Cost of Living Comparison Between Manizales and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Manizales and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $766 per month in Manizales vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,743 per month in Manizales vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,721 per month in Manizales vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Manizales is about 54% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Manizales sits 44% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.42 COP 20.0K

$8.02 COP 25.0K

-19.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.11 COP 128.3K

$47.87 COP 149.4K

-14.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.27 COP 32.0K

$9.89 COP 30.8K

3.84%

Cappuccino

$2.56 COP 7,974

$3.13 COP 9,767

-18.21%

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

$1.37 COP 4,287

$1.91 COP 5,954

-28.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 COP 2,594

$1.51 COP 4,712

-45.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.59 COP 4,950

$3.12 COP 9,747

-49.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 COP 8,147

$5.75 COP 17.9K

-54.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 COP 5,038

$1.44 COP 4,509

11.81%

White Bread (500g)

$2.44 COP 7,617

$2.49 COP 7,759

-2.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 COP 5,206

$1.77 COP 5,535

-5.65%

Eggs

$3.85 COP 12.0K

$2.96 COP 9,235

30.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.91 COP 24.7K

$10.07 COP 31.4K

-21.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.50 COP 23.4K

$10.12 COP 31.6K

-25.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 COP 33.9K

$14.30 COP 44.6K

-24.06%

Apples (1kg)

$3.54 COP 11.1K

$4.14 COP 12.9K

-14.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 COP 5,693

$1.61 COP 5,019

13.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 COP 6,404

$2.25 COP 7,007

-8.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.85 COP 5,768

$2.25 COP 7,028

-17.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,799

$2.04 COP 6,375

-24.51%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 COP 4,554

$1.54 COP 4,790

-5.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 COP 4,335

$1.17 COP 3,651

18.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 COP 3,822

$1.31 COP 4,077

-6.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.59 COP 14.3K

$3.90 COP 12.2K

17.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.73 COP 39.7K

$14.01 COP 43.7K

-9.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 COP 4,478

$1.74 COP 5,439

-17.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 COP 8,923

$2.87 COP 8,956

-0.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 COP 3,363

$1.22 COP 3,792

-11.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 251.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.64 COP 5,121

$1.31 COP 4,084

25.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 COP 5,107

$2.19 COP 6,825

-25.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.88 COP 30.8K

$8.71 COP 27.2K

13.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 COP 4,297

$1.37 COP 4,260

0.73%

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

$22.3K COP 69.6M

$27.8K COP 86.9M

-19.93%

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

$35.3K COP 110.1M

$35.8K COP 111.6M

-1.39%

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

$129 COP 401.8K

$177 COP 553.2K

-27.37%

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

$12.46 COP 38.9K

$13.88 COP 43.3K

-10.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.40 COP 98.0K

$29.72 COP 92.8K

5.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.88 COP 140.1K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 53.4K

Cinema Ticket

$7.95 COP 24.8K

$6.65 COP 20.7K

19.55%

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

$489 COP 1.5M

$813 COP 2.5M

-39.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,507 COP 20.3M

$9,187 COP 28.7M

-29.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$83.4 COP 260.3K

$89.5 COP 279.3K

-6.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.64 COP 154.9K

$59.0 COP 184.0K

-15.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$144 COP 448.8K

$138 COP 431.2K

4.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 COP 350.2K

$102 COP 318.7K

9.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 COP 3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 COP 2.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,041 COP 3.2M

$1,888 COP 5.9M

-44.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,038 COP 3.2M

$1,027 COP 3.2M

1.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,136 COP 6.7M

$4,183 COP 13.1M

-48.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,123 COP 6.6M

$1,675 COP 5.2M

26.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,213 COP 3.8M

$678 COP 2.1M

78.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

9.69%

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

Last update for Manizales: September 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 79% higher in Manizales, 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 $41.00 in Manizales versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $269 vs $305 – making Manizales the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Manizales vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $766 in Manizales, $1,681 in Medellin – roughly 119% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,149 per month in Manizales and $2,521 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $766 in Manizales and $1,681 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $489 per month in Manizales and $813 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Manizales, where all-in costs run around $766, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Manizales it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $766 in Manizales to $1,681 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Manizales. 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.