Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ambato Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ambato

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $673 in Ambato, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,005 in Ambato, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,336 in Ambato, rent included.

Medellin costs about 53% more than Ambato, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Ambato are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Ambato 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$2.97 $2.97

107.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

$24.88 $24.88

31.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

$5.27 $5.27

39.28%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

$2.51 $2.51

-31.47%

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

$0.78 $0.78

34.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$0.69 $0.69

11.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

$1.98 $1.98

-14.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

$3.40 $3.40

-6.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$1.02 $1.02

2.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$0.99 $0.99

31.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$1.58 $1.58

-11.39%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

$1.95 $1.95

10.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$2.97 $2.97

47.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$3.04 $3.04

93.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$3.93 $3.93

119.85%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

$0.98 $0.98

132.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

$0.98 $0.98

13.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

$0.98 $0.98

56.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$1.02 $1.02

32.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$1.02 $1.02

10.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$0.98 $0.98

15.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$0.46 $0.46

84.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$1.02 $1.02

-10.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

$5.65 $5.65

-58.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

$8.97 $8.97

37.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

$1.45 $1.45

-17.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

$3.04 $3.04

-18.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

$0.31 $0.31

170.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

$23.71 $23.71

71.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

$0.62 $0.62

129.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

$0.98 $0.98

95.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

$9.27 $9.27

-17.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

$0.64 $0.64

54.69%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

$29.8K $29.8K

-39.58%

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

$29.1K $29.1K

-8.47%

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

$39.27 $39.27

105.78%

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

$13.82 $13.82

-28.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$30.90 $30.90

-21.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

$29.48 $29.48

-14.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

$14.45 $14.45

32.53%

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

$6.33 $6.33

-37.12%

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

$305 COP 993.4K

$246 $246

24.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

$2,434 $2,434

148.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

$50.9 $50.9

14.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

$38.12 $38.12

-15.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

$87.1 $87.1

15.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

$59.3 $59.3

81.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

$346 $346

37.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

$189 $189

99.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

$629 $629

34.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

$246 $246

196.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

$1,130 $1,130

184.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

$884 $884

55.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

$664 $664

-7.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

67.88%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Ambato: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $346 in Ambato. 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 8% higher in Ambato, 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 $25.00 in Ambato. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $140 – making Ambato 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 Ambato: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 53% more than Ambato, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $1,009 in Ambato. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $25.00 in Ambato. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,031 in Medellin and $673 in Ambato. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ambato, where all-in costs run around $673, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Ambato it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ambato costs $673 versus $1,031 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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