😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,044 in Libertad versus $1,003 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,633 in Libertad versus $1,573 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,223 in Libertad versus $2,143 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Libertad is roughly 4% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Libertad22% lower, Medellin25% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Libertad
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.12UYU 648
$5.91COP 18.6K
172.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.2UYU 2,180
$32.96COP 103.8K
64.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.31UYU 495
$7.43COP 23.4K
65.68%
Cappuccino
$4.23UYU 170
$1.65COP 5,207
156.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16UYU 86.9
$1.10COP 3,468
96.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75UYU 70.4
$0.78COP 2,458
124.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.28UYU 172
$1.72COP 5,412
148.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61UYU 145
$3.18COP 10.0K
13.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Libertad
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28UYU 51.3
$1.10COP 3,474
16.36%
White Bread(500g)
$2.81UYU 113
$1.26COP 3,962
123.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.59UYU 64.1
$1.38COP 4,349
15.22%
Eggs
$4.89UYU 197
$2.18COP 6,858
124.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.61UYU 547
$4.49COP 14.1K
203.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.91UYU 439
$5.79COP 18.2K
88.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.24UYU 452
$8.97COP 28.2K
25.31%
Apples(1kg)
$3.01UYU 121
$2.32COP 7,308
29.74%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45UYU 98.6
$1.06COP 3,352
131.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50UYU 60.5
$1.52COP 4,774
-1.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.72UYU 150
$1.36COP 4,270
173.53%
Potato(1kg)
$2.07UYU 83.2
$1.13COP 3,552
83.19%
Onion(1kg)
$1.95UYU 78.3
$1.17COP 3,689
66.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.35UYU 54.4
$0.90COP 2,838
50.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.72UYU 69.1
$0.90COP 2,823
91.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.24UYU 211
$2.23COP 7,034
134.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.59UYU 345
$12.12COP 38.2K
-29.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27UYU 91.4
$1.19COP 3,743
90.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92UYU 117
$2.48COP 7,815
17.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Libertad
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.85COP 2,687
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.62COP 131.0K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.57UYU 63.0
$1.42COP 4,459
10.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.50UYU 141
$1.95COP 6,141
79.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.39UYU 498
$7.89COP 24.8K
57.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.90UYU 76.5
$0.99COP 3,118
91.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7KUYU 1.4M
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
96.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.0KUYU 1.4M
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
34.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Libertad
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$171UYU 6,892
$83.0COP 261.4K
106.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.52UYU 664
$9.70COP 30.5K
70.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.23UYU 1,979
$23.52COP 74.1K
109.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Libertad
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$25.26COP 79.5K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.10COP 60.1K
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.51UYU 422
$3.95COP 12.4K
166.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Libertad
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$486UYU 19.5K
$316COP 994.2K
53.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,768UYU 352.5K
$5,975COP 18.8M
46.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Libertad
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.0UYU 3,860
$60.0COP 188.9K
60.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.99UYU 1,929
$31.82COP 100.2K
50.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116UYU 4,650
$102COP 320.1K
13.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122UYU 4,914
$107COP 338.3K
13.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Libertad
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$475COP 1.5M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$374COP 1.2M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$849COP 2.7M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$719COP 2.3M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,265COP 10.3M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,441COP 4.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Libertad
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$624COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.68
13.43
-57.71%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Libertad: July 27, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Libertad vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $321 vs $193 per month, with Medellin 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
Libertad vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Libertad and in Medellin?
Libertad and Medellin differ by about 4% in total monthly costs ($1,044 vs $1,003 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Libertad compared to Medellin?
You'd need roughly $1,566 in Libertad and $1,504 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 66% higher in Libertad. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Libertad or Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $1,044 per month in Libertad versus $1,003 in Medellin – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,003 in Medellin versus $1,044 in Libertad, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Libertad. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Libertad and Medellin?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Libertad or Medellin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Libertad 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.
Where should expats move: Libertad or Medellin?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Libertad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.