Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and FlacqCost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Flacq
Monthly Cost of Living
πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,024 in Flacq.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $1,626 in Flacq.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $2,228 in Flacq.
πLiving in Medellin costs roughly 1% less than in Flacq, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Medellin24% lower, Flacq24% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Flacq
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99COPΒ 21.4K
$6.26MURΒ 296
-4.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86COPΒ 117.4K
$43.80MURΒ 2,069
-24.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09COPΒ 25.3K
$6.78MURΒ 320
4.57%
Cappuccino
$1.71COPΒ 6,115
$2.60MURΒ 123
-34.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,924
$1.02MURΒ 48.43
7.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COPΒ 2,781
$0.58MURΒ 27.53
34.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68COPΒ 5,997
$1.43MURΒ 67.8
17.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07COPΒ 11.0K
$2.65MURΒ 125
15.85%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Flacq
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09COPΒ 3,906
$1.51MURΒ 71.2
-27.81%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COPΒ 4,508
$0.65MURΒ 30.81
93.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,922
$1.32MURΒ 62.3
4.55%
Eggs
$2.19COPΒ 7,827
$2.73MURΒ 129
-19.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.40COPΒ 15.7K
$9.70MURΒ 458
-54.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63COPΒ 20.1K
$6.11MURΒ 289
-7.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89COPΒ 31.8K
$10.35MURΒ 489
-14.11%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COPΒ 8,349
$1.98MURΒ 93.4
18.18%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COPΒ 3,777
$1.93MURΒ 91.3
-45.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50COPΒ 5,374
$1.46MURΒ 68.8
2.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,924
$2.72MURΒ 129
-49.26%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COPΒ 4,111
$1.03MURΒ 48.55
11.65%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COPΒ 4,155
$0.95MURΒ 44.89
22.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,182
$0.83MURΒ 39.37
7.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COPΒ 2,997
$0.57MURΒ 27.11
47.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28COPΒ 8,145
$6.06MURΒ 286
-62.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.64COPΒ 38.0K
$8.45MURΒ 399
25.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COPΒ 4,284
$1.79MURΒ 84.4
-32.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COPΒ 8,824
$2.13MURΒ 100
15.96%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Flacq
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86COPΒ 3,056
$0.99MURΒ 46.96
-13.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.40COPΒ 147.9K
$33.63MURΒ 1,589
23.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COPΒ 5,264
$4.31MURΒ 204
-65.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96COPΒ 7,009
$2.73MURΒ 129
-28.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.74COPΒ 27.6K
$15.14MURΒ 716
-48.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95COPΒ 3,409
$1.41MURΒ 66.6
-32.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOPΒ 64.7M
$36.1KMURΒ 1.7M
-49.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 94.6M
$29.3KMURΒ 1.4M
-9.48%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Flacq
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.3COPΒ 293.7K
$50.4MURΒ 2,379
63.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50COPΒ 33.9K
$18.19MURΒ 859
-47.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23COPΒ 86.5K
$32.29MURΒ 1,526
-24.96%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Flacq
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.89COPΒ 92.4K
$38.21MURΒ 1,805
-32.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00COPΒ 67.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.93COPΒ 14.0K
$6.13MURΒ 290
-35.89%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Flacq
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309COPΒ 1.1M
$151MURΒ 7,146
104.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,965COPΒ 21.3M
$3,889MURΒ 183.8K
53.38%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Flacq
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COPΒ 209.5K
$51.4MURΒ 2,427
14.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35COPΒ 115.5K
$43.41MURΒ 2,051
-25.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103COPΒ 366.4K
$83.5MURΒ 3,943
22.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COPΒ 387.2K
$78.9MURΒ 3,728
37.41%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Flacq
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COPΒ 1.7M
$508MURΒ 24.0K
-6.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.4M
$353MURΒ 16.7K
7.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COPΒ 3.0M
$953MURΒ 45.1K
-12.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$724COPΒ 2.6M
$710MURΒ 33.5K
1.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,791COPΒ 10.0M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,211COPΒ 4.3M
-
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Flacq
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$512COPΒ 1.8M
$1,139MURΒ 53.8K
-55.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
6.25
114.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Last update for Flacq: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $508 in Flacq. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Flacq pays 123% 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 $44.00 in Flacq for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $215 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 Flacq: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Flacq?
Medellin wins on cost β living expenses run 1% lower than in Flacq. 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 Flacq?
On paper, Flacq earns 123% 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 Flacq?
Rent for a central apartment: $476 in Medellin versus $508 in Flacq. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Medellin and Flacq?
Childcare runs $309 in Medellin versus $151 in Flacq. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or Flacq?
Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Flacq. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Medellin or Flacq?
At $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,024 in Flacq, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Flacq. 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 Flacq?
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 Flacq?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Flacq 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 1% less than in Flacq. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.