😐A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $792 in Abovyan, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,293 in Abovyan, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,794 in Abovyan, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 30% more than Abovyan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Medellin and Abovyan are more affordable than the global median – Medellin23% lower, Abovyan41% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Abovyan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 20.1K
$10.50֏3,836
-41.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 106.1K
$53.1֏19.4K
-38.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.9K
$7.81֏2,853
-6.02%
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,599
$3.50֏1,278
-50.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,420
$0.96֏351
9.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,515
$0.49֏179
57.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,487
$1.79֏656
-5.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.3K
$3.82֏1,395
-17.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Abovyan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,423
$1.64֏600
-35.98%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,236
$0.89֏325
46.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,544
$2.31֏845
-39.39%
Eggs
$2.16COP 7,046
$2.34֏854
-7.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.3K
$8.47֏3,095
-48.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 19.1K
$7.24֏2,646
-18.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 28.1K
$12.46֏4,555
-30.66%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,425
$1.27֏465
79.53%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,603
$1.68֏615
-33.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,982
$1.76֏643
-13.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,410
$2.27֏830
-40.53%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,674
$0.76֏277
48.68%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,692
$0.70֏257
61.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,753
$0.90֏328
-5.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,975
$0.69֏252
31.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,629
$2.60֏949
-10.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 40.3K
$9.46֏3,458
30.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,909
$1.33֏486
-9.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,104
$2.22֏810
12.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Abovyan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,727
$0.54֏199
55.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 132.1K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,623
$1.54֏563
-7.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,235
$0.29֏105
562.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.9K
$4.58֏1,674
67.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,223
$1.35֏492
-26.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
$31.3K֏11.4M
-42.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
$37.2K֏13.6M
-28.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Abovyan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8COP 263.1K
$133֏48.5K
-39.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.4K
$8.94֏3,267
11.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 78.7K
$20.40֏7,454
18.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Abovyan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 81.6K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 62.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 13.0K
$6.59֏2,408
-39.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Abovyan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 993.4K
$365֏133.2K
-16.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.7M
$7,601֏2.8M
-20.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Abovyan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 189.2K
$108֏39.6K
-46.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 104.8K
$60.7֏22.2K
-46.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 327.9K
$141֏51.7K
-28.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 350.8K
$136֏49.6K
-20.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Abovyan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.6M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Abovyan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
$993֏362.8K
-37.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
15.53
-13.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Last update for Abovyan: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 61% higher in Abovyan, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $53.0 in Abovyan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $223 – 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
Medellin vs Abovyan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Abovyan cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 30%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $1,189 in Abovyan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Abovyan?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $53.0 in Abovyan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Abovyan?
Interestingly, groceries are about 16% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Abovyan?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Abovyan, where all-in costs run around $792, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Abovyan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Abovyan more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Abovyan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Abovyan?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Abovyan. 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.