Cost of Living Comparison Between Mary and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Mary and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $378 in Mary versus $1,013 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $573 in Mary versus $1,602 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $768 in Mary versus $2,192 in Medellin.

Living in Mary costs roughly 63% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mary 72% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.27 TMT 37.88

$5.99 COP 21.4K

88.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.54 TMT 28.70

$7.09 COP 25.3K

20.45%

Cappuccino

$8.53 TMT 28.66

$1.71 COP 6,115

398.83%

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

$6.49 TMT 21.80

$1.10 COP 3,924

490.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 TMT 4.71

$0.78 COP 2,781

79.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.70 TMT 22.50

$1.68 COP 5,997

298.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.49 TMT 38.61

$3.07 COP 11.0K

274.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.87 TMT 9.65

$1.09 COP 3,906

163.30%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

Eggs

$6.66 TMT 22.38

$2.19 COP 7,827

204.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 TMT 3.75

$0.84 COP 2,997

33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

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

$82.3 COP 293.7K

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

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

$309 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$214 TMT 719

$512 COP 1.8M

-58.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

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

Last update for Mary: June 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Medellin pays 139% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

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

Mary vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mary wins on cost – living expenses run 168% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mary the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Medellin earns 139% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Supermarket bills run roughly 174% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $378 per month in Mary versus $1,013 in Medellin – a 168% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $378 in Mary versus $1,013 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mary but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Mary the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Mary delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $378 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mary hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Mary 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.

Expats usually find Mary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 168% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.