Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Des Moines, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Des Moines, IA

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 46.8% cheaper than Des Moines, IA without rent, and 52.3% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 44.9% cheaper than Des Moines, IA without rent, and 47.1% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 22.5K

$15.97 $15.97

-62.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.19 COP 122.7K

$78.6 $78.6

-59.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.21 COP 27.5K

$11.86 $11.86

-39.21%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 6,284

$4.79 $4.79

-65.55%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 COP 4,224

$2.37 $2.37

-53.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 COP 2,716

$1.94 $1.94

-63.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,637

$5.1 $5.1

-65.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 COP 12.2K

$6.89 $6.89

-53.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.1 COP 4,176

$0.92 $0.92

19.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.3 COP 4,965

$2.57 $2.57

-49.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,302

$2.22 $2.22

-37.39%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 8,302

$3.51 $3.51

-37.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.54 COP 17.3K

$12.55 $12.55

-63.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.85 COP 22.3K

$10.49 $10.49

-44.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.62 COP 32.8K

$13.1 $13.1

-34.20%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,539

$4.39 $4.39

-48.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 4,080

$1.5 $1.5

-28.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,822

$3.64 $3.64

-57.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.41 COP 5,377

$3.54 $3.54

-60.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,269

$1.68 $1.68

-33.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.14 COP 4,343

$2.97 $2.97

-61.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.9 COP 3,418

$2.25 $2.25

-60.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,481

$1.13 $1.13

-19.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 8,932

$7.07 $7.07

-66.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.94 COP 37.9K

$13.81 $13.81

-28.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 COP 4,369

$1.76 $1.76

-34.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 9,066

$4.02 $4.02

-40.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 COP 3,069

$1.71 $1.71

-52.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 154.6K

$58.3 $58.3

-30.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.46 COP 5,572

$2.03 $2.03

-28.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.99 COP 7,570

$1.26 $1.26

57.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.96 COP 30.3K

$19.95 $19.95

-60.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,844

$0.76 $0.76

32.89%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.7K COP 67.3M

$25.7K $25.7K

-31.36%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.8K COP 102.1M

$24.9K $24.9K

7.69%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$80.8 COP 308K

$142 $142

-43.25%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.39 COP 35.8K

$52.1 $52.1

-81.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.51 COP 89.6K

$54.5 $54.5

-56.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.61 COP 97.6K

$65.5 $65.5

-60.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.95 COP 72.2K

$20.02 $20.02

-5.34%

Cinema Ticket

$4.12 COP 15.7K

$14.74 $14.74

-72.05%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$306 COP 1.2M

$1,364 $1,364

-77.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,875 COP 22.4M

$12K $12K

-50.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 COP 224K

$52.7 $52.7

11.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.9 COP 121.5K

$41.5 $41.5

-23.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 387.4K

$71.5 $71.5

42.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 413K

$124 $124

-12.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$478 COP 1.8M

$1,219 $1,219

-60.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$375 COP 1.4M

$906 $906

-58.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.2M

$1,730 $1,730

-51.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$727 COP 2.8M

$1,467 $1,467

-50.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,251 COP 8.6M

$2,294 $2,294

-1.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,598 COP 6.1M

$2,275 $2,275

-29.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$517 COP 2M

$3,582 $3,582

-85.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

6.5

106.62%

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

Last update for Medellin: December 1, 2025

Last update for Des Moines, IA: December 1, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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