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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,003 in Medellin versus $2,084 in Des Moines, IA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,573 in Medellin versus $3,130 in Des Moines, IA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,143 in Medellin versus $4,177 in Des Moines, IA.

Living in Medellin costs roughly 52% less than in Des Moines, IA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 25% below, Des Moines, IA is 57% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$15.77 $15.77

-62.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$78.9 $78.9

-58.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$11.80 $11.80

-37.03%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$4.87 $4.87

-66.12%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$2.31 $2.31

-52.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$1.95 $1.95

-60.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$5.14 $5.14

-66.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$6.95 $6.95

-54.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$0.91 $0.91

20.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$2.53 $2.53

-50.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$2.25 $2.25

-38.67%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$3.66 $3.66

-40.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$12.55 $12.55

-64.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$10.62 $10.62

-45.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$12.82 $12.82

-30.03%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$4.39 $4.39

-47.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$1.50 $1.50

-29.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$3.65 $3.65

-58.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$3.41 $3.41

-60.12%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$1.60 $1.60

-29.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$2.95 $2.95

-60.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$2.29 $2.29

-60.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$1.13 $1.13

-20.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$7.02 $7.02

-68.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$15.17 $15.17

-20.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$1.68 $1.68

-29.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$4.10 $4.10

-39.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$1.79 $1.79

-52.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$58.3 $58.3

-28.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$1.96 $1.96

-27.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$1.23 $1.23

58.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$20.18 $20.18

-60.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$0.78 $0.78

26.92%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$25.7K $25.7K

-31.45%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$24.3K $24.3K

10.08%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$147 $147

-43.52%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$50.4 $50.4

-80.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$54.2 $54.2

-56.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$66.1 $66.1

-61.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$19.61 $19.61

-2.60%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$15.11 $15.11

-73.86%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$1,353 $1,353

-76.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$11.9K $11.9K

-49.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$53.4 $53.4

12.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$41.44 $41.44

-23.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$73.6 $73.6

38.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$128 $128

-16.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$1,246 $1,246

-61.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$923 $923

-59.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$1,732 $1,732

-50.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$1,488 $1,488

-51.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$2,302 $2,302

41.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

$2,294 $2,294

-37.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$3,975 $3,975

-84.29%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Des Moines, IA: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $475 in Medellin and $1,246 in Des Moines, IA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Des Moines, IA pays 537% 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 $79.0 in Des Moines, IA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $330 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 Des Moines, IA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 108% lower than in Des Moines, IA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 537% lower in Des Moines, IA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $475 in Medellin versus $1,246 in Des Moines, IA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $79.0 in Des Moines, IA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,003 per month in Medellin versus $2,084 in Des Moines, IA – a 108% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,003 in Medellin versus $2,084 in Des Moines, IA, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Des Moines, IA. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,003 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Medellin and Des Moines, IA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 108% less than in Des Moines, IA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.