Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Catacamas Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Catacamas

Monthly Cost of Living

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 – Medellin 23% lower, Catacamas 56% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Catacamas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16 COP 20.1K
$5.88 HNL 157
4.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60 COP 106.1K
$37.01 HNL 989
-11.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.34 COP 23.9K
$7.82 HNL 209
-6.14%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 5,599
$2.31 HNL 61.6
-25.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,420
$0.94 HNL 25.16
11.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,515
$1.12 HNL 30.05
-31.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 COP 5,487
$1.18 HNL 31.58
43.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.3K
$2.63 HNL 70.3
20.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Catacamas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,423
$1.46 HNL 39.10
-28.08%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COP 4,236
$2.09 HNL 56.0
-37.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 COP 4,544
$1.22 HNL 32.70
14.75%
Eggs
$2.16 COP 7,046
$2.11 HNL 56.4
2.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.39 COP 14.3K
$6.03 HNL 161
-27.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COP 19.1K
$3.87 HNL 103
51.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 28.1K
$7.98 HNL 213
8.27%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 COP 7,425
$2.89 HNL 77.2
-21.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,603
$1.51 HNL 40.47
-26.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,982
$1.46 HNL 38.95
4.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 COP 4,410
$1.52 HNL 40.69
-11.18%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,674
$1.58 HNL 42.35
-28.48%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,692
$1.41 HNL 37.63
-19.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 2,753
$0.83 HNL 22.29
2.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 2,975
$1.72 HNL 45.93
-47.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 COP 7,629
$2.44 HNL 65.2
-4.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.37 COP 40.3K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 3,909
$1.28 HNL 34.27
-6.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 8,104
$1.86 HNL 49.70
33.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Catacamas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,727
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.57 COP 132.1K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,623
$4.31 HNL 115
-67.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 COP 6,235
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.66 COP 24.9K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,223
$1.02 HNL 27.28
-2.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K COP 58.7M
$18.9K HNL 505.4K
-4.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K COP 86.7M
$19.3K HNL 516.7K
37.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Catacamas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 COP 263.1K
$82.1 HNL 2,196
-1.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95 COP 32.4K
$8.80 HNL 235
13.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18 COP 78.7K
$41.71 HNL 1,115
-42.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Catacamas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.08 COP 81.6K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15 COP 62.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.98 COP 13.0K
$5.89 HNL 157
-32.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Catacamas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 993.4K
$246 HNL 6,573
24.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,059 COP 19.7M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Catacamas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 COP 189.2K
$46.39 HNL 1,240
25.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20 COP 104.8K
$35.63 HNL 953
-9.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 327.9K
$107 HNL 2,867
-6.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 350.8K
$103 HNL 2,743
5.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Catacamas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 COP 1.6M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 COP 1.2M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 COP 2.7M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$730 COP 2.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,215 COP 10.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,372 COP 4.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Catacamas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 COP 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.

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