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 $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $1,238 in Cabo Rojo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $1,924 in Cabo Rojo, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $2,611 in Cabo Rojo, rent included.

Medellin costs about 36% more than Cabo Rojo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Cabo Rojo is 10% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.02 COP 25.4K

$10.04 $10.04

-20.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.87 COP 152.0K

$83.1 $83.1

-42.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 COP 31.4K

$8.78 $8.78

12.64%

Cappuccino

$3.13 COP 9,937

$3.78 $3.78

-17.20%

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

$1.91 COP 6,058

$1.83 $1.83

4.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 COP 4,794

$1.45 $1.45

4.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 COP 9,917

$1.52 $1.52

105.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 COP 18.3K

$3.59 $3.59

60.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,587

$2.24 $2.24

-35.71%

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 COP 7,894

$3.58 $3.58

-30.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 COP 5,631

$2.36 $2.36

-25.00%

Eggs

$2.96 COP 9,396

$7.24 $7.24

-59.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 COP 32.0K

$12.51 $12.51

-19.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.12 COP 32.1K

$9.41 $9.41

7.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 COP 45.4K

$13.47 $13.47

6.16%

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 COP 13.1K

$5.15 $5.15

-19.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 COP 5,106

$2.53 $2.53

-36.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,129

$4.95 $4.95

-54.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,150

$4.74 $4.74

-52.53%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 COP 6,486

$3.68 $3.68

-44.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,873

$3.91 $3.91

-60.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 COP 3,715

$3.38 $3.38

-65.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 COP 4,148

$1.63 $1.63

-19.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.4K

$11.79 $11.79

-66.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 44.5K

$15.41 $15.41

-9.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 COP 5,534

$3.08 $3.08

-43.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 COP 9,112

$3.91 $3.91

-26.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 COP 3,858

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 255.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,155

$2.45 $2.45

-46.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 COP 6,944

$1.46 $1.46

50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.7K

$42.35 $42.35

-79.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 COP 4,334

$0.73 $0.73

87.67%

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

$27.8K COP 88.4M

$40.6K $40.6K

-31.47%

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

$35.8K COP 113.6M

$28.4K $28.4K

25.78%

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

$177 COP 562.9K

$318 $318

-44.20%

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

$13.88 COP 44.1K

$64.0 $64.0

-78.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.72 COP 94.4K

$69.6 $69.6

-57.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.88 COP 142.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 54.4K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 21.1K

$10.43 $10.43

-36.24%

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

$813 COP 2.6M

$808 $808

0.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 29.2M

$12.8K $12.8K

-28.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.5 COP 284.1K

$56.6 $56.6

58.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 COP 187.2K

$61.5 $61.5

-4.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 COP 438.8K

$107 $107

28.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 324.2K

$114 $114

-10.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 COP 3.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 COP 2.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,888 COP 6.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 COP 3.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$678 COP 2.2M

$4,297 $4,297

-84.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

6.55

67.02%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Cabo Rojo: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 534% higher in Cabo Rojo, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $83.0 in Cabo Rojo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $412 – 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

Medellin costs about 36% more than Cabo Rojo, 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 $2,521 per month in Medellin and $1,857 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 $1,681 in Medellin and $1,238 in Cabo Rojo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $813 per month in Medellin and $808 in Cabo Rojo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Cabo Rojo, where all-in costs run around $1,238, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Cabo Rojo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Cabo Rojo costs $1,238 versus $1,681 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Cabo Rojo. 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.