Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ciudad del Este Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ciudad del Este

😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 85.4% more expensive than Ciudad del Este without rent, and 165.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Medellin is 64.8% more expensive than Ciudad del Este without rent, and 90.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Ciudad del Este
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.03 COP 22.7K
$2.53 ₲16.4K
138.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.17 COP 124.8K
$14.79 ₲95.8K
124.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.29 COP 27.4K
$4.33 ₲28.0K
68.36%
Cappuccino
$1.63 COP 6,134
$1.71 ₲11.0K
-4.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,948
$0.85 ₲5,472
23.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,899
$0.46 ₲2,990
67.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.73 COP 6,511
$1.24 ₲8,054
39.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 12.0K
$1.92 ₲12.4K
65.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Ciudad del Este
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 COP 4,016
$0.72 ₲4,670
48.61%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,935
$1.01 ₲6,515
29.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 5,196
$0.88 ₲5,714
56.82%
Eggs
$2.25 COP 8,458
$1.59 ₲10.3K
41.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.48 COP 16.9K
$6.14 ₲39.7K
-27.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.74 COP 21.6K
$2.73 ₲17.7K
110.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.86 COP 33.4K
$5.40 ₲35.0K
64.07%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COP 8,440
$1.48 ₲9,577
51.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,989
$0.74 ₲4,785
43.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 5,698
$0.85 ₲5,478
77.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 5,120
$1.00 ₲6,464
36.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,219
$0.57 ₲3,710
96.49%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 4,401
$0.66 ₲4,254
77.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 3,396
$0.40 ₲2,579
125.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,150
$0.32 ₲2,086
162.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26 COP 8,502
$1.03 ₲6,671
119.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.97 COP 37.5K
$4.73 ₲30.6K
110.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,452
$0.57 ₲3,717
107.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 COP 8,995
$1.39 ₲9,002
71.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Ciudad del Este
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COP 3,234
$0.66 ₲4,257
30.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.45 COP 156.0K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COP 5,522
$0.61 ₲3,956
140.98%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 7,324
$0.75 ₲4,851
160.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.76 COP 29.2K
$8.77 ₲56.8K
-11.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COP 3,641
$0.88 ₲5,703
10.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COP 67.6M
$14.5K ₲93.6M
24.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K COP 100.6M
$24.3K ₲157.5M
9.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Ciudad del Este
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.1 COP 305.2K
$42.11 ₲272.7K
92.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.40 COP 35.4K
$13.97 ₲90.4K
-32.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.61 COP 88.8K
$13.30 ₲86.1K
77.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Ciudad del Este
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.55 COP 96.1K
$18.48 ₲119.6K
38.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.29 COP 72.6K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.10 COP 15.4K
$4.20 ₲27.2K
-2.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Ciudad del Este
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COP 1.2M
$168 ₲1.1M
82.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,899 COP 22.2M
$1,368 ₲8.9M
331.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Ciudad del Este
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.8 COP 225.1K
$49.97 ₲323.6K
19.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.96 COP 120.3K
$30.75 ₲199.1K
3.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 386.5K
$72.9 ₲472.2K
40.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 406.0K
$52.2 ₲338.0K
106.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Ciudad del Este
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$483 COP 1.8M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$377 COP 1.4M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$822 COP 3.1M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$721 COP 2.7M
$298 ₲1.9M
141.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 COP 10.5M
$1,693 ₲11.0M
64.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,320 COP 5.0M
$1,212 ₲7.8M
8.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Ciudad del Este
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$538 COP 2.0M
$544 ₲3.5M
-1.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
10.17
32.06%

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

Last update for Medellin: March 3, 2026

Last update for Ciudad del Este: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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