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