Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Fanar Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Fanar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $811 in Fanar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,309 in Fanar, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,808 in Fanar, rent included.

Medellin costs about 24% more than Fanar, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Fanar are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Fanar 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$9.97 LBP 892.7K

-40.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$59.8 LBP 5.4M

-44.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$8.14 LBP 728.6K

-8.72%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$0.76 LBP 68.1K

117.11%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$1.63 LBP 146.0K

-32.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.88 LBP 79.0K

-11.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$1.49 LBP 133.2K

15.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$5.07 LBP 453.5K

-37.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$0.99 LBP 88.5K

11.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$0.52 LBP 46.6K

142.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$1.02 LBP 91.4K

35.29%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$2.34 LBP 209.5K

-6.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$11.38 LBP 1.0M

-60.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$3.05 LBP 273.0K

89.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$4.97 LBP 444.5K

80.48%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$0.49 LBP 43.5K

373.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$0.52 LBP 46.2K

103.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$0.88 LBP 78.4K

72.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$0.51 LBP 46.0K

166.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$0.52 LBP 46.2K

117.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$0.89 LBP 79.3K

31.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$0.29 LBP 25.6K

210.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.38 LBP 34.4K

136.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$1.23 LBP 109.9K

81.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$10.08 LBP 902.0K

20.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$0.97 LBP 86.8K

22.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$1.46 LBP 130.4K

69.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$1.98 LBP 177.5K

-57.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$98.2 LBP 8.8M

-57.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$5.04 LBP 450.8K

-71.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$1.26 LBP 112.9K

54.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$20.37 LBP 1.8M

-61.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$0.95 LBP 85.0K

4.21%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$35.1K LBP 3.1B

-49.87%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$27.7K LBP 2.5B

-3.16%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$150 LBP 13.4M

-44.69%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$37.98 LBP 3.4M

-74.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$30.10 LBP 2.7M

-21.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$19.91 LBP 1.8M

26.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$24.91 LBP 2.2M

-23.32%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$4.87 LBP 435.9K

-18.89%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$298 LBP 26.6M

6.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$4,417 LBP 395.3M

35.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$71.0 LBP 6.4M

-15.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$44.71 LBP 4.0M

-28.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$122 LBP 10.9M

-16.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$95.1 LBP 8.5M

12.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

11.16

20.34%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Fanar: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $60.0 in Fanar. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $141 in Fanar – so Fanar wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Fanar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 24%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,217 in Fanar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $811 in Fanar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 136% less in Fanar. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Fanar, where all-in costs run around $811, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Fanar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Fanar – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Fanar. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.