😐A single person spends $1,716 per month in Medellin vs $720 in Abasha, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,527 per month in Medellin vs $1,204 in Abasha, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,338 per month in Medellin vs $1,687 in Abasha, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 138% more than Abasha, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Medellin sits 25% above the global median, while Abasha is 48% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Abasha
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03COP 25.2K
$11.68₾30.50
-31.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.26COP 151.7K
$38.99₾102
23.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.77COP 30.7K
$9.41₾24.56
3.83%
Cappuccino
$2.91COP 9,149
$3.49₾9.10
-16.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94COP 6,110
$1.06₾2.76
83.02%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52COP 4,783
$0.63₾1.65
141.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09COP 9,721
$2.70₾7.06
14.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74COP 18.1K
$3.12₾8.14
83.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Abasha
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,287
$2.26₾5.89
-39.82%
White Bread(500g)
$2.39COP 7,505
$0.76₾1.98
214.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,346
$1.63₾4.26
4.29%
Eggs
$2.87COP 9,021
$2.82₾7.37
1.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.94COP 31.2K
$9.21₾24.05
7.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.78COP 33.9K
$6.73₾17.56
60.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.73COP 46.3K
$12.68₾33.09
16.17%
Apples(1kg)
$4.09COP 12.8K
$1.62₾4.23
152.47%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57COP 4,940
$1.82₾4.75
-13.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13COP 6,682
$1.94₾5.08
9.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.21COP 6,959
$2.60₾6.79
-15.00%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05COP 6,435
$0.81₾2.13
153.09%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50COP 4,728
$0.70₾1.82
114.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19COP 3,740
$1.40₾3.65
-15.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16COP 3,640
$0.81₾2.11
43.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$3.43₾8.95
13.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.44COP 45.4K
$7.61₾19.87
89.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58COP 4,978
$1.61₾4.20
-1.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83COP 8,889
$2.25₾5.88
25.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Abasha
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.17COP 3,672
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.7COP 244.3K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.28COP 4,038
$1.12₾2.93
14.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.09COP 6,576
$0.74₾1.94
182.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.62COP 27.1K
$11.47₾29.94
-24.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30COP 4,080
$1.38₾3.61
-5.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7KCOP 86.9M
$25.0K₾65.4K
10.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5KCOP 111.6M
$22.2K₾57.8K
60.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Abasha
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$176COP 553.4K
$89.5₾234
96.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37COP 42.0K
$13.06₾34.10
2.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.89COP 94.0K
$20.02₾52.3
49.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Abasha
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.76COP 140.7K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06COP 53.6K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.20COP 19.5K
$6.63₾17.30
-6.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Abasha
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$793COP 2.5M
$372₾971
113.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,019COP 28.4M
$10.9K₾28.4K
-16.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Abasha
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6COP 269.1K
$104₾271
-17.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.5COP 183.8K
$38.09₾99.4
53.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$136COP 428.4K
$118₾307
15.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103COP 324.1K
$123₾321
-16.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Abasha
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,060COP 3.3M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$680COP 2.1M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,012COP 6.3M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,169COP 3.7M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,111COP 12.9M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,701COP 5.3M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Abasha
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$665COP 2.1M
$355₾927
87.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
12.73
-14.06%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Last update for Abasha: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 87% higher in Medellin, 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $39.00 in Abasha. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $303 vs $234 – making Abasha 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
Medellin vs Abasha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Medellin and in Abasha compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,716 in Medellin, $720 in Abasha – roughly 138% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Abasha?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,574 per month in Medellin and $1,081 in Abasha. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Abasha?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,716 in Medellin and $720 in Abasha. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Medellin and Abasha?
Kindergarten costs $793 per month in Medellin and $372 in Abasha. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Abasha, where all-in costs run around $720, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Abasha it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Abasha?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $720 in Abasha to $1,716 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Medellin or Abasha safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Medellin and Abasha?
If budget matters most, go with Abasha. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.