Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Cabo Rojo Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Cabo Rojo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $1,300 in Cabo Rojo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,928 in Cabo Rojo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $2,556 in Cabo Rojo, rent included.

Medellin is about 23% cheaper than Cabo Rojo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Cabo Rojo are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Cabo Rojo 2% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 19.1K

$9.96 $9.96

-40.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 106.5K

$82.1 $82.1

-59.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 24.0K

$8.88 $8.88

-16.33%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,343

$3.63 $3.63

-54.55%

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

$1.10 COP 3,559

$1.78 $1.78

-38.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,523

$1.38 $1.38

-43.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,553

$1.54 $1.54

11.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.3K

$3.47 $3.47

-8.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,565

$1.45 $1.45

-24.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,066

$1.98 $1.98

-36.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,463

$2.29 $2.29

-39.74%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 7,038

$2.34 $2.34

-6.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.5K

$8.86 $8.86

-49.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.7K

$8.23 $8.23

-29.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 29.0K

$12.89 $12.89

-30.41%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,499

$6.04 $6.04

-61.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,440

$2.73 $2.73

-61.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,899

$3.99 $3.99

-61.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,381

$3.99 $3.99

-65.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,645

$3.90 $3.90

-71.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,785

$3.07 $3.07

-61.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,912

$3.01 $3.01

-70.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,897

$1.02 $1.02

-11.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,218

$11.99 $11.99

-81.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 39.2K

$15.54 $15.54

-22.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,841

$1.46 $1.46

-18.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 8,020

$1.94 $1.94

27.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,758

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 134.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,575

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,302

$1.49 $1.49

30.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 25.5K

$14.74 $14.74

-46.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,200

$0.72 $0.72

37.50%

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

$17.6K COP 56.9M

$35.9K $35.9K

-50.92%

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

$26.8K COP 86.6M

$26.8K $26.8K

0.05%

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

$83.0 COP 268.2K

$493 $493

-83.15%

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

$9.70 COP 31.3K

$66.1 $66.1

-85.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 76.0K

$72.9 $72.9

-67.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 81.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 61.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.8K

$12.06 $12.06

-67.25%

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

$316 COP 1.0M

$478 $478

-34.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 19.3M

$10.3K $10.3K

-41.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 193.8K

$45.37 $45.37

32.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 102.8K

$56.0 $56.0

-43.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 328.5K

$89.7 $89.7

13.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 347.2K

$105 $105

1.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$1,815 $1,815

-53.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$4,292 $4,292

-85.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

5.71

135.20%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Cabo Rojo: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 587% higher in Cabo Rojo, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $82.0 in Cabo Rojo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $326 – making Medellin 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 Cabo Rojo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cabo Rojo costs about 30% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,950 in Cabo Rojo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $1,300 in Cabo Rojo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $316 per month in Medellin and $478 in Cabo Rojo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Cabo Rojo at $1,300. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cabo Rojo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,003 versus $1,300 in Cabo Rojo. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cabo Rojo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.