Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Cam Pha Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Cam Pha

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,641 in Medellin versus $794 in Cam Pha.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,447 in Medellin versus $1,277 in Cam Pha.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,253 in Medellin versus $1,760 in Cam Pha.

Living in Medellin is roughly 107% more expensive than in Cam Pha, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 19% above, Cam Pha is 42% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Cam Pha
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04 COP 24.8K
$1.99 ₫51.7K
304.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29 COP 148.6K
$21.18 ₫548.9K
128.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.42 COP 29.0K
$4.13 ₫107.1K
128.09%
Cappuccino
$2.94 COP 9,040
$1.93 ₫50.1K
52.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 COP 5,735
$0.45 ₫11.8K
313.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 COP 4,479
$0.30 ₫7,876
386.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.21 COP 9,882
$1.18 ₫30.7K
172.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71 COP 17.6K
$1.95 ₫50.5K
192.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Cam Pha
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,428
$1.53 ₫39.7K
-5.88%
White Bread (500g)
$2.40 COP 7,389
$0.95 ₫24.7K
152.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,228
$0.76 ₫19.7K
123.68%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 8,896
$1.42 ₫36.7K
103.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.06 COP 30.9K
$10.55 ₫273.5K
-4.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.97 COP 30.7K
$3.86 ₫100.0K
158.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.20 COP 43.7K
$9.83 ₫254.7K
44.46%
Apples (1kg)
$3.98 COP 12.3K
$3.07 ₫79.6K
29.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 COP 4,878
$1.09 ₫28.3K
44.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 COP 6,624
$1.33 ₫34.6K
61.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.30 COP 7,078
$1.09 ₫28.2K
111.01%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 COP 6,169
$0.99 ₫25.6K
102.02%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 COP 4,646
$1.12 ₫29.1K
34.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.20 COP 3,701
$0.58 ₫15.1K
106.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 COP 3,946
$0.51 ₫13.1K
150.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84 COP 11.8K
$1.38 ₫35.7K
178.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 43.1K
$12.41 ₫321.8K
12.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 COP 5,256
$0.94 ₫24.5K
81.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 COP 8,440
$1.68 ₫43.5K
63.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Cam Pha
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.25 COP 3,834
$0.35 ₫9,046
257.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.9 COP 239.7K
$7.22 ₫187.2K
978.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,016
$0.78 ₫20.3K
67.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.17 COP 6,680
$0.55 ₫14.3K
294.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.29 COP 25.5K
$2.35 ₫60.9K
252.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 COP 4,172
$0.85 ₫22.0K
60.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K COP 84.5M
$30.4K ₫788.0M
-9.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5K COP 112.4M
$30.3K ₫784.6M
20.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Cam Pha
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 COP 519.2K
$82.9 ₫2.1M
103.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 COP 41.8K
$5.15 ₫133.5K
163.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32 COP 87.2K
$8.74 ₫226.7K
224.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Cam Pha
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.71 COP 140.7K
$22.62 ₫586.3K
102.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22 COP 53.0K
$7.74 ₫200.7K
122.48%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 20.5K
$4.16 ₫107.9K
59.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Cam Pha
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$803 COP 2.5M
$159 ₫4.1M
406.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,190 COP 28.3M
$27.4K ₫711.2M
-66.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Cam Pha
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4 COP 268.8K
$50.5 ₫1.3M
73.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4 COP 182.7K
$26.25 ₫680.3K
126.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$139 COP 427.5K
$82.5 ₫2.1M
68.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 314.0K
$82.8 ₫2.1M
23.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Cam Pha
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,071 COP 3.3M
$362 ₫9.4M
196.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$653 COP 2.0M
$312 ₫8.1M
109.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,925 COP 5.9M
$655 ₫17.0M
193.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,048 COP 3.2M
$606 ₫15.7M
72.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,123 COP 12.7M
$3,114 ₫80.7M
32.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,697 COP 5.2M
$1,217 ₫31.5M
39.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Cam Pha
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$655 COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
8.45
29.47%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Last update for Cam Pha: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,071 in Medellin and $362 in Cam Pha. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $21.00 in Cam Pha for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $300 vs $193 per month, with Cam Pha cheaper across the board.

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 Cam Pha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Cam Pha?
Cam Pha wins on cost – living expenses run 107% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cam Pha the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin and in Cam Pha?
You'd need roughly $2,462 in Medellin and $1,191 in Cam Pha to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin compared to Cam Pha?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,071 in Medellin versus $362 in Cam Pha. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Medellin compared to Cam Pha?
A monthly transit pass in Cam Pha runs roughly 979% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Medellin and in Cam Pha?
Childcare runs $803 in Medellin versus $159 in Cam Pha. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or in Cam Pha?
At $794 in Cam Pha versus $1,641 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Cam Pha but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Cam Pha the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Cam Pha?
Both work as nomad bases, but Cam Pha delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $794 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Cam Pha hard to pass up.
How safe is Medellin compared to Cam Pha?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Cam Pha are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Cam Pha gentler on the wallet – expenses run 107% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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