Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Cali Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Cali

šŸ˜ Solo nomad: Medellin is 18.2% more expensive than Cali without rent, and 33.7% more expensive with rent.
šŸ˜ Family of 3: Medellin is 13.8% more expensive than Cali without rent, and 26.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
šŸ½ Eating Out
Medellin
Cali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.03 COPĀ 22.7K
$3.59 COPĀ 13.5K
67.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.17 COPĀ 124.8K
$29.51 COPĀ 111.1K
12.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.29 COPĀ 27.4K
$7.46 COPĀ 28.1K
-2.28%
Cappuccino
$1.63 COPĀ 6,133
$1.63 COPĀ 6,132
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COPĀ 3,947
$0.95 COPĀ 3,584
10.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COPĀ 2,899
$0.56 COPĀ 2,122
37.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.73 COPĀ 6,510
$1.05 COPĀ 3,958
64.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COPĀ 12.0K
$2.50 COPĀ 9,419
27.20%
šŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Cali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 COPĀ 4,015
$1.22 COPĀ 4,572
-12.30%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COPĀ 4,935
$1.51 COPĀ 5,692
-13.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COPĀ 5,195
$1.20 COPĀ 4,521
15.00%
Eggs
$2.25 COPĀ 8,457
$2.54 COPĀ 9,540
-11.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.48 COPĀ 16.9K
$4.17 COPĀ 15.7K
7.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.74 COPĀ 21.6K
$5.36 COPĀ 20.2K
7.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.86 COPĀ 33.3K
$7.59 COPĀ 28.6K
16.73%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COPĀ 8,438
$2.40 COPĀ 9,050
-6.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COPĀ 3,988
$0.90 COPĀ 3,392
17.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COPĀ 5,697
$1.14 COPĀ 4,276
32.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COPĀ 5,119
$1.26 COPĀ 4,756
7.94%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 COPĀ 4,218
$0.87 COPĀ 3,263
28.74%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COPĀ 4,400
$1.06 COPĀ 4,004
10.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COPĀ 3,395
$0.76 COPĀ 2,863
18.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COPĀ 3,150
$0.65 COPĀ 2,462
29.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26 COPĀ 8,501
$2.82 COPĀ 10.6K
-19.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.97 COPĀ 37.5K
$11.21 COPĀ 42.2K
-11.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COPĀ 4,451
$1.11 COPĀ 4,158
6.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 COPĀ 8,993
$1.92 COPĀ 7,223
24.48%
šŸšŒ Getting Around
Medellin
Cali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COPĀ 3,233
$0.68 COPĀ 2,555
26.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.45 COPĀ 156.0K
$20.33 COPĀ 76.5K
103.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COPĀ 5,521
$1.61 COPĀ 6,051
-8.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COPĀ 7,323
$1.95 COPĀ 7,327
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.76 COPĀ 29.2K
$9.76 COPĀ 36.7K
-20.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COPĀ 3,640
$0.95 COPĀ 3,573
2.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COPĀ 67.5M
$21.8K COPĀ 82.2M
-17.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K COPĀ 100.6M
$29.7K COPĀ 111.9M
-10.11%
šŸ§¾ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Cali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.1 COPĀ 305.2K
$82.8 COPĀ 311.6K
-2.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.40 COPĀ 35.4K
$8.79 COPĀ 33.1K
6.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.61 COPĀ 88.8K
$24.10 COPĀ 90.7K
-2.03%
šŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Cali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.55 COPĀ 96.1K
$20.12 COPĀ 75.7K
26.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.29 COPĀ 72.6K
$14.36 COPĀ 54.0K
34.33%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10 COPĀ 15.4K
$4.96 COPĀ 18.7K
-17.34%
šŸ§ø Childcare & Education
Medellin
Cali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COPĀ 1.2M
$228 COPĀ 857.7K
34.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,899 COPĀ 22.2M
$5,953 COPĀ 22.4M
-0.90%
šŸ‘•šŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Cali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.8 COPĀ 225.1K
$62.9 COPĀ 236.8K
-4.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.96 COPĀ 120.3K
$43.78 COPĀ 164.7K
-27.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COPĀ 386.5K
$77.0 COPĀ 289.8K
33.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COPĀ 405.9K
$89.0 COPĀ 334.8K
21.24%
šŸ  Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Cali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$483 COPĀ 1.8M
$242 COPĀ 909.1K
100.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$377 COPĀ 1.4M
$185 COPĀ 697.4K
103.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$822 COPĀ 3.1M
$624 COPĀ 2.3M
31.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$721 COPĀ 2.7M
$407 COPĀ 1.5M
76.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 COPĀ 10.5M
$1,085 COPĀ 4.1M
156.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,320 COPĀ 5.0M
$854 COPĀ 3.2M
54.60%
šŸ’µ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Cali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$538 COPĀ 2.0M
$489 COPĀ 1.8M
9.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
11.58
15.98%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input ā€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: March 3, 2026

Last update for Cali: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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