Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Cartagena Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Cartagena

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $1,070 in Cartagena, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,619 in Cartagena, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $2,168 in Cartagena, rent included.

Medellin is about 5% cheaper than Cartagena, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Cartagena are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Cartagena 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$5.89 COP 20.5K

1.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$46.71 COP 163.0K

-28.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$9.43 COP 32.9K

-23.33%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$1.62 COP 5,658

0.62%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.82 COP 2,855

32.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.66 COP 2,309

10.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$1.25 COP 4,347

39.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$2.88 COP 10.1K

12.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.15 COP 4,020

-8.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$1.92 COP 6,695

-32.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$1.38 COP 4,818

-4.35%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$2.10 COP 7,317

8.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$6.73 COP 23.5K

-35.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$6.13 COP 21.4K

-4.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$7.82 COP 27.3K

10.10%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$3.22 COP 11.2K

-30.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$1.93 COP 6,729

-44.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$1.44 COP 5,011

5.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$1.65 COP 5,757

-13.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$1.54 COP 5,378

-24.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$1.06 COP 3,716

10.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$1.00 COP 3,489

-11.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.64 COP 2,224

40.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$2.28 COP 7,973

-1.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$18.45 COP 64.4K

-40.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$0.94 COP 3,272

21.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$0.97 COP 3,392

145.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$1.03 COP 3,583

-18.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

$28.09 COP 98.0K

49.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$2.46 COP 8,570

-42.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$2.44 COP 8,521

-22.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$4.73 COP 16.5K

63.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$1.02 COP 3,552

-0.98%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$21.4K COP 74.8M

-17.95%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$23.6K COP 82.3M

12.34%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$139 COP 486.8K

-40.01%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$10.98 COP 38.3K

-13.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$25.01 COP 87.3K

-3.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$34.52 COP 120.5K

-26.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

$8.50 COP 29.7K

125.18%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$2.85 COP 9,936

43.86%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$139 COP 485.5K

124.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$5,857 COP 20.4M

2.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$47.52 COP 165.9K

22.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$38.12 COP 133.0K

-14.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$126 COP 440.8K

-21.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$114 COP 396.4K

-4.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$725 COP 2.5M

-33.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$334 COP 1.2M

13.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$1,271 COP 4.4M

-34.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$466 COP 1.6M

55.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

$3,075 COP 10.7M

-7.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

$842 COP 2.9M

45.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$410 COP 1.4M

31.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

-10.47%

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

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for Cartagena: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $725 in Cartagena. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 32% higher in Medellin, 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $47.00 in Cartagena. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $223 – 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 Cartagena: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cartagena costs about 5% 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 $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,605 in Cartagena. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $312 per month in Medellin and $139 in Cartagena. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% more in Cartagena, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Cartagena at $1,070. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cartagena it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,017 versus $1,070 in Cartagena. 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, Cartagena makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.