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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,017 in Medellin versus $2,419 in Arlington, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $3,562 in Arlington, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,188 in Medellin versus $4,706 in Arlington, WA.

Living in Medellin costs roughly 58% less than in Arlington, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 24% below, Arlington, WA is 80% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$16.38 $16.38

-63.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$73.2 $73.2

-54.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$12.39 $12.39

-41.65%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$5.26 $5.26

-69.01%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$2.89 $2.89

-62.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$2.01 $2.01

-63.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$4.93 $4.93

-64.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$11.81 $11.81

-72.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.05 $1.05

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$4.13 $4.13

-68.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$4.95 $4.95

-73.33%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$4.97 $4.97

-54.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$9.72 $9.72

-55.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$8.18 $8.18

-28.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$15.48 $15.48

-44.38%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$2.69 $2.69

-16.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$1.68 $1.68

-36.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$4.88 $4.88

-68.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$4.86 $4.86

-70.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$3.26 $3.26

-64.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$2.80 $2.80

-58.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$1.90 $1.90

-53.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$2.90 $2.90

-68.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$11.09 $11.09

-79.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$18.62 $18.62

-40.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$1.69 $1.69

-32.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$6.30 $6.30

-62.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$1.97 $1.97

-57.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$2.54 $2.54

-44.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$0.78 $0.78

143.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$29.58 $29.58

-73.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$1.07 $1.07

-5.61%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$36.9K $36.9K

-52.42%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$24.2K $24.2K

9.39%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$214 $214

-60.90%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$50.5 $50.5

-81.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$44.73 $44.73

-46.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$33.39 $33.39

-24.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$14.86 $14.86

-72.41%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$2,086 $2,086

-85.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$31.2K $31.2K

-80.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$38.08 $38.08

52.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$39.56 $39.56

-17.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$72.3 $72.3

37.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$100 $100

8.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$1,308 $1,308

-63.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$1,193 $1,193

-68.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$2,521 $2,521

-66.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$1,973 $1,973

-63.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$5,757 $5,757

-90.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

4.85

176.91%

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

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for Arlington, WA: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $482 in Medellin and $1,308 in Arlington, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Arlington, WA pays 964% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $73.0 in Arlington, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $391 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 Arlington, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin and Arlington, WA differ by about 138% in total monthly costs ($1,017 vs $2,419 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Arlington, WA earns 964% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $482 in Medellin versus $1,308 in Arlington, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 106% higher in Arlington, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,017 per month in Medellin versus $2,419 in Arlington, WA – a 138% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,017 in Medellin versus $2,419 in Arlington, WA, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Arlington, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 138% less than in Arlington, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.