Cost of Living Comparison Between McLean, VA and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between McLean, VA and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,975 per month in McLean, VA vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,589 per month in McLean, VA vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,202 per month in McLean, VA vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

McLean, VA costs about 189% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

McLean, VA sits 123% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.03 $18.03

$6.16 COP 20.1K

192.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.1 $59.1

$32.60 COP 106.1K

81.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.08 $12.08

$7.34 COP 23.9K

64.58%

Cappuccino

$5.30 $5.30

$1.72 COP 5,600

208.14%

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

$2.15 $2.15

$1.05 COP 3,420

104.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 $1.53

$0.77 COP 2,515

98.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.58 $6.58

$1.69 COP 5,488

289.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.54 $7.54

$3.17 COP 10.3K

137.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.05 COP 3,423

8.57%

White Bread (500g)

$3.62 $3.62

$1.30 COP 4,236

178.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.57 $2.57

$1.40 COP 4,544

83.57%

Eggs

$4.83 $4.83

$2.16 COP 7,047

123.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.45 $17.45

$4.39 COP 14.3K

297.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.06 $10.06

$5.88 COP 19.1K

71.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.18 $20.18

$8.64 COP 28.1K

133.56%

Apples (1kg)

$7.22 $7.22

$2.28 COP 7,426

216.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.11 COP 3,604

49.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.07 $8.07

$1.53 COP 4,983

427.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.80 $7.80

$1.35 COP 4,410

477.78%

Potato (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$1.13 COP 3,674

322.12%

Onion (1kg)

$3.62 $3.62

$1.13 COP 3,692

220.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.88 $2.88

$0.85 COP 2,753

238.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.91 COP 2,975

7.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.95 $7.95

$2.34 COP 7,630

239.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.21 $16.21

$12.37 COP 40.3K

31.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.20 COP 3,909

46.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 $3.74

$2.49 COP 8,104

50.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$0.84 COP 2,728

195.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.42 $4.42

$1.42 COP 4,623

211.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.92 COP 6,235

-27.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.16 $29.16

$7.66 COP 24.9K

280.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$0.99 COP 3,223

-12.12%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$18.0K COP 58.7M

46.91%

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

$24.3K $24.3K

$26.6K COP 86.7M

-8.88%

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

$214 $214

$80.8 COP 263.1K

164.50%

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

$53.2 $53.2

$9.95 COP 32.4K

434.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.5 $61.5

$24.18 COP 78.7K

154.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$89.7 $89.7

$25.08 COP 81.7K

257.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$15.46 $15.46

$3.98 COP 13.0K

288.44%

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

$1,954 $1,954

$305 COP 993.5K

540.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.3K $56.3K

$6,059 COP 19.7M

828.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.78 $47.78

$58.1 COP 189.2K

-17.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.76 $47.76

$32.20 COP 104.8K

48.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.6 $69.6

$101 COP 327.9K

-30.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$64.0 $64.0

$108 COP 350.8K

-40.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,765 $2,765

$477 COP 1.6M

480.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,629 $1,629

$376 COP 1.2M

332.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,820 $3,820

$845 COP 2.7M

352.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,290 $3,290

$730 COP 2.4M

350.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,823 $5,823

$617 COP 2.0M

844.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.46

13.43

-51.90%

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

Last update for McLean, VA: July 11, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,765 in McLean, VA versus $477 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 844% higher in McLean, VA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in McLean, VA versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $451 vs $193 – making Medellin 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

McLean, VA vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,975 in McLean, VA, $1,031 in Medellin – roughly 189% apart. McLean, VA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,463 per month in McLean, VA and $1,546 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,975 in McLean, VA and $1,031 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,954 per month in McLean, VA and $305 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in McLean, VA at $2,975. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in McLean, VA 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 $1,031 in Medellin to $2,975 in McLean, VA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, McLean, VA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.