Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Florencia

For one person, living is cheaper in Florencia: $1,393 a month against $1,692 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $3,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Florencia, Colombia
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,692
/mo nomad
Florencia
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,393
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Florencia

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 Florencia actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,692 in Medellin versus $1,393 in Florencia.

  • Medellin $1,692
  • Florencia $1,393

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,471 in Medellin versus $2,091 in Florencia.

  • Medellin $2,471
  • Florencia $2,091

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,249 in Medellin versus $2,789 in Florencia.

  • Medellin $3,249
  • Florencia $2,789

Living in Medellin is roughly 21% more expensive than in Florencia, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medellin 25% above, Florencia 3% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Florencia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.34 COP 26.9K
$7.13 COP 23.0K
16.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.53 COP 150.3K
$47.95 COP 154.9K
-2.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.47 COP 30.6K
$9.45 COP 30.5K
0.21%
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 10.1K
$2.68 COP 8,671
16.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 COP 5,705
$1.42 COP 4,602
24.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 COP 4,601
$1.09 COP 3,515
30.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.15 COP 10.2K
$3.23 COP 10.4K
-2.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.70 COP 18.4K
$3.81 COP 12.3K
49.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Florencia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 COP 4,950
$1.45 COP 4,676
5.52%
White Bread (500g)
$2.29 COP 7,401
$2.51 COP 8,095
-8.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.94 COP 6,282
$1.73 COP 5,602
12.14%
Eggs
$3.07 COP 9,905
$3.22 COP 10.4K
-4.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.99 COP 32.3K
$8.21 COP 26.5K
21.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.45 COP 33.7K
$9.60 COP 31.0K
8.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.96 COP 45.1K
$12.27 COP 39.6K
13.77%
Apples (1kg)
$4.05 COP 13.1K
$3.81 COP 12.3K
6.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,937
$1.49 COP 4,813
2.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.10 COP 6,797
$2.01 COP 6,507
4.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.29 COP 7,409
$2.01 COP 6,499
13.93%
Potato (1kg)
$2.11 COP 6,813
$1.63 COP 5,261
29.45%
Onion (1kg)
$1.71 COP 5,521
$1.54 COP 4,980
11.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,780
$1.14 COP 3,691
2.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 COP 5,104
$1.14 COP 3,672
38.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.91 COP 12.6K
$4.19 COP 13.5K
-6.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.04 COP 45.4K
$13.48 COP 43.5K
4.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 COP 5,690
$1.44 COP 4,642
22.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 COP 8,760
$2.31 COP 7,452
17.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Florencia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.18 COP 3,811
$1.11 COP 3,597
6.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.3 COP 246.4K
$64.8 COP 209.4K
17.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 COP 5,836
$1.60 COP 5,167
13.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.13 COP 6,878
$2.03 COP 6,555
4.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.13 COP 26.3K
$8.48 COP 27.4K
-4.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 COP 4,119
$1.29 COP 4,171
-0.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K COP 111.2M
$34.0K COP 109.8M
1.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K COP 110.3M
$34.4K COP 111.1M
-0.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Florencia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$178 COP 574.1K
$125 COP 403.1K
42.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.89 COP 44.9K
$13.12 COP 42.4K
5.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.74 COP 99.3K
$28.80 COP 93.0K
6.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Florencia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.94 COP 135.5K
$37.03 COP 119.6K
13.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80 COP 54.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.47 COP 24.1K
$7.10 COP 22.9K
5.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Florencia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$790 COP 2.6M
$585 COP 1.9M
35.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.3K COP 39.7M
$8,328 COP 26.9M
47.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Florencia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.3 COP 278.9K
$86.7 COP 279.9K
-0.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.3 COP 191.4K
$53.3 COP 172.2K
11.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 446.9K
$137 COP 443.9K
0.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.8 COP 319.2K
$100 COP 323.7K
-1.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Florencia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,341 COP 4.3M
$730 COP 2.4M
83.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$667 COP 2.2M
$493 COP 1.6M
35.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,976 COP 6.4M
$1,424 COP 4.6M
38.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,033 COP 3.3M
$785 COP 2.5M
31.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,098 COP 13.2M
$2,236 COP 7.2M
83.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,940 COP 6.3M
$1,775 COP 5.7M
9.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Florencia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$646 COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
12
-8.83%

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

Last update for Medellin: November 2, 2026

Last update for Florencia: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$667
Florencia
$493 26.1% $174
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$307
Florencia
$280 9% $28
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$222
Florencia
$167 25% $56
Eating Out
Medellin
$173
Florencia
$151 12.3% $21
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$172
Florencia
$170 1.3% $2.3
Getting Around
Medellin
$93
Florencia
$81 13.3% $12
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$57
Florencia
$51 9.9% $5.7

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,341 in Medellin and $730 in Florencia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $47 in Medellin vs $48 in Florencia. Groceries flip the comparison at $307 vs $280, with Florencia cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇨🇴 Florencia
🕒 Local time
00:45 12:45 AM
00:45 12:45 AM
Same time as Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
168,346
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 3,230 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,626 COP (10,000 COP = 2.76 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Florencia 520 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Florencia

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 Florencia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and in Florencia?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,692 in Medellin and $1,393 in Florencia, so Florencia is about 18% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Florencia?
You’d need roughly $2,538 in Medellin and $2,090 in Florencia 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and in Florencia?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,341 in Medellin versus $730 in Florencia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Medellin and Florencia?
Childcare runs $790 in Medellin versus $585 in Florencia. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do commuting costs compare in Medellin and in Florencia?
A monthly transit pass in Florencia runs roughly 15% less than in Medellin. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
How far does $2,000 go in Medellin compared to Florencia?
Either city works on $2,000 a month, though Florencia gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Florencia?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

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