Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Aberdeen, SD

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,639 a month against $1,901 in Aberdeen, SD, rent and utilities included – about $3,100 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Aberdeen, SD outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Medellin, Colombia
Aberdeen, SD, United States
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Aberdeen, SD
🇺🇸 United States
$1,901
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Aberdeen, SD

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Aberdeen, SD actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,639 per month in Medellin vs $1,901 in Aberdeen, SD, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • Aberdeen, SD $1,901

A couple spends around $2,413 per month in Medellin vs $2,696 in Aberdeen, SD, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • Aberdeen, SD $2,696

A family of three spends $3,186 per month in Medellin vs $3,490 in Aberdeen, SD, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • Aberdeen, SD $3,490

Medellin is about 14% cheaper than Aberdeen, SD, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Medellin and Aberdeen, SD sit above the global median – Medellin by 20%, Aberdeen, SD by 40%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Aberdeen, SD
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 26.1K
$10.04 $10.04
-19.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 151.9K
$65.3 $65.3
-27.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.7K
$10.01 $10.01
-5.09%
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,734
$4.41 $4.41
-31.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,809
$2.46 $2.46
-26.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,560
$2.54 $2.54
-44.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 10.3K
$4.08 $4.08
-22.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.6K
$7.17 $7.17
-19.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Aberdeen, SD
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,875
$0.89 $0.89
69.66%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,677
$2.51 $2.51
-5.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,719
$5.35 $5.35
-66.92%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,332
$5.96 $5.96
-51.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.9K
$9.82 $9.82
3.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.9K
$10.05 $10.05
-1.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 45.2K
$18.35 $18.35
-23.76%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.8K
$4.30 $4.30
-7.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 5,011
$2.37 $2.37
-34.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 7,047
$3.76 $3.76
-42.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 7,050
$4.05 $4.05
-46.17%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,336
$4.16 $4.16
-52.88%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,131
$2.74 $2.74
-41.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,698
$2.62 $2.62
-56.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 4,014
$5.08 $5.08
-75.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.8K
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 44.2K
$30.35 $30.35
-54.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,359
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,290
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Aberdeen, SD
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,770
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 249.8K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,094
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,611
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 27.6K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,348
$0.88 $0.88
53.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 110.0M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 111.9M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Aberdeen, SD
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 547.7K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 43.7K
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 90.6K
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Aberdeen, SD
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 141.1K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 55.5K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 22.3K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Aberdeen, SD
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.6M
$733 $733
8.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 29.4M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Aberdeen, SD
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 273.5K
$45.29 $45.29
87.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 187.1K
$24.52 $24.52
136.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 435.7K
$76.4 $76.4
76.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 316.0K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Aberdeen, SD
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.9M
$1,107 $1,107
9.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.1M
$1,182 $1,182
-45.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.5M
$1,858 $1,858
9.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.3M
$1,617 $1,617
-37.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.5M
$1,468 $1,468
184.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.2M
$1,432 $1,432
33.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Aberdeen, SD
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
$5,180 $5,180
-87.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
6.76
61.83%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Last update for Aberdeen, SD: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
Aberdeen, SD
–
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
Aberdeen, SD
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
Aberdeen, SD
–
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
Aberdeen, SD
–
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
Aberdeen, SD
–
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
Aberdeen, SD
–
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Aberdeen, SD
–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,208 in Medellin versus $1,107 in Aberdeen, SD. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Aberdeen, SD are about 7.9 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin versus $65 in Aberdeen, SD. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $435 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇺🇸 Aberdeen, SD
🕒 Local time
02:25 2:25 AM
01:25 1:25 AM
1 h behind Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
24,071
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 3,229 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,615 COP (10,000 COP = 2.77 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.893 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Aberdeen, SD 4,890 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Aberdeen, SD

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Aberdeen, SD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Aberdeen, SD?
Aberdeen, SD costs about 16% more than Medellin, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin and in Aberdeen, SD?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,459 per month in Medellin and $2,852 in Aberdeen, SD. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin compared to Aberdeen, SD?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $1,208 in Medellin and $1,107 in Aberdeen, SD. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin and in Aberdeen, SD?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin and $65 in Aberdeen, SD. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or in Aberdeen, SD?
Groceries cost about 47% more in Aberdeen, SD, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Medellin or in Aberdeen, SD?
$2,500 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,639 in Medellin and $1,901 in Aberdeen, SD, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Medellin or Aberdeen, SD?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,639 in Medellin to $1,901 in Aberdeen, SD. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Should I move to Medellin or to Aberdeen, SD?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Aberdeen, SD makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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