🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $799 in Maringa versus $1,716 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,260 in Maringa versus $2,527 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,722 in Maringa versus $3,338 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Maringa costs roughly 53% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Maringa is 42% below, Medellin is 25% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maringa
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.85R$29.84
$8.03COP 25.2K
-27.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.95R$117
$48.26COP 151.7K
-52.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.23R$41.96
$9.77COP 30.7K
-15.76%
Cappuccino
$1.94R$9.91
$2.91COP 9,149
-33.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23R$6.27
$1.94COP 6,110
-36.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79R$4.05
$1.52COP 4,783
-48.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.52R$7.77
$3.09COP 9,721
-50.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55R$13.00
$5.74COP 18.1K
-55.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maringa
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21R$6.18
$1.36COP 4,287
-11.03%
White Bread(500g)
$1.56R$7.93
$2.39COP 7,505
-34.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.44R$7.32
$1.70COP 5,346
-15.29%
Eggs
$2.00R$10.19
$2.87COP 9,021
-30.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.88R$55.5
$9.94COP 31.2K
9.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.77R$19.22
$10.78COP 33.9K
-65.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.46R$43.16
$14.73COP 46.3K
-42.57%
Apples(1kg)
$1.88R$9.58
$4.09COP 12.8K
-54.03%
Banana(1kg)
$1.28R$6.54
$1.57COP 4,940
-18.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.79R$4.01
$2.13COP 6,682
-62.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.33R$6.77
$2.21COP 6,959
-39.82%
Potato(1kg)
$1.06R$5.41
$2.05COP 6,435
-48.29%
Onion(1kg)
$0.95R$4.83
$1.50COP 4,728
-36.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.86R$4.36
$1.19COP 3,740
-27.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81R$4.11
$1.16COP 3,640
-30.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.92R$9.78
$3.90COP 12.2K
-50.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.53R$38.42
$14.44COP 45.4K
-47.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.79R$4.02
$1.58COP 4,978
-50.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53R$7.78
$2.83COP 8,889
-45.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Maringa
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.00R$5.08
$1.17COP 3,672
-14.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.15R$220
$77.7COP 244.3K
-44.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.29R$11.68
$1.28COP 4,038
78.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.74R$3.77
$2.09COP 6,576
-64.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.65R$13.50
$8.62COP 27.1K
-69.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.25R$6.37
$1.30COP 4,080
-3.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.9KR$178.0K
$27.7KCOP 86.9M
26.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.0KR$163.0K
$35.5KCOP 111.6M
-9.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maringa
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0R$423
$176COP 553.4K
-52.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.81R$55.1
$13.37COP 42.0K
-19.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.44R$114
$29.89COP 94.0K
-24.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maringa
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.56R$110
$44.76COP 140.7K
-51.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$47.58R$243
$17.06COP 53.6K
178.90%
Cinema Ticket
$5.73R$29.21
$6.20COP 19.5K
-7.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maringa
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$284R$1,448
$793COP 2.5M
-64.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,407R$37.8K
$9,019COP 28.4M
-17.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maringa
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.51R$212
$85.6COP 269.1K
-51.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.1R$286
$58.5COP 183.8K
-4.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.8R$428
$136COP 428.4K
-38.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.2R$297
$103COP 324.1K
-43.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maringa
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$327R$1,666
$1,060COP 3.3M
-69.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$199R$1,015
$680COP 2.1M
-70.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$611R$3,117
$2,012COP 6.3M
-69.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$369R$1,881
$1,169COP 3.7M
-68.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,418R$7,234
$4,111COP 12.9M
-65.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$938R$4,786
$1,701COP 5.3M
-44.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maringa
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$772R$3,937
$665COP 2.1M
16.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.5
10.94
-4.02%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Maringa: August 30, 2026
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $327 in Maringa and $1,060 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Maringa pays 16% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $23.00 in Maringa vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $185 vs $303 per month, with Maringa 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
Maringa vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Maringa?
Maringa is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 115% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Maringa or Medellin?
Average pay runs 16% higher in Maringa, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Maringa and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $327 in Maringa versus $1,060 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 Maringa runs roughly 80% 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 Maringa versus $793 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 Maringa or in Medellin?
At $799 in Maringa versus $1,716 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Maringa but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Maringa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Maringa or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Maringa 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 Maringa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 115% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.