Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and ΓrdCost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Γrd
Monthly Cost of Living
πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,055 in Γrd.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $1,758 in Γrd.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $2,460 in Γrd.
πLiving in Medellin costs roughly 4% less than in Γrd, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Medellin24% lower, Γrd21% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Γrd
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99COPΒ 21.4K
$10.61FtΒ 3,236
-43.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86COPΒ 117.4K
$46.64FtΒ 14.2K
-29.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09COPΒ 25.3K
$9.82FtΒ 2,995
-27.80%
Cappuccino
$1.71COPΒ 6,115
$2.58FtΒ 786
-33.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,924
$1.12FtΒ 341
-1.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COPΒ 2,781
$1.05FtΒ 319
-25.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68COPΒ 5,997
$1.78FtΒ 543
-5.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07COPΒ 11.0K
$1.70FtΒ 518
80.59%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Γrd
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09COPΒ 3,906
$1.13FtΒ 346
-3.54%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COPΒ 4,508
$1.53FtΒ 465
-17.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,922
$2.73FtΒ 831
-49.45%
Eggs
$2.19COPΒ 7,827
$2.88FtΒ 877
-23.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.40COPΒ 15.7K
$9.41FtΒ 2,869
-53.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63COPΒ 20.1K
$5.60FtΒ 1,708
0.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89COPΒ 31.8K
$11.98FtΒ 3,653
-25.79%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COPΒ 8,349
$1.63FtΒ 496
43.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COPΒ 3,777
$1.82FtΒ 555
-41.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50COPΒ 5,374
$1.92FtΒ 585
-21.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,924
$3.00FtΒ 914
-54.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COPΒ 4,111
$1.08FtΒ 329
6.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COPΒ 4,155
$1.21FtΒ 368
-4.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,182
$1.51FtΒ 460
-41.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COPΒ 2,997
$0.52FtΒ 158
61.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28COPΒ 8,145
$7.09FtΒ 2,161
-67.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.64COPΒ 38.0K
$5.16FtΒ 1,573
106.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COPΒ 4,284
$1.13FtΒ 345
6.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COPΒ 8,824
$1.45FtΒ 443
70.34%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Γrd
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86COPΒ 3,056
$1.31FtΒ 400
-34.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.40COPΒ 147.9K
$28.19FtΒ 8,597
46.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COPΒ 5,264
$2.93FtΒ 894
-49.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96COPΒ 7,009
$1.16FtΒ 355
68.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.74COPΒ 27.6K
$17.53FtΒ 5,348
-55.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95COPΒ 3,409
$1.75FtΒ 532
-45.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOPΒ 64.7M
$26.4KFtΒ 8.0M
-31.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 94.6M
$30.8KFtΒ 9.4M
-14.06%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Γrd
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.3COPΒ 293.7K
$92.3FtΒ 28.1K
-10.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50COPΒ 33.9K
$11.36FtΒ 3,466
-16.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23COPΒ 86.5K
$17.28FtΒ 5,271
40.22%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Γrd
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.89COPΒ 92.4K
$48.71FtΒ 14.9K
-46.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00COPΒ 67.9K
$16.96FtΒ 5,173
12.03%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93COPΒ 14.0K
$8.80FtΒ 2,683
-55.34%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Γrd
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309COPΒ 1.1M
$297FtΒ 90.6K
4.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,965COPΒ 21.3M
$6,716FtΒ 2.0M
-11.18%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Γrd
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COPΒ 209.5K
$71.6FtΒ 21.8K
-18.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35COPΒ 115.5K
$27.48FtΒ 8,382
17.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103COPΒ 366.4K
$74.6FtΒ 22.8K
37.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COPΒ 387.2K
$85.7FtΒ 26.1K
26.46%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Γrd
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COPΒ 1.7M
$395FtΒ 120.5K
20.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.4M
$315FtΒ 95.9K
20.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COPΒ 3.0M
$682FtΒ 207.9K
22.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$724COPΒ 2.6M
$688FtΒ 209.9K
5.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,791COPΒ 10.0M
$3,018FtΒ 920.3K
-7.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,211COPΒ 4.3M
$2,510FtΒ 765.4K
-51.74%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Γrd
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$512COPΒ 1.8M
$1,267FtΒ 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 β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Last update for Γrd: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $395 in Γrd. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Γrd 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.
πDining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $47.00 in Γrd 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 Γrd: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Γrd?
Medellin wins on cost β living expenses run 4% lower than in Γrd. 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 Γrd?
On paper, Γrd 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 Γrd?
Rent for a central apartment: $476 in Medellin versus $395 in Γrd. 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 Γrd?
All in, you'll spend $1,013 per month in Medellin versus $1,055 in Γrd β a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Medellin vs Γrd?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 47% less than in Γrd. 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 Γrd?
At $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,055 in Γrd, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Γrd. 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 Γrd?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value β 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 Γrd?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Γrd 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 β expenses run 4% less than in Γrd. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.