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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $1,086 in Cartagena, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,604 in Cartagena, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $2,121 in Cartagena, rent included.

Medellin is about 8% cheaper than Cartagena, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Cartagena are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Cartagena 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$5.93 COP 18.7K

-0.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$47.34 COP 149.1K

-30.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$9.95 COP 31.3K

-25.33%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$1.57 COP 4,950

5.10%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$0.82 COP 2,579

34.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.68 COP 2,128

14.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$1.31 COP 4,111

31.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$2.89 COP 9,107

10.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.14 COP 3,590

-3.51%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$1.83 COP 5,777

-31.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$1.37 COP 4,324

0.73%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$2.19 COP 6,910

-0.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$6.81 COP 21.5K

-34.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$6.22 COP 19.6K

-6.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$7.77 COP 24.5K

15.44%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$3.26 COP 10.3K

-28.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$1.91 COP 6,014

-44.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$1.45 COP 4,556

4.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$1.62 COP 5,101

-16.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$1.61 COP 5,074

-29.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$1.08 COP 3,400

8.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$1.01 COP 3,177

-10.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.59 COP 1,865

52.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$2.35 COP 7,403

-5.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$18.80 COP 59.2K

-35.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$0.98 COP 3,083

21.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$0.98 COP 3,081

153.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$1.05 COP 3,311

-19.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$28.98 COP 91.2K

43.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$2.46 COP 7,753

-42.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$2.37 COP 7,461

-17.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$4.86 COP 15.3K

62.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.02 COP 3,204

-2.94%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$21.1K COP 66.5M

-16.64%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$24.0K COP 75.7M

11.44%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$143 COP 449.0K

-41.79%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$10.93 COP 34.4K

-11.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$25.27 COP 79.6K

-6.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$35.26 COP 111.0K

-28.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$8.60 COP 27.1K

122.09%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$2.84 COP 8,948

39.08%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$144 COP 453.7K

119.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$6,062 COP 19.1M

-1.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$47.97 COP 151.0K

25.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$38.50 COP 121.2K

-17.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$125 COP 393.7K

-18.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$112 COP 351.2K

-3.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$720 COP 2.3M

-34.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$333 COP 1.0M

12.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$1,292 COP 4.1M

-34.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$471 COP 1.5M

52.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$3,492 COP 11.0M

-6.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

$935 COP 2.9M

54.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$467 COP 1.5M

33.62%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Cartagena: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $720 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 34% 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: $193 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 8% 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 $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,629 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 $316 per month in Medellin and $144 in Cartagena. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% 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 $1,003, than in Cartagena at $1,086. 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 $1,003 versus $1,086 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.