🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,034 in Medellin versus $2,564 in Fallston, MD.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,577 in Medellin versus $3,786 in Fallston, MD.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,120 in Medellin versus $5,008 in Fallston, MD.
🙂Living in Medellin costs roughly 60% less than in Fallston, MD, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% below, Fallston, MD is 91% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Fallston, MD
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COP 21.4K
$19.23$19.23
-69.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COP 118.2K
$73.7$73.7
-55.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COP 26.0K
$10.80$10.80
-33.33%
Cappuccino
$1.70COP 6,140
$5.22$5.22
-67.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,966
$2.56$2.56
-57.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COP 2,605
$1.95$1.95
-63.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COP 6,022
$6.18$6.18
-72.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COP 11.2K
$7.07$7.07
-56.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Fallston, MD
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,809
$1.00$1.00
6.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COP 4,497
$3.49$3.49
-64.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COP 5,022
$4.30$4.30
-67.67%
Eggs
$2.26COP 8,168
$4.13$4.13
-45.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COP 15.6K
$12.39$12.39
-65.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COP 21.1K
$11.62$11.62
-49.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COP 31.9K
$15.27$15.27
-42.17%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COP 8,099
$4.85$4.85
-53.81%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COP 3,882
$1.56$1.56
-30.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 5,522
$4.32$4.32
-64.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,950
$4.64$4.64
-70.47%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 4,078
$2.78$2.78
-59.35%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COP 4,036
$2.79$2.79
-59.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 3,057
$2.11$2.11
-59.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 3,281
$2.10$2.10
-56.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COP 8,414
$9.58$9.58
-75.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COP 40.2K
$15.08$15.08
-26.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 4,309
$1.78$1.78
-33.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COP 8,553
$3.33$3.33
-28.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Fallston, MD
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,838
$2.01$2.01
-60.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COP 148.5K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COP 5,184
$3.44$3.44
-58.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COP 6,901
$1.65$1.65
15.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COP 28.9K
$29.20$29.20
-72.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COP 3,385
$0.89$0.89
5.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
$29.8K$29.8K
-39.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
$25.9K$25.9K
3.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Fallston, MD
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COP 303.1K
$189$189
-55.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COP 34.7K
$52.9$52.9
-81.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COP 87.2K
$68.4$68.4
-64.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Fallston, MD
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COP 93.4K
$43.20$43.20
-40.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COP 68.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COP 14.1K
$13.43$13.43
-70.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Fallston, MD
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COP 1.1M
$1,285$1,285
-76.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COP 21.4M
$23.6K$23.6K
-74.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Fallston, MD
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COP 209.1K
$51.5$51.5
12.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 114.9K
$40.30$40.30
-21.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COP 360.6K
$86.0$86.0
16.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 386.8K
$114$114
-5.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Fallston, MD
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COP 1.8M
$1,573$1,573
-69.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COP 1.3M
$1,330$1,330
-72.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COP 3.0M
$2,666$2,666
-69.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COP 2.6M
$2,189$2,189
-67.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COP 10.6M
$2,648$2,648
10.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COP 5.1M
$2,496$2,496
-43.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Fallston, MD
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
6.51
106.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Last update for Fallston, MD: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $487 in Medellin and $1,573 in Fallston, MD. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $74.0 in Fallston, MD for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $387 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 Fallston, MD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fallston, MD cheaper than Medellin?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 148% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,550 in Medellin and $3,846 in Fallston, MD 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 Fallston, MD?
Rent for a central apartment: $487 in Medellin versus $1,573 in Fallston, MD. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $306 in Medellin versus $1,285 in Fallston, MD. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or Fallston, MD?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $74.0 in Fallston, MD. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Fallston, MD?
At $1,034 in Medellin versus $2,564 in Fallston, MD, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Fallston, MD. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Fallston, MD more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Fallston, MD, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 148% less than in Fallston, MD. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.