Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Aguadulce Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Aguadulce

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,031 in Medellin versus $893 in Aguadulce.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,599 in Medellin versus $1,432 in Aguadulce.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,167 in Medellin versus $1,971 in Aguadulce.

Living in Medellin is roughly 15% more expensive than in Aguadulce, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 23% lower, Aguadulce 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$10.05 PAB 10.05

-38.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

$50.8 PAB 50.8

-35.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

$7.80 PAB 7.80

-5.90%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

$3.64 PAB 3.64

-52.75%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.05 COP 3,420

$1.67 PAB 1.67

-37.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$1.40 PAB 1.40

-45.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

$3.03 PAB 3.03

-44.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

$3.88 PAB 3.88

-18.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$1.90 PAB 1.90

-44.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$2.51 PAB 2.51

-48.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$2.52 PAB 2.52

-44.44%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

$2.86 PAB 2.86

-24.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$11.55 PAB 11.55

-61.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$6.99 PAB 6.99

-15.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$10.06 PAB 10.06

-14.12%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

$3.30 PAB 3.30

-30.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

$1.49 PAB 1.49

-25.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

$2.86 PAB 2.86

-46.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$3.22 PAB 3.22

-58.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$2.25 PAB 2.25

-49.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$2.79 PAB 2.79

-59.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$2.25 PAB 2.25

-62.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$1.56 PAB 1.56

-41.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

$5.92 PAB 5.92

-60.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

$10.76 PAB 10.76

14.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

$1.24 PAB 1.24

-3.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

$2.34 PAB 2.34

6.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

$0.24 PAB 0.24

250.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

$2.52 PAB 2.52

-43.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

$1.77 PAB 1.77

8.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

$22.41 PAB 22.41

-65.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

$0.88 PAB 0.88

12.50%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.0K COP 58.7M

$19.7K PAB 19.7K

-8.33%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.6K COP 86.7M

$20.5K PAB 20.5K

29.74%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$80.8 COP 263.1K

$124 PAB 124

-34.85%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.95 COP 32.4K

$29.68 PAB 29.68

-66.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$48.99 PAB 48.99

-50.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

$46.95 PAB 46.95

-46.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

$7.77 PAB 7.77

-48.78%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$305 COP 993.4K

$479 PAB 479

-36.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

$15.6K PAB 15.6K

-61.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

$50.8 PAB 50.8

14.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

$45.74 PAB 45.74

-29.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

$90.8 PAB 90.8

10.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

$123 PAB 123

-12.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

6.23

115.57%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Aguadulce: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $51.0 in Aguadulce for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $291 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.

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 Aguadulce: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Aguadulce wins on cost – living expenses run 15% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Aguadulce the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,546 in Medellin and $1,339 in Aguadulce 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.

Shoppers in Medellin pay roughly 51% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,031 per month in Medellin versus $893 in Aguadulce – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $893 in Aguadulce versus $1,031 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Aguadulce but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Aguadulce the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Aguadulce delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $893 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Aguadulce hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Medellin and Aguadulce are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Aguadulce gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.