🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,263 in Lushnje versus $1,641 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,888 in Lushnje versus $2,447 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,514 in Lushnje versus $3,253 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Lushnje costs roughly 23% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lushnje is 8% below, Medellin is 19% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lushnje
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.88ALL 780
$8.04COP 24.8K
22.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.9ALL 4,174
$48.29COP 148.6K
9.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.50ALL 908
$9.42COP 29.0K
22.08%
Cappuccino
$2.39ALL 189
$2.94COP 9,040
-18.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41ALL 190
$1.86COP 5,735
29.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27ALL 100
$1.46COP 4,479
-13.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.69ALL 292
$3.21COP 9,882
14.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.08ALL 322
$5.71COP 17.6K
-28.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lushnje
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.30ALL 182
$1.44COP 4,428
59.72%
White Bread(500g)
$1.28ALL 101
$2.40COP 7,389
-46.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.42ALL 191
$1.70COP 5,228
42.35%
Eggs
$3.87ALL 306
$2.89COP 8,896
33.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.69ALL 1,081
$10.06COP 30.9K
36.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.48ALL 749
$9.97COP 30.7K
-4.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.26ALL 1,363
$14.20COP 43.7K
21.55%
Apples(1kg)
$1.94ALL 153
$3.98COP 12.3K
-51.26%
Banana(1kg)
$2.48ALL 196
$1.58COP 4,878
56.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20ALL 174
$2.15COP 6,624
2.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.86ALL 147
$2.30COP 7,078
-19.13%
Potato(1kg)
$1.04ALL 82.4
$2.00COP 6,169
-48.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.27ALL 100
$1.51COP 4,646
-15.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.42ALL 112
$1.20COP 3,701
18.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76ALL 60.0
$1.28COP 3,946
-40.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.84ALL 382
$3.84COP 11.8K
26.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13ALL 879
$14.01COP 43.1K
-20.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82ALL 143
$1.71COP 5,256
6.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13ALL 168
$2.74COP 8,440
-22.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Lushnje
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51ALL 40.42
$1.25COP 3,834
-59.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.36ALL 1,608
$77.9COP 239.7K
-73.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.67ALL 290
$1.31COP 4,016
180.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.71ALL 293
$2.17COP 6,680
70.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.55ALL 1,465
$8.29COP 25.5K
123.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.37ALL 188
$1.36COP 4,172
74.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4KALL 2.7M
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
25.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.2KALL 2.9M
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
-0.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lushnje
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$104ALL 8,242
$169COP 519.2K
-38.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.89ALL 1,492
$13.57COP 41.8K
39.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.61ALL 1,628
$28.32COP 87.2K
-27.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lushnje
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0ALL 4,583
$45.71COP 140.7K
26.93%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.22COP 53.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.94ALL 785
$6.65COP 20.5K
49.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lushnje
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$358ALL 28.3K
$803COP 2.5M
-55.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,359ALL 660.2K
$9,190COP 28.3M
-9.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lushnje
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.0ALL 3,950
$87.4COP 268.8K
-42.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.35ALL 3,740
$59.4COP 182.7K
-20.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$124ALL 9,821
$139COP 427.5K
-10.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113ALL 8,928
$102COP 314.0K
10.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lushnje
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$489ALL 38.6K
$1,071COP 3.3M
-54.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$338ALL 26.7K
$653COP 2.0M
-48.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$734ALL 58.0K
$1,925COP 5.9M
-61.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$483ALL 38.2K
$1,048COP 3.2M
-53.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,899ALL 150.0K
$4,123COP 12.7M
-53.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,241ALL 98.0K
$1,697COP 5.2M
-26.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lushnje
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$624ALL 49.2K
$655COP 2.0M
-4.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.64
10.94
-48.45%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lushnje: September 5, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $489 in Lushnje and $1,071 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 5% 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: $53.0 in Lushnje vs $48.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $300 vs $300, with Lushnje cheaper for home cooking.
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
Lushnje vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lushnje or Medellin?
Lushnje wins on cost – living expenses run 30% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lushnje the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lushnje or in Medellin?
On paper, salaries run 5% lower in Medellin. 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 Lushnje compared to Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $489 in Lushnje versus $1,071 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Lushnje and in Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Lushnje – a meal for two runs $53.0 versus $48.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Lushnje compared to Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $1,263 per month in Lushnje versus $1,641 in Medellin – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Lushnje or in Medellin?
At $1,263 in Lushnje versus $1,641 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Lushnje but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Lushnje the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lushnje or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lushnje delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,263 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lushnje hard to pass up.
How safe is Lushnje compared to Medellin?
Safety-wise, Lushnje 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 Lushnje gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.