Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Adma Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Adma

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,687 in Medellin versus $1,014 in Adma.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,535 in Medellin versus $1,596 in Adma.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,383 in Medellin versus $2,178 in Adma.

Living in Medellin is roughly 66% more expensive than in Adma, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, Adma is 26% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Adma
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.89 COP 24.2K
$11.89 LBP 1.1M
-33.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.53 COP 136.5K
$63.4 LBP 5.7M
-29.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.29 COP 28.5K
$9.88 LBP 884.4K
-5.97%
Cappuccino
$2.90 COP 8,874
$4.46 LBP 399.0K
-34.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 COP 5,541
$2.28 LBP 204.2K
-20.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 COP 4,741
$0.90 LBP 80.3K
72.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.25 COP 9,962
$4.73 LBP 423.1K
-31.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88 COP 18.0K
$4.85 LBP 434.1K
21.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Adma
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 COP 4,230
$1.91 LBP 170.6K
-27.75%
White Bread (500g)
$2.45 COP 7,517
$0.88 LBP 78.9K
178.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 COP 4,617
$2.12 LBP 189.8K
-28.77%
Eggs
$2.78 COP 8,516
$3.71 LBP 331.9K
-25.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.05 COP 27.7K
$13.28 LBP 1.2M
-31.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.65 COP 32.6K
$10.81 LBP 967.5K
-1.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.63 COP 44.8K
$14.39 LBP 1.3M
1.67%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.2K
$3.15 LBP 281.7K
26.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,219
$1.65 LBP 148.0K
-16.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.30 COP 7,056
$1.66 LBP 149.0K
38.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.02 COP 6,185
$1.48 LBP 132.6K
36.49%
Potato (1kg)
$2.09 COP 6,390
$1.40 LBP 125.1K
49.29%
Onion (1kg)
$1.63 COP 4,996
$1.70 LBP 151.9K
-4.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 COP 3,313
$1.20 LBP 107.4K
-10.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 COP 3,843
$0.70 LBP 62.6K
78.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03 COP 12.4K
$3.03 LBP 270.9K
33.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.47 COP 41.3K
$10.12 LBP 905.8K
33.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 COP 4,904
$1.27 LBP 114.0K
25.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 COP 9,189
$2.58 LBP 231.3K
16.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Adma
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.18 COP 3,611
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$79.9 COP 244.9K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.61 COP 4,920
$4.96 LBP 443.7K
-67.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.13 COP 6,533
$2.30 LBP 205.5K
-7.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 COP 26.1K
$22.69 LBP 2.0M
-62.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,142
$0.99 LBP 88.9K
36.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3K COP 86.8M
$53.9K LBP 4.8B
-47.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7K COP 109.4M
$32.4K LBP 2.9B
10.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Adma
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$151 COP 463.8K
$229 LBP 20.5M
-33.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.10 COP 40.1K
$23.18 LBP 2.1M
-43.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.30 COP 99.0K
$37.82 LBP 3.4M
-14.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Adma
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.33 COP 141.9K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.26 COP 52.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.43 COP 19.7K
$9.83 LBP 879.9K
-34.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Adma
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$835 COP 2.6M
$689 LBP 61.6M
21.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,887 COP 27.2M
$10.9K LBP 974.0M
-18.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Adma
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3 COP 273.7K
$68.9 LBP 6.2M
29.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3 COP 169.5K
$49.45 LBP 4.4M
11.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$137 COP 418.5K
$137 LBP 12.3M
-0.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 COP 335.1K
$121 LBP 10.9M
-9.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Adma
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$952 COP 2.9M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$668 COP 2.0M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 COP 6.2M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,148 COP 3.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,696 COP 11.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,586 COP 4.9M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Adma
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$625 COP 1.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.43
11
-5.18%

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

Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026

Last update for Adma: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $45.00 in Medellin vs $63.0 in Adma. Groceries flip the comparison at $297 vs $281, with Adma cheaper for home cooking.

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 Adma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Adma cheaper than Medellin?
Adma is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 66% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,530 in Medellin and $1,520 in Adma to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $835 in Medellin versus $689 in Adma. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Adma?
Dining out is cheaper in Adma – a meal for two runs $63.0 versus $45.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Adma?
At $1,014 in Adma versus $1,687 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Adma but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Adma the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Adma more family-friendly?
For families, Adma is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Adma gentler on the wallet – expenses run 66% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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