😐A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $587 in Catacamas, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $962 in Catacamas, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,336 in Catacamas, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 76% more than Catacamas, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Medellin and Catacamas are more affordable than the global median – Medellin23% lower, Catacamas56% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Catacamas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 20.1K
$5.88HNL 157
4.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 106.1K
$37.01HNL 989
-11.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.9K
$7.82HNL 209
-6.14%
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,599
$2.31HNL 61.6
-25.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,420
$0.94HNL 25.16
11.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,515
$1.12HNL 30.05
-31.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,487
$1.18HNL 31.58
43.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.3K
$2.63HNL 70.3
20.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Catacamas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,423
$1.46HNL 39.10
-28.08%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,236
$2.09HNL 56.0
-37.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,544
$1.22HNL 32.70
14.75%
Eggs
$2.16COP 7,046
$2.11HNL 56.4
2.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.3K
$6.03HNL 161
-27.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 19.1K
$3.87HNL 103
51.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 28.1K
$7.98HNL 213
8.27%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,425
$2.89HNL 77.2
-21.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,603
$1.51HNL 40.47
-26.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,982
$1.46HNL 38.95
4.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,410
$1.52HNL 40.69
-11.18%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,674
$1.58HNL 42.35
-28.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,692
$1.41HNL 37.63
-19.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,753
$0.83HNL 22.29
2.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,975
$1.72HNL 45.93
-47.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,629
$2.44HNL 65.2
-4.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 40.3K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,909
$1.28HNL 34.27
-6.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,104
$1.86HNL 49.70
33.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Catacamas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,727
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 132.1K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,623
$4.31HNL 115
-67.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,235
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.9K
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,223
$1.02HNL 27.28
-2.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
$18.9KHNL 505.4K
-4.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
$19.3KHNL 516.7K
37.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Catacamas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8COP 263.1K
$82.1HNL 2,196
-1.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.4K
$8.80HNL 235
13.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 78.7K
$41.71HNL 1,115
-42.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Catacamas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 81.6K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 62.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 13.0K
$5.89HNL 157
-32.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Catacamas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 993.4K
$246HNL 6,573
24.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.7M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Catacamas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 189.2K
$46.39HNL 1,240
25.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 104.8K
$35.63HNL 953
-9.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 327.9K
$107HNL 2,867
-6.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 350.8K
$103HNL 2,743
5.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Catacamas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.6M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Catacamas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
12
11.92%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Last update for Catacamas: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $37.00 in Catacamas. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $189 in Catacamas – so Catacamas wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Catacamas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Catacamas cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 76%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $880 in Catacamas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Catacamas?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $37.00 in Catacamas. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Catacamas?
Groceries cost about 2% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Catacamas?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Catacamas, where all-in costs run around $587, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Catacamas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Catacamas more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Catacamas – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Catacamas. 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.