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: $1,013 in Medellin versus $891 in Aguadulce.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $1,426 in Aguadulce.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $1,961 in Aguadulce.

Living in Medellin is roughly 14% more expensive than Aguadulce, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 24% lower, Aguadulce 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$9.90 PAB 9.90

-39.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

$49.87 PAB 49.87

-34.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$8.03 PAB 8.03

-11.71%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

$3.53 PAB 3.53

-51.56%

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

$1.10 COP 3,924

$1.68 PAB 1.68

-34.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

$1.39 PAB 1.39

-43.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

$3.05 PAB 3.05

-44.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

$4.03 PAB 4.03

-23.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$1.86 PAB 1.86

-41.40%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$2.48 PAB 2.48

-49.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$2.48 PAB 2.48

-44.35%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$2.86 PAB 2.86

-23.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$11.36 PAB 11.36

-61.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$7.17 PAB 7.17

-21.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

$9.86 PAB 9.86

-9.84%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

$3.41 PAB 3.41

-31.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

$1.47 PAB 1.47

-27.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

$2.84 PAB 2.84

-47.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$3.22 PAB 3.22

-57.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

$2.24 PAB 2.24

-48.66%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

$2.79 PAB 2.79

-58.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

$2.22 PAB 2.22

-59.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$1.51 PAB 1.51

-44.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

$6.05 PAB 6.05

-62.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

$10.84 PAB 10.84

-1.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

$1.23 PAB 1.23

-2.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

$2.42 PAB 2.42

2.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

$0.24 PAB 0.24

258.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

$2.47 PAB 2.47

-40.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

$1.80 PAB 1.80

8.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$22.10 PAB 22.10

-64.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

$0.89 PAB 0.89

6.74%

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

$19.7K PAB 19.7K

-8.05%

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

$20.6K PAB 20.6K

28.60%

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

$82.3 COP 293.7K

$125 PAB 125

-34.30%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$29.48 PAB 29.48

-67.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

$49.11 PAB 49.11

-50.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

$47.06 PAB 47.06

-44.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$7.80 PAB 7.80

-49.62%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$482 PAB 482

-35.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$15.5K PAB 15.5K

-61.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

$51.5 PAB 51.5

13.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

$45.21 PAB 45.21

-28.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

$89.2 PAB 89.2

14.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

$119 PAB 119

-8.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Aguadulce: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $50.0 in Aguadulce for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $290 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 14% 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 $1,519 in Medellin and $1,337 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 54% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,013 per month in Medellin versus $891 in Aguadulce – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $891 in Aguadulce versus $1,013 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 $891 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 14% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.