Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ajijic Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ajijic

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $1,212 in Ajijic, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,946 in Ajijic, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $2,680 in Ajijic, rent included.

Medellin is about 17% cheaper than Ajijic, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Ajijic are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Ajijic 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$8.07 MX$140

-26.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$34.41 MX$595

-4.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$6.87 MX$119

8.15%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$3.25 MX$56.2

-49.23%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$1.12 MX$19.36

-1.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.79 MX$13.67

-1.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$1.88 MX$32.57

-8.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$3.09 MX$53.5

2.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.42 MX$24.59

-22.54%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$2.26 MX$39.08

-44.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$1.08 MX$18.77

27.78%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$1.95 MX$33.78

11.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$7.98 MX$138

-43.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$7.48 MX$129

-22.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$6.84 MX$118

31.14%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$2.22 MX$38.45

4.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$0.95 MX$16.45

11.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$0.85 MX$14.74

78.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$1.41 MX$24.36

-3.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$1.36 MX$23.53

-16.91%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$0.96 MX$16.58

21.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$0.94 MX$16.34

-4.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.82 MX$14.22

9.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$4.03 MX$69.7

-44.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$8.93 MX$154

35.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$1.36 MX$23.48

-12.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$1.62 MX$28.03

53.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$0.65 MX$11.21

30.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$1.04 MX$18.07

36.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$1.55 MX$26.75

25.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$3.14 MX$54.4

151.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.26 MX$21.79

-21.43%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$18.5K MX$320.9K

-5.08%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$18.3K MX$316.8K

46.34%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$43.37 MX$750

91.40%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$16.69 MX$289

-41.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$25.55 MX$442

-7.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$23.61 MX$408

6.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$5.26 MX$90.9

263.12%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$4.27 MX$73.9

-7.49%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$179 MX$3,102

76.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$2,606 MX$45.1K

129.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$42.76 MX$740

40.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$16.17 MX$280

96.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$65.0 MX$1,124

56.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$53.7 MX$928

100.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$820 MX$14.2K

-42.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$650 MX$11.3K

-42.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$1,598 MX$27.6K

-46.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$1,353 MX$23.4K

-46.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$3,289 MX$56.9K

-0.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

$1,758 MX$30.4K

-18.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$588 MX$10.2K

6.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

11.24

19.48%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Ajijic: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $820 in Ajijic. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 6% higher in Medellin, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $34.00 in Ajijic. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $206 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Ajijic: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ajijic is pricier by about 21%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,817 in Ajijic. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $1,212 in Ajijic. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $316 per month in Medellin and $179 in Ajijic. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Ajijic at $1,212. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ajijic it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ajijic makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.