😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,716 in Medellin versus $1,303 in Champotón.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,527 in Medellin versus $2,075 in Champotón.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,338 in Medellin versus $2,847 in Champotón.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 32% more expensive than in Champotón, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 25% above, Champotón is 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Champotón
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03COP 25.2K
$14.36MX$243
-44.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.26COP 151.7K
$58.9MX$996
-18.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.77COP 30.7K
$8.67MX$147
12.69%
Cappuccino
$2.91COP 9,149
$4.31MX$72.8
-32.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94COP 6,110
$1.17MX$19.83
65.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52COP 4,783
$1.20MX$20.21
26.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09COP 9,721
$2.98MX$50.4
3.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74COP 18.1K
$3.99MX$67.5
43.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Champotón
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,287
$1.08MX$18.34
25.93%
White Bread(500g)
$2.39COP 7,505
$2.14MX$36.16
11.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,346
$1.87MX$31.57
-9.09%
Eggs
$2.87COP 9,021
$2.11MX$35.67
36.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.94COP 31.2K
$11.12MX$188
-10.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.78COP 33.9K
$8.55MX$144
26.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.73COP 46.3K
$6.81MX$115
116.30%
Apples(1kg)
$4.09COP 12.8K
$3.03MX$51.3
34.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57COP 4,940
$1.56MX$26.37
0.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13COP 6,682
$2.26MX$38.17
-5.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.21COP 6,959
$2.14MX$36.10
3.27%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05COP 6,435
$2.40MX$40.56
-14.58%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50COP 4,728
$1.89MX$32.02
-20.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19COP 3,740
$1.55MX$26.15
-23.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16COP 3,640
$1.27MX$21.49
-8.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$4.76MX$80.4
-18.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.44COP 45.4K
$9.90MX$167
45.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58COP 4,978
$1.62MX$27.41
-2.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83COP 8,889
$2.76MX$46.64
2.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Champotón
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.17COP 3,672
$0.70MX$11.79
67.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.7COP 244.3K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.28COP 4,038
$3.01MX$50.9
-57.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.09COP 6,576
$4.13MX$69.9
-49.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.62COP 27.1K
$9.37MX$158
-8.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30COP 4,080
$1.64MX$27.75
-20.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7KCOP 86.9M
$22.3KMX$377.5K
23.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5KCOP 111.6M
$26.0KMX$439.6K
36.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Champotón
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$176COP 553.4K
$123MX$2,074
43.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37COP 42.0K
$22.96MX$388
-41.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.89COP 94.0K
$37.56MX$635
-20.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Champotón
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.76COP 140.7K
$32.29MX$546
38.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06COP 53.6K
$20.09MX$340
-15.08%
Cinema Ticket
$6.20COP 19.5K
$7.92MX$134
-21.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Champotón
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$793COP 2.5M
$274MX$4,631
189.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,019COP 28.4M
$3,924MX$66.3K
129.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Champotón
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6COP 269.1K
$59.5MX$1,006
43.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.5COP 183.8K
$58.0MX$980
0.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$136COP 428.4K
$108MX$1,833
25.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103COP 324.1K
$88.3MX$1,493
16.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Champotón
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,060COP 3.3M
$709MX$12.0K
49.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$680COP 2.1M
$447MX$7,558
51.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,012COP 6.3M
$1,234MX$20.9K
63.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,169COP 3.7M
$852MX$14.4K
37.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,111COP 12.9M
$2,003MX$33.9K
105.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,701COP 5.3M
$1,060MX$17.9K
60.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Champotón
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$665COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
11.64
-6.01%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Last update for Champotón: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,060 in Medellin and $709 in Champotón. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $59.0 in Champotón. Groceries flip the comparison at $303 vs $255, with Champotón cheaper for home cooking.
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 Champotón: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Champotón?
Champotón wins on cost – living expenses run 32% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Champotón the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin and in Champotón?
You'd need roughly $2,574 in Medellin and $1,955 in Champotón 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 compared to Champotón?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,060 in Medellin versus $709 in Champotón. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Medellin and in Champotón?
Childcare runs $793 in Medellin versus $274 in Champotón. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin and in Champotón?
Dining out is cheaper in Champotón – a meal for two runs $59.0 versus $48.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or in Champotón?
At $1,303 in Champotón versus $1,716 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Champotón but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Champotón the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Champotón?
Both work as nomad bases, but Champotón delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,303 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Champotón hard to pass up.
How safe is Medellin compared to Champotón?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Champotón 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 Champotón gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.