🙂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: Leticia40% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Leticia
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.93COP 14.0K
$5.99COP 21.4K
-34.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.76COP 84.8K
$32.86COP 117.4K
-27.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.39COP 26.4K
$7.09COP 25.3K
4.23%
Cappuccino
$1.51COP 5,386
$1.71COP 6,115
-11.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88COP 3,129
$1.10COP 3,924
-20.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62COP 2,207
$0.78COP 2,781
-20.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.16COP 4,145
$1.68COP 5,997
-30.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20COP 7,867
$3.07COP 11.0K
-28.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Leticia
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,755
$1.09COP 3,906
-3.67%
White Bread(500g)
$1.23COP 4,403
$1.26COP 4,508
-2.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.96COP 3,422
$1.38COP 4,922
-30.43%
Eggs
$1.88COP 6,716
$2.19COP 7,827
-14.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.34COP 15.5K
$4.40COP 15.7K
-1.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.33COP 19.0K
$5.63COP 20.1K
-5.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.53COP 26.9K
$8.89COP 31.8K
-15.30%
Apples(1kg)
$3.84COP 13.7K
$2.34COP 8,349
64.10%
Banana(1kg)
$1.97COP 7,029
$1.06COP 3,777
85.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.30COP 4,631
$1.50COP 5,374
-13.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.87COP 3,091
$1.38COP 4,924
-36.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17COP 4,180
$1.15COP 4,111
1.74%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18COP 4,203
$1.16COP 4,155
1.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.88COP 3,145
$0.89COP 3,182
-1.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66COP 2,344
$0.84COP 2,997
-21.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.41COP 8,612
$2.28COP 8,145
5.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.68COP 38.1K
$10.64COP 38.0K
0.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,911
$1.20COP 4,284
-8.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78COP 6,364
$2.47COP 8,824
-27.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Leticia
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.68COP 2,441
$0.86COP 3,056
-20.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.40COP 108.6K
$41.40COP 147.9K
-26.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.43COP 5,100
$1.47COP 5,264
-2.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.68COP 5,998
$1.96COP 7,009
-14.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.09COP 21.8K
$7.74COP 27.6K
-21.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.98COP 3,512
$0.95COP 3,409
3.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7KCOP 63.3M
$18.1KCOP 64.7M
-2.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9KCOP 92.7M
$26.5KCOP 94.6M
-2.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Leticia
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0COP 296.5K
$82.3COP 293.7K
0.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.06COP 32.4K
$9.50COP 33.9K
-4.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.43COP 80.1K
$24.23COP 86.5K
-7.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Leticia
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.15COP 82.7K
$25.89COP 92.4K
-10.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.00COP 67.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.84COP 13.7K
$3.93COP 14.0K
-2.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Leticia
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$239COP 852.8K
$309COP 1.1M
-22.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,880COP 21.0M
$5,965COP 21.3M
-1.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Leticia
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8COP 210.1K
$58.7COP 209.5K
0.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.12COP 118.3K
$32.35COP 115.5K
2.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.6COP 302.2K
$103COP 366.4K
-17.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.4COP 255.0K
$108COP 387.2K
-34.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Leticia
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$279COP 996.6K
$476COP 1.7M
-41.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$240COP 858.6K
$379COP 1.4M
-36.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$518COP 1.8M
$838COP 3.0M
-38.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$429COP 1.5M
$724COP 2.6M
-40.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,553COP 5.5M
$2,791COP 10.0M
-44.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,221COP 4.4M
$1,211COP 4.3M
0.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Leticia
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$350COP 1.3M
$512COP 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.