😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,034 in Medellin versus $974 in Ayutuxtepeque.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,577 in Medellin versus $1,397 in Ayutuxtepeque.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,120 in Medellin versus $1,820 in Ayutuxtepeque.
😐Living in Medellin is roughly 6% more expensive than Ayutuxtepeque, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin23% lower, Ayutuxtepeque27% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Ayutuxtepeque
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COP 21.4K
$8.11$8.11
-27.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COP 118.2K
$29.68$29.68
10.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COP 26.0K
$5.13$5.13
40.35%
Cappuccino
$1.70COP 6,140
$3.30$3.30
-48.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,966
$0.63$0.63
74.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COP 2,605
$0.52$0.52
38.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COP 6,022
$1.34$1.34
24.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COP 11.2K
$3.02$3.02
2.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Ayutuxtepeque
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,809
$1.38$1.38
-23.19%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COP 4,497
$1.47$1.47
-14.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COP 5,022
$1.02$1.02
36.27%
Eggs
$2.26COP 8,168
$2.33$2.33
-3.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COP 15.6K
$7.06$7.06
-38.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COP 21.1K
$5.45$5.45
7.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COP 31.9K
$9.08$9.08
-2.75%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COP 8,099
$3.23$3.23
-30.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COP 3,882
$1.67$1.67
-35.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 5,522
$2.19$2.19
-30.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,950
$2.73$2.73
-49.82%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 4,078
$1.69$1.69
-33.14%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COP 4,036
$2.20$2.20
-49.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 3,057
$0.64$0.64
32.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 3,281
$1.07$1.07
-14.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COP 8,414
$4.03$4.03
-42.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COP 40.2K
$5.95$5.95
87.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 4,309
$1.53$1.53
-22.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COP 8,553
$2.53$2.53
-6.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Ayutuxtepeque
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,838
$0.36$0.36
119.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COP 148.5K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COP 5,184
$5.45$5.45
-73.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COP 6,901
$3.02$3.02
-36.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COP 28.9K
$20.16$20.16
-60.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COP 3,385
$1.00$1.00
-6.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
$25.9K$25.9K
-30.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
$28.5K$28.5K
-6.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Ayutuxtepeque
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COP 303.1K
$94.2$94.2
-10.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COP 34.7K
$18.80$18.80
-48.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COP 87.2K
$35.23$35.23
-31.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Ayutuxtepeque
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COP 93.4K
$15.07$15.07
71.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COP 68.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COP 14.1K
$5.30$5.30
-26.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Ayutuxtepeque
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COP 1.1M
$149$149
105.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COP 21.4M
$3,049$3,049
94.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Ayutuxtepeque
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COP 209.1K
$24.98$24.98
131.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 114.9K
$29.97$29.97
6.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COP 360.6K
$115$115
-13.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 386.8K
$74.9$74.9
43.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Ayutuxtepeque
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COP 1.8M
$148$148
229.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COP 1.3M
$302$302
21.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COP 3.0M
$393$393
109.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COP 2.6M
$403$403
77.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COP 10.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COP 5.1M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Ayutuxtepeque
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COP 2.0M
$423$423
29.00%
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Ayutuxtepeque: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $487 in Medellin and $148 in Ayutuxtepeque. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 29% 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 $190 vs $216, 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 6% 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 Ayutuxtepeque?
Medellin pays 29% more on average, 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 vs Ayutuxtepeque?
Rent for a central apartment: $487 in Medellin versus $148 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 Ayutuxtepeque?
Childcare runs $306 in Medellin versus $149 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 vs 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 Ayutuxtepeque?
At $974 in Ayutuxtepeque versus $1,034 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 $974 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 6% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.