😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,681 in Medellin versus $997 in Agana Heights.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,445 in Medellin versus $1,358 in Agana Heights.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,210 in Medellin versus $1,719 in Agana Heights.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 69% more expensive than in Agana Heights, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, Agana Heights is 27% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Agana Heights
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.0K
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 149.4K
-
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 30.8K
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,767
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 5,954
-
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,712
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,747
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 17.9K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Agana Heights
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,509
$1.70$1.70
-15.29%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,759
$4.65$4.65
-46.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,535
$1.68$1.68
5.36%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,235
$3.96$3.96
-25.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.4K
$26.12$26.12
-61.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.6K
$6.55$6.55
54.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 44.6K
$17.69$17.69
-19.16%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 12.9K
$4.01$4.01
3.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,019
$1.22$1.22
31.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,007
$1.88$1.88
19.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,028
$6.52$6.52
-65.49%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,375
$2.73$2.73
-25.27%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,790
$2.80$2.80
-45.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,651
$3.88$3.88
-69.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,077
$2.04$2.04
-35.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$9.86$9.86
-60.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.7K
$12.24$12.24
14.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,439
$1.74$1.74
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 8,956
$1.53$1.53
87.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Agana Heights
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,792
$3.07$3.07
-60.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 251.1K
$59.1$59.1
36.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,084
$9.97$9.97
-86.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,825
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.2K
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,260
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
$38.9K$38.9K
-28.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
$35.5K$35.5K
0.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Agana Heights
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 553.2K
$336$336
-47.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.3K
$76.4$76.4
-81.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 92.8K
$97.5$97.5
-69.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Agana Heights
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 140.1K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 53.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.7K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Agana Heights
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.5M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 28.7M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Agana Heights
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 279.3K
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 184.0K
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 431.2K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 318.7K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Agana Heights
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 5.9M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.2M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Agana Heights
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Agana Heights: September 13, 2026
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 Agana Heights: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Agana Heights?
Agana Heights wins on cost – living expenses run 69% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Agana Heights the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin and in Agana Heights?
You'd need roughly $2,521 in Medellin and $1,495 in Agana Heights 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.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to Agana Heights?
All in, you'll spend $1,681 per month in Medellin versus $997 in Agana Heights – a 69% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or in Agana Heights?
Shoppers in Medellin pay roughly 34% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or in Agana Heights?
At $997 in Agana Heights versus $1,681 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Agana Heights but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Agana Heights the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Agana Heights?
Both work as nomad bases, but Agana Heights delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $997 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Agana Heights hard to pass up.
How safe is Medellin compared to Agana Heights?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Agana Heights are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Agana Heights gentler on the wallet – expenses run 69% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.