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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $1,062 in Cartagena, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $1,608 in Cartagena, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $2,153 in Cartagena, rent included.

Medellin is about 3% cheaper than Cartagena, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Cartagena are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Cartagena 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.4K

$6.17 COP 22.3K

-4.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 118.2K

$47.58 COP 171.8K

-31.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.0K

$9.85 COP 35.5K

-26.90%

Cappuccino

$1.70 COP 6,140

$1.65 COP 5,948

3.03%

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

$1.10 COP 3,966

$0.81 COP 2,914

35.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,605

$0.67 COP 2,407

7.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 COP 6,022

$1.30 COP 4,682

28.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 COP 11.2K

$2.95 COP 10.6K

5.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,809

$1.14 COP 4,124

-7.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,497

$1.86 COP 6,715

-32.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,022

$1.33 COP 4,784

4.51%

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,168

$2.11 COP 7,605

7.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.6K

$7.07 COP 25.5K

-38.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.1K

$5.91 COP 21.3K

-1.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 31.9K

$8.13 COP 29.4K

8.61%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,099

$3.20 COP 11.6K

-30.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,882

$1.96 COP 7,059

-44.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,522

$1.50 COP 5,424

2.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,950

$1.58 COP 5,689

-13.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,078

$1.55 COP 5,588

-27.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,036

$1.08 COP 3,892

3.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,057

$1.00 COP 3,619

-15.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,281

$0.59 COP 2,144

54.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,414

$2.36 COP 8,503

-1.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.2K

$18.52 COP 66.8K

-39.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,309

$0.93 COP 3,367

27.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,553

$1.03 COP 3,709

130.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,838

$1.05 COP 3,805

-24.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

$28.08 COP 101.4K

46.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,184

$2.38 COP 8,602

-39.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,901

$2.37 COP 8,556

-19.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 28.9K

$4.93 COP 17.8K

62.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,385

$1.03 COP 3,709

-8.74%

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

$17.9K COP 64.7M

$20.9K COP 75.4M

-14.14%

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

$26.8K COP 96.7M

$23.6K COP 85.3M

13.40%

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

$84.0 COP 303.1K

$142 COP 514.1K

-41.04%

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

$9.60 COP 34.7K

$10.96 COP 39.6K

-12.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.2K

$25.17 COP 90.9K

-4.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 93.4K

$35.27 COP 127.3K

-26.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 68.7K

$8.84 COP 31.9K

115.38%

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.1K

$2.94 COP 10.6K

33.33%

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

$306 COP 1.1M

$142 COP 512.4K

115.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.4M

$5,910 COP 21.3M

0.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 209.1K

$48.13 COP 173.8K

20.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 114.9K

$39.46 COP 142.5K

-19.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 360.6K

$123 COP 445.3K

-19.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 386.8K

$115 COP 413.6K

-6.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

$741 COP 2.7M

-34.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

$330 COP 1.2M

11.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

$1,308 COP 4.7M

-36.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

$479 COP 1.7M

49.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

$3,077 COP 11.1M

-4.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

$1,977 COP 7.1M

-28.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 COP 2.0M

$420 COP 1.5M

29.79%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Cartagena: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $741 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 30% 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 $48.00 in Cartagena. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $222 – 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 3% 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 $1,550 per month in Medellin and $1,593 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 $306 per month in Medellin and $142 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 $1,034, than in Cartagena at $1,062. 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 $1,034 versus $1,062 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.