COP 20.1K
-5.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.53 COP 26.9K
$8.89 COP 31.8K
-15.30%
Apples (1kg)
$3.84 COP 13.7K
$2.34 COP 8,349
64.10%
Banana (1kg)
$1.97 COP 7,029
$1.06 COP 3,777
85.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.30 COP 4,631
$1.50 COP 5,374
-13.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.87 COP 3,091
$1.38 COP 4,924
-36.96%
Potato (1kg)
$1.17 COP 4,180
$1.15 COP 4,111
1.74%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,203
$1.16 COP 4,155
1.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.88 COP 3,145
$0.89 COP 3,182
-1.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 COP 2,344
$0.84 COP 2,997
-21.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.41 COP 8,612
$2.28 COP 8,145
5.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.68 COP 38.1K
$10.64 COP 38.0K
0.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,911
$1.20 COP 4,284
-8.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 COP 6,364
$2.47 COP 8,824
-27.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Leticia
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.68 COP 2,441
$0.86 COP 3,056
-20.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.40 COP 108.6K
$41.40 COP 147.9K
-26.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.43 COP 5,100
$1.47 COP 5,264
-2.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.68 COP 5,998
$1.96 COP 7,009
-14.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.09 COP 21.8K
$7.74 COP 27.6K
-21.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.98 COP 3,512
$0.95 COP 3,409
3.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7K COP 63.3M
$18.1K COP 64.7M
-2.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K COP 92.7M
$26.5K COP 94.6M
-2.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Leticia
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 COP 296.5K
$82.3 COP 293.7K
0.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.06 COP 32.4K
$9.50 COP 33.9K
-4.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.43 COP 80.1K
$24.23 COP 86.5K
-7.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Leticia
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.15 COP 82.7K
$25.89 COP 92.4K
-10.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.00 COP 67.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.84 COP 13.7K
$3.93 COP 14.0K
-2.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Leticia
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$239 COP 852.8K
$309 COP 1.1M
-22.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,880 COP 21.0M
$5,965 COP 21.3M
-1.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Leticia
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8 COP 210.1K
$58.7 COP 209.5K
0.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.12 COP 118.3K
$32.35 COP 115.5K
2.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.6 COP 302.2K
$103 COP 366.4K
-17.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.4 COP 255.0K
$108 COP 387.2K
-34.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Leticia
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$279 COP 996.6K
$476 COP 1.7M
-41.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$240 COP 858.6K
$379 COP 1.4M
-36.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$518 COP 1.8M
$838 COP 3.0M
-38.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$429 COP 1.5M
$724 COP 2.6M
-40.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,553 COP 5.5M
$2,791 COP 10.0M
-44.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,221 COP 4.4M
$1,211 COP 4.3M
0.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Leticia
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$350 COP 1.3M
$512 COP 1.8M
-31.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.18
13.43
-1.86%

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

Last update for Leticia: May 31, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $279 in Leticia and $476 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 46% 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: $24.00 in Leticia vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $185 vs $188 per month, with Leticia 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
Leticia vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Leticia or Medellin?
Leticia wins on cost – living expenses run 26% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Leticia the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Leticia or Medellin?
On paper, Medellin earns 46% 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 Leticia vs Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $279 in Leticia versus $476 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Leticia vs Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Leticia – a meal for two runs $24.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Leticia compared to Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $804 per month in Leticia versus $1,013 in Medellin – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Leticia or Medellin?
At $804 in Leticia versus $1,013 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Leticia but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Leticia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Leticia or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Leticia delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $804 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Leticia hard to pass up.
How safe is Leticia compared to Medellin?
Safety-wise, Leticia 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 Leticia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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