Cost of Living Comparison Between Los Alamos, NM and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Los Alamos, NM and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,071 per month in Los Alamos, NM vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,671 per month in Los Alamos, NM vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,272 per month in Los Alamos, NM vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

Los Alamos, NM is about 38% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Los Alamos, NM sits 22% below the global median, while Medellin is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.67 $16.67

$8.03 COP 25.1K

107.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.36 $40.36

$48.26 COP 151.0K

-16.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$9.77 COP 30.6K

1.54%

Cappuccino

$5.11 $5.11

$2.91 COP 9,107

75.60%

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

$2.53 $2.53

$1.94 COP 6,082

30.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.52 COP 4,760

-3.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.14 $6.14

$3.09 COP 9,676

98.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.97 $6.97

$5.74 COP 18.0K

21.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.36 COP 4,267

-35.29%

White Bread (500g)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.39 COP 7,470

-6.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.54 $4.54

$1.70 COP 5,321

167.06%

Eggs

$3.91 $3.91

$2.87 COP 8,979

36.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.90 $11.90

$9.94 COP 31.1K

19.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.21 $9.21

$10.78 COP 33.7K

-14.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.60 $17.60

$14.73 COP 46.1K

19.48%

Apples (1kg)

$4.70 $4.70

$4.09 COP 12.8K

14.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.57 COP 4,917

-8.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$2.13 COP 6,651

36.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.44 $4.44

$2.21 COP 6,926

100.90%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 $1.12

$2.05 COP 6,404

-45.37%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$1.50 COP 4,706

124.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.19 COP 3,723

63.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 $0.48

$1.16 COP 3,623

-58.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.49 $10.49

$3.90 COP 12.2K

168.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.81 $13.81

$14.44 COP 45.2K

-4.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$1.58 COP 4,955

57.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

$2.83 COP 8,847

26.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.17 COP 3,655

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.7 COP 243.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.70 $3.70

$1.28 COP 4,019

189.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.09 COP 6,546

-2.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$31.94 $31.94

$8.62 COP 27.0K

270.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.30 COP 4,061

-35.38%

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

$30.8K $30.8K

$27.7K COP 86.5M

11.53%

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

$24.6K $24.6K

$35.5K COP 111.1M

-30.68%

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

$155 $155

$176 COP 550.9K

-12.18%

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

$40.16 $40.16

$13.37 COP 41.8K

200.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.3 $73.3

$29.89 COP 93.5K

145.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.76 COP 140.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.06 COP 53.4K

Cinema Ticket

$13.14 $13.14

$6.20 COP 19.4K

111.94%

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

$1,473 $1,473

$793 COP 2.5M

85.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.3K $25.3K

$9,019 COP 28.2M

180.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.97 $19.97

$85.6 COP 267.8K

-76.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.85 $42.85

$58.5 COP 182.9K

-26.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$136 COP 426.4K

-24.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$103 COP 322.6K

14.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,103 $1,103

$1,060 COP 3.3M

4.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 COP 2.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,933 $1,933

$2,012 COP 6.3M

-3.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,169 COP 3.7M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,325 $3,325

$4,111 COP 12.9M

-19.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,336 $3,336

$1,701 COP 5.3M

96.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,216 $8,216

$665 COP 2.1M

1135.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.1

10.94

-44.24%

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

Last update for Los Alamos, NM: September 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,103 in Los Alamos, NM versus $1,060 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 1135% higher in Los Alamos, NM, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Los Alamos, NM versus $48.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $336 in Los Alamos, NM vs $303 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

Los Alamos, NM vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 60%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,607 per month in Los Alamos, NM and $2,574 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,071 in Los Alamos, NM and $1,716 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,473 per month in Los Alamos, NM and $793 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Los Alamos, NM, where all-in costs run around $1,071, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Los Alamos, NM it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Los Alamos, NM – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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