Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Fargo, ND

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,639 a month against $2,127 in Fargo, ND, rent and utilities included – about $5,900 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Fargo, ND, United States
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Fargo, ND
🇺🇸 United States
$2,127
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Fargo, ND

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Fargo, ND actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,639 per month in Medellin vs $2,127 in Fargo, ND, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • Fargo, ND $2,127

A couple spends around $2,413 per month in Medellin vs $3,227 in Fargo, ND, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • Fargo, ND $3,227

A family of three spends $3,186 per month in Medellin vs $4,327 in Fargo, ND, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • Fargo, ND $4,327

Medellin is about 23% cheaper than Fargo, ND, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Medellin and Fargo, ND sit above the global median – Medellin by 20%, Fargo, ND by 56%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Fargo, ND
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 25.6K
$17.17 $17.17
-52.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 149.1K
$59.0 $59.0
-20.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.1K
$11.95 $11.95
-20.50%
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,554
$5.41 $5.41
-44.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,701
$2.56 $2.56
-29.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,476
$1.94 $1.94
-27.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 10.1K
$5.36 $5.36
-40.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.2K
$8.83 $8.83
-34.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Fargo, ND
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,785
$1.23 $1.23
22.76%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,535
$3.40 $3.40
-30.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,613
$7.63 $7.63
-76.80%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,159
$4.08 $4.08
-29.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.3K
$14.93 $14.93
-31.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.3K
$15.52 $15.52
-36.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 44.3K
$21.08 $21.08
-33.63%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.6K
$10.28 $10.28
-61.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 4,918
$2.34 $2.34
-33.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,917
$6.51 $6.51
-66.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,920
$5.40 $5.40
-59.63%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,219
$5.10 $5.10
-61.57%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,037
$3.76 $3.76
-57.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,630
$1.95 $1.95
-41.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 3,939
$2.74 $2.74
-54.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.6K
$8.60 $8.60
-53.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 43.4K
$18.58 $18.58
-26.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,259
$2.62 $2.62
-36.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,155
$5.63 $5.63
-59.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Fargo, ND
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,701
$2.03 $2.03
-42.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 245.2K
$42.10 $42.10
83.78%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,018
$4.58 $4.58
-72.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,489
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 27.1K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,268
$0.97 $0.97
39.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 108.0M
$27.4K $27.4K
24.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 109.9M
$25.3K $25.3K
36.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Fargo, ND
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 537.6K
$138 $138
22.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 42.9K
$58.1 $58.1
-76.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 88.9K
$56.5 $56.5
-50.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Fargo, ND
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 138.5K
$52.0 $52.0
-15.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 54.5K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 21.9K
$13.96 $13.96
-50.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Fargo, ND
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.5M
$1,247 $1,247
-36.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 28.9M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Fargo, ND
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 268.4K
$49.85 $49.85
69.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 183.7K
$47.16 $47.16
22.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 427.6K
$84.2 $84.2
60.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 310.1K
$101 $101
-2.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Fargo, ND
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.8M
$1,013 $1,013
19.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.0M
$790 $790
-18.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.4M
$1,627 $1,627
24.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.2M
$1,363 $1,363
-25.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.2M
$2,459 $2,459
69.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.1M
$1,688 $1,688
13.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Fargo, ND
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
$3,858 $3,858
-82.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
6.43
70.14%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Last update for Fargo, ND: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
Fargo, ND
$790 23.1% $148
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
Fargo, ND
$522 75.9% $225
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
Fargo, ND
$253 19.7% $42
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
Fargo, ND
$300 77.2% $131
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
Fargo, ND
$127 24.9% $42
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
Fargo, ND
$55 * 41.4% $39
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Fargo, ND
$80 38.8% $22

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,208 in Medellin versus $1,013 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 in Fargo, ND are about 5.9 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin versus $59 in Fargo, ND. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $522 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇺🇸 Fargo, ND
🕒 Local time
13:33 1:33 PM
13:33 1:33 PM
Same time as Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
90,056
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 30, 2026: 1 USD = 3,169 COP (10,000 COP = 3.16 USD). 1 EUR = 3,545 COP (10,000 COP = 2.82 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 30, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.894 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Fargo, ND 4,950 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Fargo, ND

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Fargo, ND?
Fargo, ND costs about 30% more than Medellin, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin and in Fargo, ND?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,459 per month in Medellin and $3,191 in Fargo, ND. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Medellin or Fargo, ND?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Fargo, ND, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,013 there versus $1,208 in Medellin.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin and in Fargo, ND?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin and $59 in Fargo, ND. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to Fargo, ND?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,639 in Medellin and $2,127 in Fargo, ND. That makes Medellin about 23% cheaper.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Medellin or in Fargo, ND?
$2,500 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,639 in Medellin and $2,127 in Fargo, ND, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Fargo, ND?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,639 versus $2,127 in Fargo, ND. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Medellin or to Fargo, ND?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Fargo, ND makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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