Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Cromwell Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Cromwell

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,031 in Medellin versus $1,819 in Cromwell.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,599 in Medellin versus $2,839 in Cromwell.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,167 in Medellin versus $3,859 in Cromwell.

Living in Medellin costs roughly 43% less than in Cromwell, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% below, Cromwell is 36% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Cromwell
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16 COP 20.1K
$11.87 NZ$20.32
-48.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60 COP 106.1K
$72.1 NZ$123
-54.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.34 COP 23.9K
$10.98 NZ$18.81
-33.15%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 5,600
$3.44 NZ$5.89
-50.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,420
$2.31 NZ$3.95
-54.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,515
$2.07 NZ$3.55
-62.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 COP 5,488
$7.40 NZ$12.68
-77.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.3K
$6.06 NZ$10.37
-47.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Cromwell
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,423
$2.16 NZ$3.70
-51.39%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COP 4,236
$1.97 NZ$3.38
-34.01%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 COP 4,544
$1.88 NZ$3.21
-25.53%
Eggs
$2.16 COP 7,047
$5.61 NZ$9.61
-61.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.39 COP 14.3K
$8.37 NZ$14.33
-47.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COP 19.1K
$10.52 NZ$18.01
-44.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 28.1K
$13.17 NZ$22.55
-34.40%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 COP 7,426
$2.94 NZ$5.03
-22.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,604
$2.33 NZ$4.00
-52.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,983
$3.46 NZ$5.92
-55.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 COP 4,410
$4.48 NZ$7.66
-69.87%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,674
$1.97 NZ$3.38
-42.64%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,692
$1.98 NZ$3.39
-42.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 2,753
$2.48 NZ$4.25
-65.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 2,975
$1.11 NZ$1.91
-18.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 COP 7,630
$24.49 NZ$41.94
-90.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.37 COP 40.3K
$9.04 NZ$15.47
36.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 3,909
$2.52 NZ$4.32
-52.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 8,104
$3.62 NZ$6.20
-31.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Cromwell
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,728
$2.13 NZ$3.65
-60.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.57 COP 132.1K
$62.8 NZ$108
-35.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,623
$2.78 NZ$4.76
-48.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 COP 6,235
$1.10 NZ$1.88
74.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.66 COP 24.9K
$30.56 NZ$52.3
-74.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,223
$1.64 NZ$2.81
-39.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K COP 58.7M
$19.8K NZ$33.8K
-8.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K COP 86.7M
$25.8K NZ$44.1K
3.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Cromwell
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 COP 263.1K
$100 NZ$171
-19.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95 COP 32.4K
$36.31 NZ$62.2
-72.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18 COP 78.7K
$56.0 NZ$95.8
-56.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Cromwell
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.08 COP 81.7K
$36.90 NZ$63.2
-32.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15 COP 62.3K
$12.02 NZ$20.58
59.32%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98 COP 13.0K
$9.10 NZ$15.58
-56.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Cromwell
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 993.5K
$596 NZ$1,021
-48.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,059 COP 19.7M
$13.3K NZ$22.9K
-54.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Cromwell
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 COP 189.2K
$65.2 NZ$112
-10.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20 COP 104.8K
$35.22 NZ$60.3
-8.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 327.9K
$96.7 NZ$166
4.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 350.8K
$124 NZ$212
-13.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Cromwell
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 COP 1.6M
$965 NZ$1,653
-50.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 COP 1.2M
$785 NZ$1,344
-52.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 COP 2.7M
$1,565 NZ$2,680
-46.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$730 COP 2.4M
$1,378 NZ$2,360
-47.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,215 COP 10.5M
$4,752 NZ$8,136
-32.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,372 COP 4.5M
$3,426 NZ$5,866
-59.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Cromwell
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 COP 2.0M
$3,070 NZ$5,256
-79.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
6.6
103.48%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Cromwell: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $477 in Medellin and $965 in Cromwell. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cromwell pays 398% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $72.0 in Cromwell for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $325 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 Cromwell: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cromwell cheaper than Medellin?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 77% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Cromwell?
On paper, salaries run 398% lower in Cromwell. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Cromwell?
Rent for a central apartment: $477 in Medellin versus $965 in Cromwell. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Cromwell?
Supermarket bills run roughly 68% higher in Cromwell. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Cromwell?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $72.0 in Cromwell. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Cromwell?
At $1,031 in Medellin versus $1,819 in Cromwell, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Cromwell. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Cromwell more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cromwell, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Cromwell?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Cromwell 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 77% less than in Cromwell. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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