😐A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $298 in Artemisa, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $562 in Artemisa, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $826 in Artemisa, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 464% more than Artemisa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Artemisa is 78% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Artemisa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 24.9K
$10.09CUP 242
-20.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 148.7K
$25.45CUP 611
88.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 30.7K
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,724
$1.27CUP 30.48
146.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 5,928
$2.14CUP 51.4
-10.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,692
$2.02CUP 48.54
-25.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,705
$1.53CUP 36.73
103.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 17.9K
$2.15CUP 51.6
167.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Artemisa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,489
-
-
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,725
-
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,510
$2.56CUP 61.6
-30.86%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,195
-
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.3K
$10.10CUP 242
-0.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.4K
-
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 44.4K
$29.78CUP 715
-51.98%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 12.8K
-
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 4,997
-
-
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 6,976
-
-
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 6,997
-
-
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,347
-
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,769
-
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,635
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,059
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.1K
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.5K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,415
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 8,917
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Artemisa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,776
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 250.0K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,066
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,796
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.1K
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,241
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 86.5M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 111.1M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Artemisa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 550.8K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.1K
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 92.4K
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Artemisa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 139.4K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 53.2K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.6K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Artemisa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.5M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 28.5M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Artemisa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 278.0K
$20.11CUP 483
345.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 183.2K
$9.96CUP 239
492.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 429.4K
$80.3CUP 1,927
72.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 317.3K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Artemisa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 5.9M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.0M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.2M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Artemisa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Artemisa: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $25.00 in Artemisa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $130 – making Artemisa 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 Artemisa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Medellin and in Artemisa compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,681 in Medellin, $298 in Artemisa – roughly 464% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Artemisa?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $447 in Artemisa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $25.00 in Artemisa. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Artemisa?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,681 in Medellin and $298 in Artemisa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Artemisa, where all-in costs run around $298, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Artemisa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Artemisa?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $298 in Artemisa to $1,681 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Medellin and Artemisa?
If budget matters most, go with Artemisa. 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.