Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Fargo, ND Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Fargo, ND

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $2,011 in Fargo, ND, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $3,207 in Fargo, ND, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $4,402 in Fargo, ND, rent included.

Medellin is about 16% cheaper than Fargo, ND, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Fargo, ND sit above the global median – Medellin by 23%, Fargo, ND by 47%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.02 COP 24.9K

$15.05 $15.05

-46.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.87 COP 148.7K

$60.6 $60.6

-20.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 COP 30.7K

$11.05 $11.05

-10.50%

Cappuccino

$3.13 COP 9,725

$5.27 $5.27

-40.61%

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

$1.91 COP 5,929

$2.59 $2.59

-26.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 COP 4,692

$1.97 $1.97

-23.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 COP 9,705

$5.35 $5.35

-41.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 COP 17.9K

$8.94 $8.94

-35.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,490

$1.22 $1.22

18.03%

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 COP 7,726

$3.50 $3.50

-28.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 COP 5,511

$7.50 $7.50

-76.40%

Eggs

$2.96 COP 9,196

$4.09 $4.09

-27.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 COP 31.3K

$14.43 $14.43

-30.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.12 COP 31.4K

$15.35 $15.35

-34.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 COP 44.4K

$21.43 $21.43

-33.27%

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 COP 12.9K

$10.64 $10.64

-61.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 COP 4,997

$2.36 $2.36

-31.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 COP 6,977

$6.35 $6.35

-64.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 6,998

$5.66 $5.66

-60.25%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 COP 6,348

$5.07 $5.07

-59.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,770

$3.82 $3.82

-59.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 COP 3,636

$1.98 $1.98

-40.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 COP 4,060

$2.71 $2.71

-51.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.1K

$9.00 $9.00

-56.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 43.5K

$18.57 $18.57

-24.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 COP 5,416

$2.61 $2.61

-33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 COP 8,918

$5.53 $5.53

-48.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 COP 3,776

$1.48 $1.48

-17.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 250.1K

$41.56 $41.56

93.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,067

$4.55 $4.55

-71.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 COP 6,796

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 COP 4,241

$0.94 $0.94

45.74%

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

$27.8K COP 86.5M

$34.8K $34.8K

-19.96%

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

$35.8K COP 111.2M

$24.8K $24.8K

44.18%

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

$177 COP 550.9K

$135 $135

31.71%

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

$13.88 COP 43.1K

$54.2 $54.2

-74.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.72 COP 92.4K

$58.6 $58.6

-49.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.88 COP 139.5K

$55.9 $55.9

-19.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 53.2K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 20.6K

$13.68 $13.68

-51.39%

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

$813 COP 2.5M

$1,243 $1,243

-34.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 28.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.5 COP 278.1K

$51.7 $51.7

72.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 COP 183.2K

$47.04 $47.04

25.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 COP 429.4K

$91.0 $91.0

51.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 317.3K

$101 $101

1.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 COP 3.3M

$939 $939

13.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 COP 2.1M

$689 $689

-3.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,888 COP 5.9M

$2,237 $2,237

-15.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 COP 3.2M

$1,493 $1,493

-31.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.0M

$1,788 $1,788

133.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.2M

$1,777 $1,777

-5.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$678 COP 2.1M

$3,773 $3,773

-82.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

6.3

73.65%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Fargo, ND: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $939 in Fargo, ND. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 457% higher in Fargo, ND, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $61.0 in Fargo, ND. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $524 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Fargo, ND: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Fargo, ND costs about 20% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $3,017 in Fargo, ND. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $61.0 in Fargo, ND. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,681 in Medellin and $2,011 in Fargo, ND. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,681, than in Fargo, ND at $2,011. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Fargo, ND it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,681 versus $2,011 in Fargo, ND. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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