😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,003 in Medellin versus $975 in Ayutuxtepeque.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,573 in Medellin versus $1,394 in Ayutuxtepeque.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,143 in Medellin versus $1,814 in Ayutuxtepeque.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 3% more expensive than in Ayutuxtepeque, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin25% lower, Ayutuxtepeque27% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Ayutuxtepeque
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91COP 18.6K
$7.83$7.83
-24.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96COP 103.8K
$30.08$30.08
9.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.43COP 23.4K
$4.93$4.93
50.71%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,207
$3.28$3.28
-49.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,468
$0.62$0.62
77.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,458
$0.48$0.48
62.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,412
$1.33$1.33
29.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COP 10.0K
$3.06$3.06
3.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Ayutuxtepeque
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10COP 3,474
$1.36$1.36
-19.12%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 3,962
$1.49$1.49
-15.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,349
$0.98$0.98
40.82%
Eggs
$2.18COP 6,858
$2.36$2.36
-7.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.49COP 14.1K
$7.07$7.07
-36.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.79COP 18.2K
$5.56$5.56
4.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COP 28.2K
$8.56$8.56
4.79%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32COP 7,308
$3.13$3.13
-25.88%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,352
$1.70$1.70
-37.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 4,774
$2.16$2.16
-29.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,270
$2.63$2.63
-48.29%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,552
$1.62$1.62
-30.25%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,689
$2.10$2.10
-44.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90COP 2,838
$0.68$0.68
32.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COP 2,823
$1.08$1.08
-16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23COP 7,034
$3.96$3.96
-43.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.12COP 38.2K
$6.14$6.14
97.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 3,743
$1.53$1.53
-22.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 7,815
$2.48$2.48
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Ayutuxtepeque
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85COP 2,687
$0.34$0.34
150.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.62COP 131.0K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,459
$5.44$5.44
-73.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.95COP 6,141
$3.07$3.07
-36.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.89COP 24.8K
$20.03$20.03
-60.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,118
$0.99$0.99
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
$25.9K$25.9K
-32.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
$28.2K$28.2K
-5.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Ayutuxtepeque
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0COP 261.4K
$95.1$95.1
-12.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70COP 30.5K
$19.51$19.51
-50.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52COP 74.1K
$35.66$35.66
-34.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Ayutuxtepeque
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.26COP 79.5K
$15.18$15.18
66.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10COP 60.1K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.95COP 12.4K
$5.31$5.31
-25.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Ayutuxtepeque
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$316COP 994.2K
$144$144
118.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,975COP 18.8M
$3,014$3,014
98.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Ayutuxtepeque
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0COP 188.9K
$25.26$25.26
137.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 100.2K
$29.91$29.91
6.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102COP 320.1K
$116$116
-12.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 338.3K
$76.4$76.4
40.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Ayutuxtepeque
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$475COP 1.5M
$152$152
212.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$374COP 1.2M
$305$305
22.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$849COP 2.7M
$400$400
112.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$719COP 2.3M
$408$408
76.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,265COP 10.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441COP 4.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Ayutuxtepeque
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$624COP 2.0M
$423$423
47.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
8.58
56.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Last update for Ayutuxtepeque: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $475 in Medellin and $152 in Ayutuxtepeque. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 48% 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 $30.00 in Ayutuxtepeque. Groceries flip the comparison at $193 vs $214, 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 Ayutuxtepeque: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Ayutuxtepeque?
Ayutuxtepeque wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ayutuxtepeque the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or in Ayutuxtepeque?
Average pay runs 48% higher in Medellin, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin compared to Ayutuxtepeque?
Rent for a central apartment: $475 in Medellin versus $152 in Ayutuxtepeque. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Medellin and in Ayutuxtepeque?
Childcare runs $316 in Medellin versus $144 in Ayutuxtepeque. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin and in Ayutuxtepeque?
Dining out is cheaper in Ayutuxtepeque – a meal for two runs $30.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or in Ayutuxtepeque?
At $975 in Ayutuxtepeque versus $1,003 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ayutuxtepeque but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Ayutuxtepeque the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Ayutuxtepeque?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ayutuxtepeque delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $975 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ayutuxtepeque hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ayutuxtepeque 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.