Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Arlington, VA Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Arlington, VA

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 59.6% cheaper than Arlington, VA without rent, and 72% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 60.8% cheaper than Arlington, VA without rent, and 70.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Arlington, VA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$24.54 $24.54
-74.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$88.5 $88.5
-63.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
$11.84 $11.84
-37.58%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$5.41 $5.41
-68.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$2.93 $2.93
-62.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
$2.5 $2.5
-70.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$8.02 $8.02
-79.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$8.82 $8.82
-63.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Arlington, VA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$1.24 $1.24
-12.10%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$4.1 $4.1
-69.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$6.81 $6.81
-80.47%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$4.32 $4.32
-48.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$17.79 $17.79
-74.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$14.75 $14.75
-61.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$21.38 $21.38
-59.82%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$6.26 $6.26
-63.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$2.06 $2.06
-48.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$5.22 $5.22
-71.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$5.71 $5.71
-75.13%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$3.44 $3.44
-67.73%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$3.39 $3.39
-65.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
$2.65 $2.65
-66.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$2.45 $2.45
-65.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$12.3 $12.3
-80.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$17.17 $17.17
-45.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$2.03 $2.03
-41.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$4.29 $4.29
-41.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Arlington, VA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
$3.43 $3.43
-75.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
$125 $125
-66.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
$3.02 $3.02
-53.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
$1.59 $1.59
23.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$21.75 $21.75
-63.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 4,265
$0.91 $0.91
12.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 73.4M
$29.6K $29.6K
-40.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
$26K $26K
0.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Arlington, VA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COP 344.1K
$205 $205
-59.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$59.8 $59.8
-84.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
$69.9 $69.9
-66.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Arlington, VA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
$76.7 $76.7
-66.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
$23.96 $23.96
-20.12%
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
$14.84 $14.84
-73.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Arlington, VA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
$2,074 $2,074
-85.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
$39.4K $39.4K
-84.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Arlington, VA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
$55.9 $55.9
3.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
$49.48 $49.48
-36.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
$92.6 $92.6
11.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
$141 $141
-25.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Arlington, VA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
$2,473 $2,473
-80.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
$1,930 $1,930
-80.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
$4,350 $4,350
-80.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
$3,575 $3,575
-79.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
$4,644 $4,644
-52.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
$4,073 $4,073
-62.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Arlington, VA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
$6,454 $6,454
-91.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
6.55
105.04%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

Last update for Arlington, VA: October 28, 2025

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