Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ambositra Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ambositra

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,589 per month in Medellin vs $490 in Ambositra, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,364 per month in Medellin vs $745 in Ambositra, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,139 per month in Medellin vs $1,000 in Ambositra, rent included.

Medellin costs about 224% more than Ambositra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 19% above the global median, while Ambositra is 63% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.01 COP 25.6K

$2.69 MGA 12.0K

197.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.55 COP 149.1K

$20.82 MGA 92.6K

123.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.43 COP 30.2K

$5.79 MGA 25.7K

62.87%

Cappuccino

$2.91 COP 9,326

$1.65 MGA 7,330

76.36%

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

$1.75 COP 5,614

$0.82 MGA 3,660

113.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.32 COP 4,241

$0.45 MGA 2,007

193.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.13 COP 10.0K

$1.02 MGA 4,519

206.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.55 COP 17.8K

$2.24 MGA 9,944

147.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 COP 4,519

$1.04 MGA 4,615

35.58%

White Bread (500g)

$2.44 COP 7,818

$1.01 MGA 4,510

141.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 COP 5,218

$0.72 MGA 3,217

126.39%

Eggs

$2.82 COP 9,038

$2.01 MGA 8,948

40.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.69 COP 31.1K

$8.49 MGA 37.7K

14.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.32 COP 29.8K

$4.43 MGA 19.7K

110.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.46 COP 43.1K

$5.02 MGA 22.3K

168.13%

Apples (1kg)

$4.00 COP 12.8K

$1.06 MGA 4,709

277.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 COP 4,744

$0.54 MGA 2,414

174.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 COP 6,804

$1.07 MGA 4,737

98.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,216

$0.90 MGA 3,995

150.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 COP 6,124

$0.60 MGA 2,682

218.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.62 COP 5,188

$0.99 MGA 4,398

63.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 COP 3,677

$0.33 MGA 1,466

248.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 COP 4,043

$0.68 MGA 3,023

85.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.82 COP 12.2K

$1.62 MGA 7,222

135.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.11 COP 42.0K

$5.03 MGA 22.4K

160.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 COP 5,110

$1.04 MGA 4,606

53.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 COP 7,226

$1.81 MGA 8,056

24.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.17 COP 3,751

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.0 COP 240.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.27 COP 4,077

$3.38 MGA 15.0K

-62.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.05 COP 6,566

$2.01 MGA 8,939

1.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.20 COP 26.3K

$4.57 MGA 20.3K

79.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 COP 4,067

$1.13 MGA 5,023

12.39%

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

$26.8K COP 85.8M

$11.9K MGA 53.1M

124.13%

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

$34.4K COP 110.2M

$25.6K MGA 113.9M

34.34%

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

$162 COP 519.6K

$76.0 MGA 337.8K

113.46%

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

$13.12 COP 42.0K

$17.22 MGA 76.6K

-23.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.09 COP 90.0K

$58.3 MGA 259.1K

-51.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.33 COP 142.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.33 COP 52.3K

Cinema Ticket

$6.09 COP 19.5K

$5.65 MGA 25.1K

7.79%

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

$764 COP 2.4M

$25.50 MGA 113.4K

2897.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,904 COP 28.5M

$14.9K MGA 66.3M

-40.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.0 COP 272.2K

$28.78 MGA 127.9K

195.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.5 COP 184.1K

$28.22 MGA 125.5K

103.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$132 COP 422.1K

$77.4 MGA 343.9K

70.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.8 COP 306.7K

$70.2 MGA 311.9K

36.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,028 COP 3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$604 COP 1.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,802 COP 5.8M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$993 COP 3.2M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,921 COP 12.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,639 COP 5.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$626 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

15.75

-30.54%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 6, 2026

Last update for Ambositra: October 4, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Medellin versus $21.00 in Ambositra. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $144 – making Ambositra 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 Ambositra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 224%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,384 per month in Medellin and $735 in Ambositra. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,589 in Medellin and $490 in Ambositra. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $764 per month in Medellin and $25.50 in Ambositra. 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 Ambositra, where all-in costs run around $490, than in Medellin at $1,589. In Ambositra it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ambositra – 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 Ambositra. 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.