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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,687 per month in Medellin vs $502 in Ambositra, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,535 per month in Medellin vs $769 in Ambositra, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,383 per month in Medellin vs $1,035 in Ambositra, rent included.

Medellin costs about 236% more than Ambositra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Ambositra is 63% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.89 COP 24.2K

$2.82 MGA 12.1K

179.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.53 COP 136.5K

$20.53 MGA 88.1K

116.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.29 COP 28.5K

$5.66 MGA 24.3K

64.13%

Cappuccino

$2.90 COP 8,874

$1.66 MGA 7,123

74.70%

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

$1.81 COP 5,541

$0.83 MGA 3,580

118.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 COP 4,741

$0.47 MGA 2,021

229.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.25 COP 9,962

$1.02 MGA 4,394

218.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.88 COP 18.0K

$2.29 MGA 9,818

156.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 COP 4,230

$1.08 MGA 4,652

27.78%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 COP 7,517

$1.06 MGA 4,565

131.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 COP 4,617

$0.79 MGA 3,411

91.14%

Eggs

$2.78 COP 8,516

$2.05 MGA 8,807

35.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.05 COP 27.7K

$8.93 MGA 38.3K

1.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.65 COP 32.6K

$4.56 MGA 19.6K

133.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.63 COP 44.8K

$4.99 MGA 21.4K

193.19%

Apples (1kg)

$3.97 COP 12.2K

$1.12 MGA 4,823

254.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,219

$0.56 MGA 2,419

146.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 COP 7,056

$1.08 MGA 4,622

112.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.02 COP 6,185

$0.91 MGA 3,916

121.98%

Potato (1kg)

$2.09 COP 6,390

$0.62 MGA 2,664

237.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.63 COP 4,996

$0.96 MGA 4,106

69.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 COP 3,313

$0.36 MGA 1,529

200.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 COP 3,843

$0.76 MGA 3,241

64.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.03 COP 12.4K

$1.67 MGA 7,155

141.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.47 COP 41.3K

$5.34 MGA 22.9K

152.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 COP 4,904

$1.02 MGA 4,375

56.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 COP 9,189

$1.94 MGA 8,315

54.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.18 COP 3,611

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.9 COP 244.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 COP 4,920

$3.44 MGA 14.7K

-53.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 COP 6,533

$2.07 MGA 8,892

2.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.52 COP 26.1K

$4.62 MGA 19.8K

84.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 COP 4,142

$1.24 MGA 5,300

8.87%

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

$28.3K COP 86.8M

$12.4K MGA 53.3M

128.12%

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

$35.7K COP 109.4M

$26.1K MGA 111.9M

36.80%

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

$151 COP 463.8K

$75.4 MGA 323.7K

100.66%

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

$13.10 COP 40.1K

$17.68 MGA 75.9K

-25.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.30 COP 99.0K

$57.8 MGA 248.1K

-44.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.33 COP 141.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.26 COP 52.9K

Cinema Ticket

$6.43 COP 19.7K

$6.45 MGA 27.7K

-0.31%

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

$835 COP 2.6M

$25.33 MGA 108.7K

3195.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,887 COP 27.2M

$15.4K MGA 65.9M

-42.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.3 COP 273.7K

$29.42 MGA 126.2K

203.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 COP 169.5K

$28.88 MGA 123.9K

91.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$137 COP 418.5K

$80.2 MGA 344.0K

70.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 335.1K

$70.9 MGA 304.1K

54.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$952 COP 2.9M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 COP 2.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,020 COP 6.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,148 COP 3.5M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,696 COP 11.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,586 COP 4.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$625 COP 1.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.43

15.75

-33.78%

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

Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026

Last update for Ambositra: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Medellin versus $21.00 in Ambositra. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $149 – 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 236%, 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 $2,530 per month in Medellin and $754 in Ambositra. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,687 in Medellin and $502 in Ambositra. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $835 per month in Medellin and $25.33 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 $502, than in Medellin at $1,687. 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.