🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $845 in Marilia versus $1,687 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,334 in Marilia versus $2,535 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,823 in Marilia versus $3,383 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Marilia costs roughly 50% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Marilia is 38% below, Medellin is 23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Marilia
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.68R$29.50
$7.89COP 24.2K
-28.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.91R$150
$44.53COP 136.5K
-35.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.05R$36.61
$9.29COP 28.5K
-24.11%
Cappuccino
$1.87R$9.71
$2.90COP 8,874
-35.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27R$6.61
$1.81COP 5,541
-29.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76R$3.96
$1.55COP 4,741
-50.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.01R$10.46
$3.25COP 9,962
-38.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80R$14.56
$5.88COP 18.0K
-52.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Marilia
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10R$5.72
$1.38COP 4,230
-20.29%
White Bread(500g)
$2.17R$11.26
$2.45COP 7,517
-11.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.03R$5.37
$1.51COP 4,617
-31.79%
Eggs
$1.95R$10.12
$2.78COP 8,516
-29.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.52R$49.46
$9.05COP 27.7K
5.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.13R$21.47
$10.65COP 32.6K
-61.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.62R$34.40
$14.63COP 44.8K
-54.75%
Apples(1kg)
$2.26R$11.74
$3.97COP 12.2K
-43.07%
Banana(1kg)
$0.92R$4.79
$1.38COP 4,219
-33.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.18R$6.12
$2.30COP 7,056
-48.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.43R$7.45
$2.02COP 6,185
-29.21%
Potato(1kg)
$1.22R$6.35
$2.09COP 6,390
-41.63%
Onion(1kg)
$1.10R$5.71
$1.63COP 4,996
-32.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.82R$4.26
$1.08COP 3,313
-24.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75R$3.88
$1.25COP 3,843
-40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.13R$11.05
$4.03COP 12.4K
-47.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.90R$41.05
$13.47COP 41.3K
-41.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18R$6.13
$1.60COP 4,904
-26.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98R$10.27
$3.00COP 9,189
-34.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Marilia
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.13R$5.88
$1.18COP 3,611
-4.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.23R$224
$79.9COP 244.9K
-45.92%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.27R$6.59
$1.61COP 4,920
-21.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.77R$3.98
$2.13COP 6,533
-63.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.51R$38.99
$8.52COP 26.1K
-11.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.02R$5.32
$1.35COP 4,142
-24.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6KR$111.9K
$28.3KCOP 86.8M
-23.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1KR$166.8K
$35.7KCOP 109.4M
-10.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Marilia
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$72.8R$378
$151COP 463.8K
-51.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.24R$58.4
$13.10COP 40.1K
-14.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.47R$148
$32.30COP 99.0K
-11.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Marilia
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.50R$127
$46.33COP 141.9K
-47.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.00R$140
$17.26COP 52.9K
56.43%
Cinema Ticket
$7.00R$36.36
$6.43COP 19.7K
8.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Marilia
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$284R$1,475
$835COP 2.6M
-65.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,463R$38.8K
$8,887COP 27.2M
-16.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Marilia
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.23R$250
$89.3COP 273.7K
-46.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.71R$222
$55.3COP 169.5K
-22.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.2R$468
$137COP 418.5K
-33.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.5R$376
$109COP 335.1K
-33.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Marilia
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$340R$1,765
$952COP 2.9M
-64.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$231R$1,201
$668COP 2.0M
-65.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$642R$3,334
$2,020COP 6.2M
-68.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$443R$2,301
$1,148COP 3.5M
-61.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,588R$8,248
$3,696COP 11.3M
-57.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,127R$5,853
$1,586COP 4.9M
-28.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Marilia
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$381R$1,977
$625COP 1.9M
-39.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.12
10.43
6.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Marilia: August 16, 2026
Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $340 in Marilia and $952 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 64% 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: $29.00 in Marilia vs $45.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $186 vs $297 per month, with Marilia 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
Marilia vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Marilia?
Marilia is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 99% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Marilia or Medellin?
On paper, salaries run 64% 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.
What is the rent difference between Marilia and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $340 in Marilia versus $952 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Marilia runs roughly 85% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $284 in Marilia versus $835 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Marilia or in Medellin?
At $845 in Marilia versus $1,687 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Marilia but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Marilia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Marilia or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Marilia is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Marilia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 99% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.