πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,017 in Medellin versus $693 in As Salt.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $1,070 in As Salt.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,188 in Medellin versus $1,447 in As Salt.
πLiving in Medellin is roughly 47% more expensive than As Salt, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Medellin24% lower, As Salt48% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
As Salt
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95COPΒ 20.8K
$4.12JODΒ 2.92
44.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.33COPΒ 116.3K
$21.53JODΒ 15.24
54.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.23COPΒ 25.2K
$7.00JODΒ 4.96
3.29%
Cappuccino
$1.63COPΒ 5,687
$1.42JODΒ 1.01
14.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09COPΒ 3,821
$0.37JODΒ 0.26
194.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73COPΒ 2,548
$0.29JODΒ 0.21
151.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.74COPΒ 6,065
$5.50JODΒ 3.90
-68.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23COPΒ 11.3K
$4.33JODΒ 3.06
-25.40%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
As Salt
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COPΒ 3,662
$1.37JODΒ 0.97
-23.36%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29COPΒ 4,515
$0.33JODΒ 0.24
290.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32COPΒ 4,617
$1.71JODΒ 1.21
-22.81%
Eggs
$2.27COPΒ 7,927
$1.71JODΒ 1.21
32.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.35COPΒ 15.2K
$4.32JODΒ 3.06
0.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COPΒ 20.5K
$4.25JODΒ 3.01
38.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.61COPΒ 30.0K
$11.27JODΒ 7.98
-23.60%
Apples(1kg)
$2.25COPΒ 7,844
$1.38JODΒ 0.98
63.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.07COPΒ 3,733
$1.43JODΒ 1.01
-25.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COPΒ 5,322
$1.38JODΒ 0.97
10.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42COPΒ 4,964
$0.53JODΒ 0.38
167.92%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,084
$0.68JODΒ 0.48
72.06%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,077
$0.74JODΒ 0.52
58.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,096
$0.64JODΒ 0.45
39.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COPΒ 3,146
$0.58JODΒ 0.41
55.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25COPΒ 7,837
$3.63JODΒ 2.57
-38.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.04COPΒ 38.5K
$14.20JODΒ 10.05
-22.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14COPΒ 3,977
$4.82JODΒ 3.41
-76.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38COPΒ 8,301
$5.52JODΒ 3.91
-56.88%
π Getting Around
Medellin
As Salt
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COPΒ 2,916
$0.85JODΒ 0.60
-1.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.95COPΒ 146.4K
$28.39JODΒ 20.09
47.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41COPΒ 4,912
$0.58JODΒ 0.41
143.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90COPΒ 6,634
$1.39JODΒ 0.98
36.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.75COPΒ 27.0K
$7.23JODΒ 5.12
7.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COPΒ 3,509
$1.31JODΒ 0.93
-22.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOPΒ 61.4M
$21.4KJODΒ 15.2K
-17.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 92.5M
$25.6KJODΒ 18.1K
3.47%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
As Salt
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.7COPΒ 292.1K
$34.73JODΒ 24.58
140.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.45COPΒ 33.0K
$11.14JODΒ 7.89
-15.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.11COPΒ 84.1K
$14.32JODΒ 10.13
68.37%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
As Salt
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.31COPΒ 88.3K
$32.41JODΒ 22.94
-21.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14COPΒ 66.8K
$35.86JODΒ 25.38
-46.63%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10COPΒ 14.3K
$8.97JODΒ 6.35
-54.29%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
As Salt
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312COPΒ 1.1M
$143JODΒ 102
117.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,993COPΒ 20.9M
$5,295JODΒ 3,748
13.19%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
As Salt
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0COPΒ 202.6K
$24.75JODΒ 17.52
134.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56COPΒ 113.6K
$48.94JODΒ 34.64
-33.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.6COPΒ 347.7K
$49.31JODΒ 34.90
102.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COPΒ 378.8K
$28.73JODΒ 20.33
277.79%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
As Salt
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$482COPΒ 1.7M
$140JODΒ 99.1
244.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.3M
$157JODΒ 111
141.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$837COPΒ 2.9M
$244JODΒ 173
243.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$723COPΒ 2.5M
$279JODΒ 197
159.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,840COPΒ 9.9M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,223COPΒ 4.3M
-
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
As Salt
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$541COPΒ 1.9M
$555JODΒ 393
-2.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
7.27
84.73%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Last update for As Salt: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $482 in Medellin and $140 in As Salt. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°As Salt pays 3% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
πDining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $22.00 in As Salt. Groceries flip the comparison at $190 vs $199, with Medellin cheaper for home cooking.
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 As Salt: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or As Salt?
As Salt wins on cost β living expenses run 47% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making As Salt the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or As Salt?
On paper, As Salt earns 3% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin vs As Salt?
Rent for a central apartment: $482 in Medellin versus $140 in As Salt. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin vs As Salt?
Dining out is cheaper in As Salt β a meal for two runs $22.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to As Salt?
All in, you'll spend $1,017 per month in Medellin versus $693 in As Salt β a 47% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or As Salt?
At $693 in As Salt versus $1,017 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in As Salt but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes As Salt the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or As Salt?
Both work as nomad bases, but As Salt delivers better value β similar infrastructure at $693 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes As Salt hard to pass up.
How safe is Medellin compared to As Salt?
Safety-wise, Medellin and As Salt are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find As Salt gentler on the wallet β expenses run 47% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.