Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Afghanistan
For one person, living is cheaper in Afghanistan: $551 a month against $1,589 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $12,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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Medellin Living Index77Cost of Living Index in MedellinLearn more -
Afghanistan Living Index27Cost of Living Index in AfghanistanLearn more
😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 94.1% more expensive than Afghanistan without rent, and 188.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Medellin is 156.7% more expensive than Afghanistan without rent, and 237.4% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Afghanistan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.01 COP 25.5K
$2.35 ؋152
240.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.55 COP 148.3K
$10.67 ؋691
336.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.43 COP 30.1K
$3.86 ؋250
144.30%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.11 ؋137
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Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$7.74 ؋501
-
Cappuccino
$2.91 COP 9,277
$1.02 ؋66.4
185.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 COP 5,585
$0.45 ؋28.93
288.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 COP 4,218
$0.19 ؋12.01
594.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.13 COP 9,969
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Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.55 COP 17.7K
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🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Afghanistan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 COP 4,495
$0.79 ؋51.3
78.48%
White Bread (500g)
$2.44 COP 7,777
$0.28 ؋18.17
771.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 COP 5,191
$1.94 ؋126
-15.98%
Eggs
$2.82 COP 8,990
$1.59 ؋103
77.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.69 COP 30.9K
$4.73 ؋306
104.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.32 COP 29.7K
$3.85 ؋249
142.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.46 COP 42.9K
$6.72 ؋435
100.30%
Apples (1kg)
$4.00 COP 12.8K
$0.69 ؋44.50
479.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.48 COP 4,719
$0.93 ؋60.0
59.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.12 COP 6,768
$1.03 ؋66.5
105.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,178
$0.53 ؋34.53
324.53%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 COP 6,092
$0.55 ؋35.89
247.27%
Onion (1kg)
$1.62 COP 5,160
$0.41 ؋26.32
295.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,658
$0.40 ؋25.72
187.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.26 COP 4,021
$0.34 ؋22.25
270.59%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$1.82 ؋118
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.74 ؋47.89
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.02 ؋66.3
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.82 COP 12.2K
$2.29 ؋148
66.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.11 COP 41.8K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 COP 5,083
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,188
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-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Afghanistan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,731
$0.30 ؋19.34
290.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$75.0 COP 239.0K
$14.43 ؋934
419.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,056
$1.49 ؋96.8
-14.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,531
$0.48 ؋31.04
327.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.20 COP 26.1K
$1.73 ؋112
373.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 COP 4,046
$1.11 ؋71.6
14.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K COP 85.3M
$8,439 ؋546.5K
217.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4K COP 109.6M
$34.2K ؋2.2M
0.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Afghanistan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$162 COP 516.9K
$57.5 ؋3,724
182.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.12 COP 41.8K
$13.64 ؋884
-3.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.09 COP 89.5K
$163 ؋10.6K
-82.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Afghanistan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.33 COP 141.2K
$10.68 ؋692
315.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33 COP 52.0K
$4.03 ؋261
305.21%
Cinema Ticket
$6.09 COP 19.4K
$2.57 ؋166
136.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Afghanistan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$764 COP 2.4M
$20.21 ؋1,309
3681.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,904 COP 28.4M
$1,302 ؋84.3K
583.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Afghanistan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.0 COP 270.8K
$13.25 ؋858
541.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.5 COP 183.2K
$18.30 ؋1,185
214.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$132 COP 419.8K
$43.65 ؋2,827
201.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.8 COP 305.1K
$32.51 ؋2,105
194.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Afghanistan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,028 COP 3.3M
$115 ؋7,464
792.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$604 COP 1.9M
$89.7 ؋5,810
573.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,802 COP 5.7M
$196 ؋12.7K
817.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$993 COP 3.2M
$111 ؋7,217
790.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,921 COP 12.5M
$652 ؋42.2K
501.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,639 COP 5.2M
$351 ؋22.7K
367.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Afghanistan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$626 COP 2.0M
$259 ؋16.8K
141.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
18.22
-39.96%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: October 6, 2026
Last update for Afghanistan: October 6, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin $604 38.3%
Afghanistan $90 16.1% 85.2% $515
Groceries & Markets
Medellin $288 18.3%
Afghanistan $102 18.4% 64.5% $186
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin $203 12.9%
Afghanistan $235 42.2% 15.3% $31
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin $166 10.6%
Afghanistan $48 8.7% 70.9% $118
Eating Out
Medellin $166 10.6%
Afghanistan $45 8.1% 72.8% $121
Getting Around
Medellin $91 5.8%
Afghanistan $20 3.5% 78.6% $72
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin $57 3.6%
Afghanistan $16 2.9% 72% $41
Accommodation & Living
Medellin $993 31.9%
Afghanistan $111 11.9% 88.8% $881
Groceries & Markets
Medellin $664 21.3%
Afghanistan $249 26.6% 62.5% $415
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin $217 7%
Afghanistan $248 26.5% 14.6% $32
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin $370 11.9%
Afghanistan $108 11.5% 70.9% $262
Eating Out
Medellin $560 18%
Afghanistan $143 15.3% 74.4% $416
Getting Around
Medellin $185 5.9%
Afghanistan $40 4.2% 78.6% $145
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin $129 4.2%
Afghanistan $36 3.8% 72.4% $94
Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇦🇫 Afghanistan
Weather
Population
2,486,723
41,454,761
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Medellin Afghanistan 14,160 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
- Medellin
- Afghanistan
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 other spots: cost of living compared
Medellin
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/mo nomad
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/mo nomad
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🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,589
/mo nomad
Bogota
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,310
/mo nomad
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