🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,681 in Medellin versus $1,904 in Cromwell.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,445 in Medellin versus $2,826 in Cromwell.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,210 in Medellin versus $3,748 in Cromwell.
🌍Living in Medellin costs roughly 12% less than in Cromwell, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medellin23% above, Cromwell39% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Cromwell
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 24.9K
$14.63NZ$25.44
-45.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 148.7K
$63.9NZ$111
-25.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 30.7K
$11.45NZ$19.91
-13.62%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,724
$3.44NZ$5.99
-9.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 5,928
$2.13NZ$3.70
-10.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,692
$2.10NZ$3.66
-28.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,705
$7.12NZ$12.38
-56.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 17.9K
$6.19NZ$10.76
-7.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Cromwell
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,489
$2.23NZ$3.87
-35.43%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,725
$1.98NZ$3.45
25.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,510
$1.73NZ$3.01
2.31%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,195
$5.87NZ$10.21
-49.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.3K
$8.39NZ$14.59
20.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.4K
$9.43NZ$16.40
7.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 44.4K
$16.69NZ$29.02
-14.32%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 12.8K
$3.11NZ$5.40
33.12%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 4,997
$2.35NZ$4.09
-31.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 6,976
$3.30NZ$5.74
-31.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 6,997
$5.30NZ$9.21
-57.55%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,347
$1.94NZ$3.37
5.15%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,769
$1.82NZ$3.16
-15.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,635
$2.34NZ$4.07
-50.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,059
$0.62NZ$1.07
111.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.1K
$21.54NZ$37.44
-81.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.5K
$8.97NZ$15.60
56.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,415
$3.21NZ$5.58
-45.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 8,917
$1.29NZ$2.23
122.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Cromwell
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,776
$1.99NZ$3.46
-38.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 250.0K
$80.9NZ$141
-0.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,066
$2.32NZ$4.04
-43.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,796
$1.62NZ$2.82
35.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.1K
$28.30NZ$49.21
-69.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,241
$1.75NZ$3.04
-21.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 86.5M
$26.5KNZ$46.0K
5.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 111.1M
$25.8KNZ$44.8K
38.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Cromwell
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 550.8K
$113NZ$196
57.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.1K
$29.78NZ$51.8
-53.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 92.4K
$53.2NZ$92.5
-44.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Cromwell
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 139.4K
$40.40NZ$70.2
11.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 53.2K
$6.73NZ$11.71
154.38%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.6K
$8.89NZ$15.45
-25.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Cromwell
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.5M
$828NZ$1,439
-1.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 28.5M
$12.5KNZ$21.7K
-26.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Cromwell
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 278.0K
$59.4NZ$103
50.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 183.2K
$35.45NZ$61.6
66.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 429.4K
$94.7NZ$165
45.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 317.3K
$140NZ$244
-27.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Cromwell
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
$932NZ$1,620
13.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$865NZ$1,504
-23.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 5.9M
$1,686NZ$2,930
12.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
$1,351NZ$2,349
-23.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.0M
$4,999NZ$8,691
-16.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.2M
$3,434NZ$5,970
-51.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Cromwell
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.1M
$3,087NZ$5,368
-78.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
6.6
65.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Cromwell: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,062 in Medellin and $932 in Cromwell. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cromwell pays 356% 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: $48.00 in Medellin vs $64.0 in Cromwell for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $305 vs $327 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, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Cromwell?
On paper, salaries run 356% 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: $1,062 in Medellin versus $932 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 7% 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 $48.00 versus $64.0 in Cromwell. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Cromwell?
At $1,681 in Medellin versus $1,904 in Cromwell, a $2,500 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 13% less than in Cromwell. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.