πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,122 in ChampotΓ³n.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $1,814 in ChampotΓ³n.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $2,505 in ChampotΓ³n.
πLiving in Medellin costs roughly 10% less than in ChampotΓ³n, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Medellin24% lower, ChampotΓ³n16% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
ChampotΓ³n
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99COPΒ 21.4K
$10.79MX$187
-44.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86COPΒ 117.2K
$49.32MX$855
-33.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09COPΒ 25.3K
$8.07MX$140
-12.14%
Cappuccino
$1.71COPΒ 6,105
$3.70MX$64.2
-53.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,918
$1.16MX$20.08
-5.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COPΒ 2,776
$1.07MX$18.49
-27.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68COPΒ 5,987
$2.80MX$48.44
-40.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07COPΒ 10.9K
$4.04MX$70.0
-24.01%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
ChampotΓ³n
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09COPΒ 3,899
$1.07MX$18.57
1.87%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COPΒ 4,500
$2.13MX$36.96
-40.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,914
$1.54MX$26.73
-10.39%
Eggs
$2.19COPΒ 7,813
$1.92MX$33.29
14.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.40COPΒ 15.7K
$10.10MX$175
-56.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63COPΒ 20.1K
$6.96MX$121
-19.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89COPΒ 31.7K
$6.67MX$116
33.28%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COPΒ 8,334
$2.82MX$48.85
-17.02%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COPΒ 3,771
$1.42MX$24.55
-25.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50COPΒ 5,365
$2.13MX$36.99
-29.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,915
$1.80MX$31.16
-23.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COPΒ 4,104
$2.17MX$37.63
-47.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COPΒ 4,148
$1.96MX$34.03
-40.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,176
$1.08MX$18.71
-17.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COPΒ 2,992
$0.94MX$16.23
-10.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28COPΒ 8,131
$4.17MX$72.2
-45.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.64COPΒ 37.9K
$10.08MX$175
5.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COPΒ 4,276
$1.37MX$23.79
-12.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COPΒ 8,809
$2.88MX$49.91
-14.24%
π Getting Around
Medellin
ChampotΓ³n
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86COPΒ 3,051
$0.60MX$10.45
43.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.40COPΒ 147.6K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COPΒ 5,255
$2.35MX$40.64
-37.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96COPΒ 6,997
$1.58MX$27.43
24.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.74COPΒ 27.6K
$6.50MX$113
19.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95COPΒ 3,403
$1.32MX$22.85
-28.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOPΒ 64.6M
$15.9KMX$275.9K
13.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 94.4M
$21.6KMX$374.0K
22.72%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
ChampotΓ³n
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.3COPΒ 293.2K
$85.5MX$1,482
-3.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50COPΒ 33.9K
$23.52MX$408
-59.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23COPΒ 86.4K
$28.58MX$495
-15.22%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
ChampotΓ³n
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.89COPΒ 92.3K
$35.64MX$618
-27.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00COPΒ 67.7K
$16.09MX$279
18.09%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93COPΒ 14.0K
$4.67MX$80.9
-15.85%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
ChampotΓ³n
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309COPΒ 1.1M
$209MX$3,618
48.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,965COPΒ 21.3M
$3,460MX$60.0K
72.38%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
ChampotΓ³n
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COPΒ 209.1K
$55.6MX$963
5.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35COPΒ 115.3K
$47.96MX$831
-32.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103COPΒ 365.7K
$89.6MX$1,553
14.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COPΒ 386.5K
$84.5MX$1,464
28.37%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
ChampotΓ³n
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COPΒ 1.7M
$516MX$8,947
-7.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.4M
$403MX$6,980
-5.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COPΒ 3.0M
$919MX$15.9K
-8.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$724COPΒ 2.6M
$755MX$13.1K
-4.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,791COPΒ 9.9M
$1,949MX$33.8K
43.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,211COPΒ 4.3M
$1,150MX$19.9K
5.37%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
ChampotΓ³n
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$512COPΒ 1.8M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
11.68
14.98%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Last update for ChampotΓ³n: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $516 in ChampotΓ³n. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
πDining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $49.00 in ChampotΓ³n for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $230 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.
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 ChampotΓ³n: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or ChampotΓ³n?
Medellin wins on cost β living expenses run 11% lower than in ChampotΓ³n. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin vs ChampotΓ³n?
You'd need roughly $1,519 in Medellin and $1,684 in ChampotΓ³n 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin vs ChampotΓ³n?
Rent for a central apartment: $476 in Medellin versus $516 in ChampotΓ³n. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Medellin and ChampotΓ³n?
Childcare runs $309 in Medellin versus $209 in ChampotΓ³n. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin vs ChampotΓ³n?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin β a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $49.00 in ChampotΓ³n. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Medellin or ChampotΓ³n?
At $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,122 in ChampotΓ³n, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in ChampotΓ³n. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or ChampotΓ³n?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value β similar infrastructure at $1,013 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
How safe is Medellin compared to ChampotΓ³n?
Safety-wise, Medellin and ChampotΓ³n are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet β expenses run 11% less than in ChampotΓ³n. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.