Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Cartago Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Cartago

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $821 in Cartago, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,255 in Cartago, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $1,689 in Cartago, rent included.

Medellin costs about 23% more than Cartago, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Cartago are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Cartago 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$3.71 COP 13.2K

61.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.2K

$28.89 COP 103.0K

13.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$7.33 COP 26.1K

-3.27%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,105

$1.57 COP 5,601

8.92%

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

$1.10 COP 3,918

$0.92 COP 3,283

19.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,776

$0.59 COP 2,108

32.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,987

$1.01 COP 3,616

66.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 10.9K

$2.59 COP 9,249

18.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,899

$1.23 COP 4,390

-11.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,500

$1.53 COP 5,444

-17.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,914

$1.25 COP 4,444

10.40%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,813

$2.46 COP 8,752

-10.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$4.35 COP 15.5K

1.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$5.48 COP 19.5K

2.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.7K

$7.55 COP 26.9K

17.75%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,334

$2.46 COP 8,786

-4.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,771

$0.92 COP 3,295

15.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,365

$1.14 COP 4,066

31.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,915

$1.32 COP 4,706

4.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,104

$0.87 COP 3,096

32.18%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,148

$1.11 COP 3,945

4.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,176

$0.71 COP 2,538

25.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,992

$0.70 COP 2,497

20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,131

$2.81 COP 10.0K

-18.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 37.9K

$11.32 COP 40.4K

-6.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,276

$1.06 COP 3,774

13.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,809

$1.95 COP 6,957

26.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,051

$0.69 COP 2,459

24.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.6K

$29.69 COP 105.9K

39.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,255

$1.52 COP 5,433

-3.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 6,997

$1.89 COP 6,729

3.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$9.87 COP 35.2K

-21.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,403

$0.94 COP 3,353

1.06%

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

$18.1K COP 64.6M

$21.8K COP 77.8M

-16.95%

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

$26.5K COP 94.4M

$30.0K COP 106.9M

-11.70%

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

$82.3 COP 293.2K

$80.6 COP 287.2K

2.07%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$8.70 COP 31.0K

9.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.4K

$24.15 COP 86.1K

0.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.3K

$23.66 COP 84.3K

9.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$4.91 COP 17.5K

-19.96%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$224 COP 797.9K

38.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$5,901 COP 21.0M

1.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.1K

$63.6 COP 226.7K

-7.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.3K

$44.20 COP 157.6K

-26.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 365.7K

$77.4 COP 275.8K

32.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 386.5K

$90.4 COP 322.3K

19.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$281 COP 1.0M

69.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$238 COP 848.1K

59.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$527 COP 1.9M

59.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$424 COP 1.5M

70.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 9.9M

$1,428 COP 5.1M

95.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$1,172 COP 4.2M

3.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$308 COP 1.1M

66.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

11.58

15.98%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Cartago: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $281 in Cartago. 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 66% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $29.00 in Cartago. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $182 – making Cartago 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 Cartago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 23%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $1,231 in Cartago. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $821 in Cartago. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 39% less in Cartago. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cartago, where all-in costs run around $821, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Cartago it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cartago – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Cartago. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.