Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Chalan Pago Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Chalan Pago

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,555 in Medellin versus $416 in Chalan Pago.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,314 in Medellin versus $221 in Chalan Pago.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,072 in Medellin versus $25.38 in Chalan Pago.

Living in Medellin is roughly 274% more expensive than in Chalan Pago, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 15% above, Chalan Pago is 69% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.59 COP 24.7K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.78 COP 145.7K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.24 COP 30.1K

Cappuccino

$2.95 COP 9,591

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

$1.80 COP 5,861

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 COP 4,391

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 COP 9,544

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.46 COP 17.8K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 COP 4,663

White Bread (500g)

$2.39 COP 7,785

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 COP 5,209

Eggs

$2.88 COP 9,364

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.71 COP 31.6K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.44 COP 30.7K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.24 COP 43.1K

Apples (1kg)

$3.75 COP 12.2K

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 COP 4,703

Oranges (1kg)

$2.10 COP 6,829

Tomato (1kg)

$2.13 COP 6,930

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 COP 6,259

Onion (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,984

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 COP 3,549

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 COP 3,843

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.79 COP 12.3K

Wine (Bottle)

$13.16 COP 42.8K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 COP 5,337

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 COP 7,410

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.18 COP 3,825

$2.53 $2.53

-53.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.6 COP 239.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.28 COP 4,157

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.98 COP 6,434

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 25.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 COP 4,211

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

$26.8K COP 87.2M

$18.8K $18.8K

42.28%

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

$34.7K COP 112.9M

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

$158 COP 513.6K

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

$13.39 COP 43.6K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.28 COP 88.8K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.15 COP 143.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.99 COP 52.0K

Cinema Ticket

$6.39 COP 20.8K

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

$777 COP 2.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,800 COP 28.6M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$82.7 COP 269.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.1 COP 182.6K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$131 COP 425.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.9 COP 312.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 COP 3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$627 COP 2.0M

$400 $400

56.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,826 COP 5.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$969 COP 3.2M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,907 COP 12.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,576 COP 5.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$620 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

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

Last update for Medellin: September 28, 2026

Last update for Chalan Pago: September 27, 2026

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 Chalan Pago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chalan Pago wins on cost – living expenses run 274% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Chalan Pago the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $2,333 in Medellin and $624 in Chalan Pago to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

At $416 in Chalan Pago versus $1,555 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chalan Pago but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Chalan Pago the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Chalan Pago delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $416 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Chalan Pago hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Medellin and Chalan Pago are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Chalan Pago gentler on the wallet – expenses run 274% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.