Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Apia Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Apia

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,030 in Medellin versus $1,000 in Apia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,586 in Medellin versus $2,533 in Apia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,143 in Medellin versus $4,066 in Apia.

Living in Medellin is roughly 3% more expensive than Apia, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 23% lower, Apia 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.2K

$53.0 WST 143

-88.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.17 COP 118.7K

$36.10 WST 97.5

-8.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.25 COP 25.9K

$13.95 WST 37.67

-48.03%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,137

$2.49 WST 6.73

-31.33%

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

$1.09 COP 3,915

$1.99 WST 5.37

-45.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,743

$1.32 WST 3.56

-41.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 COP 6,254

$4.22 WST 11.39

-58.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 11.4K

$3.50 WST 9.45

-9.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,792

$1.75 WST 4.74

-39.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,657

$0.83 WST 2.24

56.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,926

$1.75 WST 4.72

-21.14%

Eggs

$2.21 COP 7,908

$4.27 WST 11.54

-48.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.52 COP 16.2K

$0.88 WST 2.37

413.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.80 COP 20.7K

$3.47 WST 9.36

67.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 32.1K

$8.08 WST 21.82

11.01%

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 COP 8,182

$5.08 WST 13.72

-54.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,791

$1.83 WST 4.94

-42.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 COP 5,411

$1.82 WST 4.90

-17.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,869

$4.33 WST 11.70

-68.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,146

$3.53 WST 9.54

-67.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,174

$1.05 WST 2.84

11.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 COP 2,960

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 COP 3,043

$1.17 WST 3.15

-27.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.35 COP 8,423

$6.17 WST 16.65

-61.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.09 COP 39.7K

$16.57 WST 44.73

-33.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 COP 4,133

$1.77 WST 4.78

-35.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,853

$3.51 WST 9.48

-29.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,827

$3.52 WST 9.50

-77.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.85 COP 149.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,140

$5.40 WST 14.58

-73.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,793

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.70 COP 27.6K

$21.45 WST 57.9

-64.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 COP 3,680

$1.04 WST 2.82

-0.96%

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

$17.7K COP 63.3M

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

$27.0K COP 96.7M

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

$81.4 COP 291.4K

$17.54 WST 47.35

364.20%

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

$9.42 COP 33.7K

$17.72 WST 47.85

-46.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.77 COP 85.1K

$35.20 WST 95.0

-32.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.86 COP 92.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.34 COP 69.2K

Cinema Ticket

$4.05 COP 14.5K

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

$312 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,067 COP 21.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 COP 210.7K

$49.68 WST 134

18.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.82 COP 117.5K

$40.15 WST 108

-18.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 COP 359.6K

$76.1 WST 205

32.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 COP 380.3K

$99.0 WST 267

7.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 COP 1.8M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$371 COP 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$715 COP 2.6M

$1,837 WST 4,959

-61.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,952 COP 10.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,394 COP 5.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$532 COP 1.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

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

Last update for Medellin: April 20, 2026

Last update for Apia: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $490 in Medellin and $0 in Apia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $33 in Medellin vs $36 in Apia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $235 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 Apia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Apia wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Apia the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,544 in Medellin and $1,499 in Apia 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.

All in, you'll spend $1,030 per month in Medellin versus $1,000 in Apia – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Shoppers in Medellin pay roughly 24% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

At $1,000 in Apia versus $1,030 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Apia but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Apia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Apia delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,000 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Apia hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Medellin and Apia 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 Apia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.