🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,641 in Medellin versus $1,772 in Abano Terme.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,447 in Medellin versus $2,668 in Abano Terme.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,253 in Medellin versus $3,564 in Abano Terme.
🌍Living in Medellin costs roughly 7% less than in Abano Terme, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medellin19% above, Abano Terme28% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Abano Terme
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04COP 24.8K
$16.43€14.16
-51.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29COP 148.9K
$85.5€73.7
-43.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42COP 29.1K
$11.00€9.48
-14.36%
Cappuccino
$2.94COP 9,056
$2.05€1.76
43.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86COP 5,745
$3.21€2.77
-42.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46COP 4,487
$1.46€1.26
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21COP 9,899
$5.12€4.42
-37.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71COP 17.6K
$4.84€4.17
17.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Abano Terme
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,436
$1.75€1.50
-17.71%
White Bread(500g)
$2.40COP 7,401
$2.08€1.80
15.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,237
$3.18€2.74
-46.54%
Eggs
$2.89COP 8,911
$3.71€3.20
-22.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.06COP 31.0K
$16.68€14.38
-39.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.97COP 30.7K
$12.68€10.93
-21.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.20COP 43.8K
$17.09€14.73
-16.91%
Apples(1kg)
$3.98COP 12.3K
$2.57€2.22
54.86%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58COP 4,886
$2.01€1.73
-21.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15COP 6,635
$2.47€2.13
-12.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,090
$3.63€3.12
-36.64%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00COP 6,179
$1.76€1.52
13.64%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,654
$2.05€1.77
-26.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20COP 3,707
$1.66€1.43
-27.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28COP 3,953
$0.62€0.53
106.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84COP 11.8K
$6.35€5.47
-39.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.2K
$8.14€7.02
72.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71COP 5,265
$1.62€1.40
5.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74COP 8,454
$2.01€1.74
36.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Abano Terme
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.25COP 3,840
$1.69€1.46
-26.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.9COP 240.2K
$41.27€35.57
88.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,023
$5.49€4.73
-76.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.17COP 6,692
$1.89€1.63
14.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.29COP 25.6K
$35.58€30.67
-76.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,179
$1.85€1.60
-26.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KCOP 84.7M
$38.0K€32.8K
-27.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5KCOP 112.6M
$40.6K€35.0K
-9.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Abano Terme
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169COP 520.1K
$246€212
-31.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57COP 41.8K
$12.42€10.71
9.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32COP 87.3K
$35.48€30.58
-20.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Abano Terme
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.71COP 140.9K
$58.8€50.7
-22.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22COP 53.1K
$22.43€19.33
-23.23%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.5K
$9.30€8.01
-28.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Abano Terme
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$803COP 2.5M
$550€474
45.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,190COP 28.3M
$11.3K€9,779
-19.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Abano Terme
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4COP 269.3K
$102€88.2
-14.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4COP 183.0K
$39.10€33.70
51.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$139COP 428.2K
$102€87.8
36.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 314.6K
$114€98.5
-10.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Abano Terme
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,071COP 3.3M
$661€569
62.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653COP 2.0M
$540€466
20.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,925COP 5.9M
$1,313€1,131
46.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,048COP 3.2M
$1,032€890
1.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,123COP 12.7M
$3,250€2,801
26.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,697COP 5.2M
$1,987€1,712
-14.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Abano Terme
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$655COP 2.0M
$2,668€2,299
-75.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
3.33
228.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Last update for Abano Terme: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,071 in Medellin and $661 in Abano Terme. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Abano Terme pays 307% 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: $48.00 in Medellin vs $85.0 in Abano Terme for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $300 vs $335 per month, with Medellin 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
Medellin vs Abano Terme: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Abano Terme cheaper than Medellin?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Abano Terme?
On paper, salaries run 307% lower in Abano Terme. 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 Medellin and Abano Terme?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,071 in Medellin versus $661 in Abano Terme. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Abano Terme?
Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Abano Terme. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Abano Terme?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $48.00 versus $85.0 in Abano Terme. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Abano Terme?
At $1,641 in Medellin versus $1,772 in Abano Terme, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Abano Terme. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Abano Terme more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Abano Terme, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Abano Terme?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Abano Terme are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Abano Terme. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.