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

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 33.8% cheaper than Cartago without rent, and 31.9% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 29.2% cheaper than Cartago without rent, and 21.1% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.22 COP 25.9K

$7.9 ₡3,953

-21.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.25 COP 138.6K

$31.43 ₡15.7K

5.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.47 COP 31.1K

$9.17 ₡4,590

-18.54%

Cappuccino

$1.7 COP 7,097

$3.9 ₡1,953

-56.41%

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

$1.11 COP 4,617

$1.93 ₡969

-42.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 3,023

$1.25 ₡625

-41.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.71 COP 7,131

$1.95 ₡976

-12.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.1 COP 12.9K

$4.65 ₡2,327

-33.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 4,560

$2.06 ₡1,031

-47.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 COP 5,292

$2.13 ₡1,064

-40.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 5,774

$2.17 ₡1,086

-36.41%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 9,120

$2.99 ₡1,497

-26.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 18.1K

$8.03 ₡4,021

-45.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.83 COP 24.3K

$8.93 ₡4,470

-34.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 35.9K

$13.76 ₡6,886

-37.43%

Apples (1kg)

$2.33 COP 9,718

$4.51 ₡2,259

-48.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,674

$1.22 ₡613

-8.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 6,394

$4.09 ₡2,046

-62.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 5,741

$2.76 ₡1,381

-50.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 COP 4,642

$1.93 ₡967

-42.49%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,868

$2.01 ₡1,005

-41.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 COP 3,672

$1.02 ₡510

-13.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 COP 3,850

$1.97 ₡985

-53.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.29 COP 9,533

$5.35 ₡2,678

-57.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.44 COP 39.4K

$13.92 ₡6,967

-32.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.2 COP 4,991

$2.44 ₡1,220

-50.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 10.3K

$1.76 ₡880

40.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.8 COP 3,337

$1.06 ₡531

-24.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.56 COP 169.1K

$70.3 ₡35.2K

-42.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 6,140

$1.37 ₡688

7.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 8,124

$1.8 ₡899

8.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.96 COP 33.2K

$7.67 ₡3,839

3.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 COP 4,288

$1.46 ₡732

-29.45%

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

$18K COP 75.1M

$37.2K ₡18.6M

-51.57%

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

$26.2K COP 109.4M

$33K ₡16.5M

-20.55%

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

$81.3 COP 339.1K

$49.15 ₡24.6K

65.49%

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

$9.49 COP 39.6K

$25.5 ₡12.8K

-62.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.99 COP 100K

$57.8 ₡28.9K

-58.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.2 COP 105K

$56.6 ₡28.3K

-55.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.85 COP 78.6K

$23.78 ₡11.9K

-20.73%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 16.5K

$6.63 ₡3,321

-40.42%

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

$313 COP 1.3M

$503 ₡251.9K

-37.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,023 COP 25.1M

$7,131 ₡3.6M

-15.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.4 COP 247.5K

$61.2 ₡30.6K

-3.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.15 COP 134K

$51.6 ₡25.8K

-37.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 426.2K

$110 ₡54.8K

-6.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 446K

$80.5 ₡40.3K

32.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$479 COP 2M

$763 ₡381.8K

-37.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$375 COP 1.6M

$602 ₡301.3K

-37.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$834 COP 3.5M

$752 ₡376.3K

11.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 3M

$763 ₡382.1K

-5.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,181 COP 9.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,515 COP 6.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$561 COP 2.3M

$1,620 ₡810.9K

-65.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

34.30%

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

Last update for Medellin: November 5, 2025

Last update for Cartago: November 5, 2025

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