Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Γ‰rd Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Γ‰rd

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,055 in Γ‰rd.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $1,758 in Γ‰rd.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $2,460 in Γ‰rd.

Living in Medellin costs roughly 4% less than in Γ‰rd, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 24% lower, Γ‰rd 21% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Γ‰rd
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99 COPΒ 21.4K
$10.61 FtΒ 3,236
-43.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86 COPΒ 117.4K
$46.64 FtΒ 14.2K
-29.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.09 COPΒ 25.3K
$9.82 FtΒ 2,995
-27.80%
Cappuccino
$1.71 COPΒ 6,115
$2.58 FtΒ 786
-33.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COPΒ 3,924
$1.12 FtΒ 341
-1.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COPΒ 2,781
$1.05 FtΒ 319
-25.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.68 COPΒ 5,997
$1.78 FtΒ 543
-5.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 COPΒ 11.0K
$1.70 FtΒ 518
80.59%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Γ‰rd
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COPΒ 3,906
$1.13 FtΒ 346
-3.54%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COPΒ 4,508
$1.53 FtΒ 465
-17.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COPΒ 4,922
$2.73 FtΒ 831
-49.45%
Eggs
$2.19 COPΒ 7,827
$2.88 FtΒ 877
-23.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.40 COPΒ 15.7K
$9.41 FtΒ 2,869
-53.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.63 COPΒ 20.1K
$5.60 FtΒ 1,708
0.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.89 COPΒ 31.8K
$11.98 FtΒ 3,653
-25.79%
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 COPΒ 8,349
$1.63 FtΒ 496
43.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COPΒ 3,777
$1.82 FtΒ 555
-41.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.50 COPΒ 5,374
$1.92 FtΒ 585
-21.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.38 COPΒ 4,924
$3.00 FtΒ 914
-54.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 COPΒ 4,111
$1.08 FtΒ 329
6.48%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 COPΒ 4,155
$1.21 FtΒ 368
-4.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COPΒ 3,182
$1.51 FtΒ 460
-41.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COPΒ 2,997
$0.52 FtΒ 158
61.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28 COPΒ 8,145
$7.09 FtΒ 2,161
-67.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.64 COPΒ 38.0K
$5.16 FtΒ 1,573
106.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COPΒ 4,284
$1.13 FtΒ 345
6.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 COPΒ 8,824
$1.45 FtΒ 443
70.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Γ‰rd
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COPΒ 3,056
$1.31 FtΒ 400
-34.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.40 COPΒ 147.9K
$28.19 FtΒ 8,597
46.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COPΒ 5,264
$2.93 FtΒ 894
-49.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COPΒ 7,009
$1.16 FtΒ 355
68.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.74 COPΒ 27.6K
$17.53 FtΒ 5,348
-55.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 COPΒ 3,409
$1.75 FtΒ 532
-45.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K COPΒ 64.7M
$26.4K FtΒ 8.0M
-31.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K COPΒ 94.6M
$30.8K FtΒ 9.4M
-14.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Γ‰rd
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.3 COPΒ 293.7K
$92.3 FtΒ 28.1K
-10.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50 COPΒ 33.9K
$11.36 FtΒ 3,466
-16.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23 COPΒ 86.5K
$17.28 FtΒ 5,271
40.22%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Γ‰rd
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.89 COPΒ 92.4K
$48.71 FtΒ 14.9K
-46.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00 COPΒ 67.9K
$16.96 FtΒ 5,173
12.03%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93 COPΒ 14.0K
$8.80 FtΒ 2,683
-55.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Γ‰rd
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$309 COPΒ 1.1M
$297 FtΒ 90.6K
4.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,965 COPΒ 21.3M
$6,716 FtΒ 2.0M
-11.18%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Γ‰rd
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 COPΒ 209.5K
$71.6 FtΒ 21.8K
-18.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35 COPΒ 115.5K
$27.48 FtΒ 8,382
17.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COPΒ 366.4K
$74.6 FtΒ 22.8K
37.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COPΒ 387.2K
$85.7 FtΒ 26.1K
26.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Γ‰rd
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$476 COPΒ 1.7M
$395 FtΒ 120.5K
20.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COPΒ 1.4M
$315 FtΒ 95.9K
20.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$838 COPΒ 3.0M
$682 FtΒ 207.9K
22.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$724 COPΒ 2.6M
$688 FtΒ 209.9K
5.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,791 COPΒ 10.0M
$3,018 FtΒ 920.3K
-7.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,211 COPΒ 4.3M
$2,510 FtΒ 765.4K
-51.74%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Γ‰rd
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$512 COPΒ 1.8M
$1,267 FtΒ 386.4K
-59.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
7.4
81.49%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Γ‰rd: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $395 in Γ‰rd. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Γ‰rd pays 148% 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 $47.00 in Γ‰rd for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $220 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 Γ‰rd: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Γ‰rd?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Γ‰rd. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or Γ‰rd?
On paper, Γ‰rd earns 148% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin vs Γ‰rd?
Rent for a central apartment: $476 in Medellin versus $395 in Γ‰rd. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to Γ‰rd?
All in, you'll spend $1,013 per month in Medellin versus $1,055 in Γ‰rd – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Medellin vs Γ‰rd?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 47% less than in Γ‰rd. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Medellin or Γ‰rd?
At $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,055 in Γ‰rd, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Γ‰rd. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Γ‰rd?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,013 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
How safe is Medellin compared to Γ‰rd?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Γ‰rd 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Γ‰rd. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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