🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,531 in Mayari versus $1,641 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,417 in Mayari versus $2,447 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,303 in Mayari versus $3,253 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Mayari costs roughly 7% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mayari11% above, Medellin19% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mayari
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16CUP 148
$8.04COP 25.1K
-23.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.82CUP 476
$48.29COP 150.7K
-58.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.54CUP 157
$9.42COP 29.4K
-30.57%
Cappuccino
$1.28CUP 30.69
$2.94COP 9,169
-56.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24CUP 53.7
$1.86COP 5,817
20.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22CUP 29.38
$1.46COP 4,543
-16.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43CUP 58.3
$3.21COP 10.0K
-24.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07CUP 73.6
$5.71COP 17.8K
-46.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mayari
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.91CUP 69.9
$1.44COP 4,491
102.08%
White Bread(500g)
$0.78CUP 18.84
$2.40COP 7,494
-67.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.44CUP 58.6
$1.70COP 5,302
43.53%
Eggs
$3.16CUP 75.9
$2.89COP 9,022
9.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.78CUP 139
$10.06COP 31.4K
-42.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.40CUP 130
$9.97COP 31.1K
-45.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.85CUP 284
$14.20COP 44.3K
-16.55%
Apples(1kg)
$4.86CUP 117
$3.98COP 12.4K
22.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.23CUP 29.42
$1.58COP 4,947
-22.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.36CUP 32.64
$2.15COP 6,718
-36.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42CUP 34.19
$2.30COP 7,178
-38.26%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92CUP 46.12
$2.00COP 6,257
-4.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.78CUP 66.8
$1.51COP 4,712
84.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.97CUP 23.35
$1.20COP 3,754
-19.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12CUP 26.78
$1.28COP 4,002
-12.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.49CUP 83.7
$3.84COP 12.0K
-9.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.85CUP 236
$14.01COP 43.7K
-29.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73CUP 41.64
$1.71COP 5,331
1.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00CUP 47.94
$2.74COP 8,560
-27.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Mayari
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.17CUP 4.13
$1.25COP 3,888
-86.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.17CUP 484
$77.9COP 243.1K
-74.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.31CUP 55.5
$1.31COP 4,073
76.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.39CUP 9.35
$2.17COP 6,775
-82.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.04CUP 481
$8.29COP 25.9K
141.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.24CUP 29.71
$1.36COP 4,231
-8.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$68.8KCUP 1.7M
$27.5KCOP 85.7M
150.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$80.9KCUP 1.9M
$36.5KCOP 114.0M
121.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mayari
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$35.59CUP 854
$169COP 526.6K
-78.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.23CUP 942
$13.57COP 42.4K
189.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$255CUP 6,118
$28.32COP 88.4K
800.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mayari
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.31CUP 943
$45.71COP 142.7K
-14.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.20CUP 365
$17.22COP 53.8K
-11.73%
Cinema Ticket
$1.01CUP 24.29
$6.65COP 20.8K
-84.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mayari
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$119CUP 2,862
$803COP 2.5M
-85.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.4KCUP 417.5K
$9,190COP 28.7M
89.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mayari
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5CUP 1,333
$87.4COP 272.7K
-36.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.36CUP 969
$59.4COP 185.3K
-32.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$45.06CUP 1,081
$139COP 433.6K
-67.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.8CUP 1,218
$102COP 318.5K
-50.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mayari
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$211CUP 5,053
$1,071COP 3.3M
-80.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$675CUP 16.2K
$653COP 2.0M
3.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$379CUP 9,099
$1,925COP 6.0M
-80.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,763CUP 42.3K
$1,048COP 3.3M
68.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$402CUP 9,638
$4,123COP 12.9M
-90.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$356CUP 8,548
$1,697COP 5.3M
-79.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mayari
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$21.95CUP 527
$655COP 2.0M
-96.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10
10.94
-8.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mayari: September 6, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $211 in Mayari and $1,071 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 2884% 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: $20.00 in Mayari vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $244 vs $300 per month, with Mayari cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Mayari vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mayari or Medellin?
Mayari wins on cost – living expenses run 7% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mayari the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Mayari or in Medellin?
On paper, salaries run 2884% 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Mayari compared to Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $211 in Mayari versus $1,071 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Mayari and in Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Mayari – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $48.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Mayari compared to Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $1,531 per month in Mayari versus $1,641 in Medellin – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mayari or in Medellin?
At $1,531 in Mayari versus $1,641 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mayari but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Mayari the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mayari or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Mayari delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,531 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mayari hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Mayari gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.