πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,017 in Medellin versus $1,065 in Fond du Sac.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $1,731 in Fond du Sac.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,188 in Medellin versus $2,397 in Fond du Sac.
πLiving in Medellin costs roughly 5% less than in Fond du Sac, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Medellin24% lower, Fond du Sac21% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Fond du Sac
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95COPΒ 20.8K
$6.58MURΒ 310
-9.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.33COPΒ 116.3K
$43.78MURΒ 2,062
-23.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.23COPΒ 25.2K
$6.98MURΒ 328
3.58%
Cappuccino
$1.63COPΒ 5,687
$2.64MURΒ 124
-38.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09COPΒ 3,821
$1.02MURΒ 48.04
6.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73COPΒ 2,548
$0.60MURΒ 28.31
21.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.74COPΒ 6,065
$2.26MURΒ 106
-23.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23COPΒ 11.3K
$3.37MURΒ 159
-4.15%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Fond du Sac
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COPΒ 3,662
$1.62MURΒ 76.2
-35.19%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29COPΒ 4,515
$0.65MURΒ 30.74
98.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32COPΒ 4,617
$1.28MURΒ 60.1
3.13%
Eggs
$2.27COPΒ 7,927
$2.33MURΒ 110
-2.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.35COPΒ 15.2K
$12.03MURΒ 567
-63.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COPΒ 20.5K
$6.24MURΒ 294
-5.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.61COPΒ 30.0K
$12.86MURΒ 606
-33.05%
Apples(1kg)
$2.25COPΒ 7,844
$2.01MURΒ 94.5
11.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.07COPΒ 3,733
$2.02MURΒ 95.3
-47.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COPΒ 5,322
$1.50MURΒ 70.7
1.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42COPΒ 4,964
$2.64MURΒ 124
-46.21%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,084
$0.99MURΒ 46.50
18.18%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,077
$0.99MURΒ 46.81
18.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,096
$0.79MURΒ 37.11
12.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COPΒ 3,146
$0.81MURΒ 38.32
11.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25COPΒ 7,837
$6.48MURΒ 305
-65.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.04COPΒ 38.5K
$8.25MURΒ 388
33.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14COPΒ 3,977
$1.73MURΒ 81.4
-34.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38COPΒ 8,301
$2.16MURΒ 102
10.19%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Fond du Sac
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COPΒ 2,916
$0.99MURΒ 46.59
-15.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.95COPΒ 146.4K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41COPΒ 4,912
$4.51MURΒ 212
-68.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90COPΒ 6,634
$2.71MURΒ 128
-29.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.75COPΒ 27.0K
$19.60MURΒ 923
-60.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COPΒ 3,509
$1.45MURΒ 68.2
-30.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOPΒ 61.4M
$35.3KMURΒ 1.7M
-50.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 92.5M
$28.9KMURΒ 1.4M
-8.27%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Fond du Sac
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.7COPΒ 292.1K
$49.87MURΒ 2,348
67.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.45COPΒ 33.0K
$18.53MURΒ 872
-49.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.11COPΒ 84.1K
$33.89MURΒ 1,596
-28.86%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Fond du Sac
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.31COPΒ 88.3K
$38.52MURΒ 1,814
-34.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14COPΒ 66.8K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.10COPΒ 14.3K
$6.01MURΒ 283
-31.78%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Fond du Sac
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312COPΒ 1.1M
$153MURΒ 7,206
103.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,993COPΒ 20.9M
$3,977MURΒ 187.3K
50.69%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Fond du Sac
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0COPΒ 202.6K
$86.5MURΒ 4,073
-32.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56COPΒ 113.6K
$80.5MURΒ 3,791
-59.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.6COPΒ 347.7K
$131MURΒ 6,148
-23.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COPΒ 378.8K
$96.4MURΒ 4,541
12.56%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Fond du Sac
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$482COPΒ 1.7M
$505MURΒ 23.8K
-4.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.3M
$357MURΒ 16.8K
6.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$837COPΒ 2.9M
$956MURΒ 45.0K
-12.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$723COPΒ 2.5M
$714MURΒ 33.6K
1.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,840COPΒ 9.9M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,223COPΒ 4.3M
-
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Fond du Sac
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$541COPΒ 1.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
6.67
101.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Last update for Fond du Sac: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $482 in Medellin and $505 in Fond du Sac. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
πDining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $44.00 in Fond du Sac for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $232 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 Fond du Sac: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fond du Sac cheaper than Medellin?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,525 in Medellin and $1,597 in Fond du Sac 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.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Fond du Sac?
Rent for a central apartment: $482 in Medellin versus $505 in Fond du Sac. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and Fond du Sac?
Supermarket bills run roughly 22% higher in Fond du Sac. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Fond du Sac?
All in, you'll spend $1,017 per month in Medellin versus $1,065 in Fond du Sac β a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Fond du Sac?
At $1,017 in Medellin versus $1,065 in Fond du Sac, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Fond du Sac. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Fond du Sac more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Fond du Sac, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Fond du Sac?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Fond du Sac 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet β expenses run 5% less than in Fond du Sac. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.