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: $1,003 in Medellin versus $971 in Apia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,573 in Medellin versus $2,534 in Apia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,143 in Medellin versus $4,097 in Apia.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 25% lower, Apia 27% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$53.0 WST 145

-88.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$35.35 WST 96.6

-6.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$13.72 WST 37.49

-45.85%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$2.46 WST 6.73

-32.93%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$2.04 WST 5.56

-46.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$1.31 WST 3.59

-40.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$4.20 WST 11.49

-59.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$3.46 WST 9.46

-8.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.84 WST 5.02

-40.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$0.79 WST 2.15

59.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$1.82 WST 4.96

-24.18%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$4.26 WST 11.64

-48.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$0.93 WST 2.54

382.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$3.51 WST 9.59

64.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$8.10 WST 22.12

10.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$5.09 WST 13.90

-54.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$1.84 WST 5.02

-42.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$1.83 WST 5.01

-16.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$4.39 WST 11.99

-69.02%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$3.62 WST 9.90

-68.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$1.04 WST 2.85

12.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$1.19 WST 3.26

-24.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$6.06 WST 16.55

-63.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$16.39 WST 44.77

-26.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$1.81 WST 4.95

-34.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$3.54 WST 9.68

-29.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$3.66 WST 10.00

-76.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$5.38 WST 14.71

-73.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$21.59 WST 59.0

-63.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.04 WST 2.84

-4.81%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$17.60 WST 48.07

371.65%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$17.76 WST 48.53

-45.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$35.95 WST 98.2

-34.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

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

$316 COP 994.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$50.0 WST 137

19.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$39.48 WST 108

-19.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$76.1 WST 208

33.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$99.7 WST 272

7.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$1,855 WST 5,069

-61.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Apia: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $35.00 in Apia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $237 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 $1,504 in Medellin and $1,456 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 $1,003 per month in Medellin versus $971 in Apia – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Shoppers in Medellin pay roughly 23% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

At $971 in Apia versus $1,003 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 $971 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.