🙂A single person spends $1,170 per month in Madona vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,810 per month in Madona vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,450 per month in Madona vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Madona is about 32% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Madona sits 15% below the global median, while Medellin is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Madona
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.97€14.60
$8.03COP 25.1K
111.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.3€60.5
$48.26COP 150.8K
45.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.53€8.20
$9.77COP 30.5K
-2.46%
Cappuccino
$3.92€3.38
$2.91COP 9,095
34.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60€1.38
$1.94COP 6,074
-17.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.20€1.03
$1.52COP 4,754
-21.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.78€4.98
$3.09COP 9,663
87.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63€3.99
$5.74COP 17.9K
-19.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Madona
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.22€1.05
$1.36COP 4,262
-10.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.49€1.28
$2.39COP 7,460
-37.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.65€2.28
$1.70COP 5,314
55.88%
Eggs
$3.79€3.26
$2.87COP 8,967
32.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.69€9.20
$9.94COP 31.1K
7.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.75€7.53
$10.78COP 33.7K
-18.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.35€12.35
$14.73COP 46.0K
-2.58%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.96
$4.09COP 12.8K
-44.25%
Banana(1kg)
$1.86€1.60
$1.57COP 4,911
18.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41€2.07
$2.13COP 6,642
13.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.25€2.80
$2.21COP 6,917
47.06%
Potato(1kg)
$0.89€0.77
$2.05COP 6,396
-56.59%
Onion(1kg)
$1.01€0.87
$1.50COP 4,700
-32.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.78€1.53
$1.19COP 3,718
49.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.97€0.84
$1.16COP 3,619
-16.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.82€5.87
$3.90COP 12.2K
74.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.94€6.83
$14.44COP 45.1K
-45.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.03€1.75
$1.58COP 4,948
28.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.77
$2.83COP 8,836
-27.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Madona
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.17COP 3,650
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$77.7COP 242.9K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.43€2.95
$1.28COP 4,014
167.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04€0.89
$2.09COP 6,537
-50.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.49€15.91
$8.62COP 26.9K
114.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.79
$1.30COP 4,056
60.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K€24.0K
$27.7KCOP 86.4M
0.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.6K€28.0K
$35.5KCOP 110.9M
-8.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madona
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$386€332
$176COP 550.1K
119.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.28€18.31
$13.37COP 41.8K
59.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.33€17.49
$29.89COP 93.4K
-31.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Madona
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$28.82€24.80
$44.76COP 139.8K
-35.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.06COP 53.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.94€5.11
$6.20COP 19.4K
-4.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Madona
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$629€541
$793COP 2.5M
-20.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.6K€16.0K
$9,019COP 28.2M
106.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Madona
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.8€62.7
$85.6COP 267.5K
-14.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.3€44.10
$58.5COP 182.7K
-12.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.6€75.4
$136COP 425.9K
-35.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142€122
$103COP 322.2K
37.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Madona
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,060COP 3.3M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$680COP 2.1M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,012COP 6.3M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,169COP 3.7M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,111COP 12.8M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,701COP 5.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Madona
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$665COP 2.1M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.64
10.94
-57.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Madona: September 1, 2026
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Madona versus $48.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $274 in Madona vs $303 in Medellin – so Madona 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
Madona vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Madona?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 47%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,754 per month in Madona and $2,574 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Madona or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Madona and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Madona and in Medellin?
Groceries cost about 11% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Madona or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Madona, where all-in costs run around $1,170, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Madona it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Madona or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Madona – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Madona or Medellin?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Madona. 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.