😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,028 in Medellin versus $754 in Ellerton.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,586 in Medellin versus $1,121 in Ellerton.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,144 in Medellin versus $1,488 in Ellerton.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 36% more expensive than in Ellerton, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin23% lower, Ellerton43% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Ellerton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.00COP 20.6K
$7.58BBD 15.17
-20.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.84COP 112.9K
-
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.42COP 25.5K
$4.93BBD 9.86
50.51%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,675
$1.01BBD 2.02
63.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07COP 3,673
$1.80BBD 3.59
-40.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76COP 2,614
$1.27BBD 2.53
-40.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,925
$1.79BBD 3.58
-3.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20COP 11.0K
$2.20BBD 4.40
45.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Ellerton
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,607
$2.05BBD 4.10
-48.78%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31COP 4,492
$1.80BBD 3.60
-27.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.34COP 4,604
-
-
Eggs
$2.19COP 7,543
-
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.41COP 15.2K
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.69COP 19.6K
-
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.52COP 29.3K
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COP 8,046
-
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,815
-
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 5,225
-
-
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,694
-
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COP 3,962
-
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.18COP 4,055
-
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.84COP 2,893
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86COP 2,940
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26COP 7,776
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$11.60COP 39.9K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 4,121
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 8,508
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Ellerton
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,729
$1.82BBD 3.64
-56.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.83COP 140.4K
$20.11BBD 40.22
103.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COP 5,038
$24.58BBD 49.16
-94.02%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,587
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.77COP 26.7K
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COP 3,474
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7KCOP 60.7M
$50.5KBBD 101.0K
-65.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOP 90.9M
$44.5KBBD 89.0K
-40.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Ellerton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.1COP 278.8K
$98.7BBD 197
-17.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.43COP 32.4K
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.86COP 82.0K
$80.5BBD 161
-70.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Ellerton
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.99COP 89.4K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.71COP 64.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.09COP 14.1K
$10.10BBD 20.19
-59.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Ellerton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$315COP 1.1M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,022COP 20.7M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Ellerton
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.7COP 205.2K
$59.3BBD 119
0.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.97COP 109.9K
$35.15BBD 70.3
-9.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 347.9K
$70.9BBD 142
42.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105COP 361.3K
$83.5BBD 167
25.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Ellerton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$485COP 1.7M
$303BBD 606
60.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$365COP 1.3M
$250BBD 501
45.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$827COP 2.8M
$741BBD 1,482
11.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.5M
$598BBD 1,196
22.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,992COP 10.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,314COP 4.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Ellerton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$551COP 1.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: June 15, 2026
Last update for Ellerton: June 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $485 in Medellin and $303 in Ellerton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
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 Ellerton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ellerton cheaper than Medellin?
Ellerton is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 36% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,542 in Medellin and $1,130 in Ellerton to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Ellerton?
Rent for a central apartment: $485 in Medellin versus $303 in Ellerton. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Ellerton?
Supermarket bills run roughly 393% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Ellerton runs roughly 103% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Ellerton?
At $754 in Ellerton versus $1,028 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ellerton but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Ellerton the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Ellerton more family-friendly?
For families, Ellerton is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Ellerton?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Ellerton 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 Ellerton gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.