Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Cuenca Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Cuenca

😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 4.1% more expensive than Cuenca without rent, and 11.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Medellin is 8% more expensive than Cuenca without rent, and 19.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Cuenca
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$3.44 $3.44
81.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$24.89 $24.89
29.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
$7.07 $7.07
4.53%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$2.47 $2.47
-30.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$0.79 $0.79
39.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
$0.66 $0.66
10.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$2.02 $2.02
-17.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$3.42 $3.42
-6.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Cuenca
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$1.14 $1.14
-4.39%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$1.68 $1.68
-26.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$1.5 $1.5
-11.33%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$2.18 $2.18
1.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$5.57 $5.57
-18.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$5.47 $5.47
4.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$6.36 $6.36
35.06%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$1.46 $1.46
54.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$1.04 $1.04
2.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$1.16 $1.16
30.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$1.06 $1.06
33.96%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$1.48 $1.48
-25.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$1.03 $1.03
14.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
$0.46 $0.46
93.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$1.07 $1.07
-21.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$5.77 $5.77
-59.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$9.91 $9.91
-5.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$1.43 $1.43
-17.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$3.16 $3.16
-21.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Cuenca
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
$0.34 $0.34
144.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
$27.02 $27.02
55.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
$0.68 $0.68
107.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
$0.98 $0.98
100.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$13.4 $13.4
-41.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 4,265
$0.66 $0.66
54.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 73.4M
$29.7K $29.7K
-40.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
$29K $29K
-9.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Cuenca
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COP 344.1K
$39.72 $39.72
107.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$13.99 $13.99
-32.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
$30.92 $30.92
-23.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Cuenca
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
$28.84 $28.84
-10.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
$5.06 $5.06
278.26%
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
$7.45 $7.45
-46.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Cuenca
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
$259 $259
17.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
$5,712 $5,712
3.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Cuenca
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
$55.7 $55.7
4.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
$53.2 $53.2
-40.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
$100 $100
3.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
$66.6 $66.6
58.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Cuenca
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
$366 $366
33.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
$330 $330
14.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
$682 $682
21.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
$508 $508
43.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
$1,328 $1,328
64.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
$1,185 $1,185
29.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Cuenca
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
$481 $481
14.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
11.48
16.99%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

Last update for Cuenca: October 27, 2025

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