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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $836 in Cartago, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,266 in Cartago, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,696 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 23% lower, Cartago 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$3.64 COP 11.9K

69.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

$28.68 COP 93.4K

13.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

$7.29 COP 23.7K

0.69%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

$1.59 COP 5,175

8.18%

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

$0.87 COP 2,830

20.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$0.57 COP 1,855

35.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

$1.00 COP 3,268

69.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

$2.51 COP 8,176

26.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$1.24 COP 4,023

-15.32%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$1.51 COP 4,921

-13.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$1.27 COP 4,118

10.24%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

$2.52 COP 8,204

-14.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$4.11 COP 13.4K

6.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$5.49 COP 17.9K

7.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$7.76 COP 25.2K

11.34%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

$2.43 COP 7,909

-6.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

$0.91 COP 2,978

21.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

$1.19 COP 3,887

28.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$1.27 COP 4,149

6.30%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$0.81 COP 2,630

39.51%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$1.06 COP 3,455

6.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$0.70 COP 2,280

21.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$0.69 COP 2,245

31.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

$2.85 COP 9,264

-17.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

$12.59 COP 41.0K

-1.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

$1.12 COP 3,651

7.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

$1.88 COP 6,133

32.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

$0.68 COP 2,224

23.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

$29.88 COP 97.3K

35.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

$1.54 COP 5,000

-7.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

$1.88 COP 6,131

2.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

$9.65 COP 31.4K

-20.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

$21.7K COP 70.7M

-16.96%

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

$30.4K COP 98.8M

-12.27%

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

$83.1 COP 270.5K

-2.76%

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

$8.68 COP 28.2K

14.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$24.16 COP 78.7K

0.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

$23.67 COP 77.0K

5.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

$4.97 COP 16.2K

-19.92%

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

$305 COP 993.4K

$225 COP 731.6K

35.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

$5,871 COP 19.1M

3.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

$63.2 COP 205.7K

-8.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

$44.52 COP 144.9K

-27.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

$75.6 COP 246.0K

33.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

$91.1 COP 296.5K

18.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

$284 COP 923.9K

67.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

$238 COP 775.4K

57.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

$527 COP 1.7M

60.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

$428 COP 1.4M

70.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

$1,740 COP 5.7M

84.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

$1,273 COP 4.1M

7.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

$347 COP 1.1M

77.53%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Cartago: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $284 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 78% 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: $193 vs $185 – 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $1,254 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 $1,031 in Medellin and $836 in Cartago. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 36% 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 $836, than in Medellin at $1,031. 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.