πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,013 in Medellin versus $2,111 in Fort-de-france.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $3,303 in Fort-de-france.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $4,494 in Fort-de-france.
πLiving in Medellin costs roughly 52% less than in Fort-de-france, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 24% below, Fort-de-france is 58% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Fort-de-france
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99COPΒ 21.4K
$23.24β¬19.99
-74.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86COPΒ 117.4K
$82.6β¬71.1
-60.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09COPΒ 25.3K
$14.59β¬12.55
-51.41%
Cappuccino
$1.71COPΒ 6,115
$5.29β¬4.55
-67.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,924
$3.69β¬3.18
-70.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COPΒ 2,781
$3.81β¬3.28
-79.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68COPΒ 5,997
$7.33β¬6.31
-77.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07COPΒ 11.0K
$5.17β¬4.45
-40.62%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Fort-de-france
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09COPΒ 3,906
$1.75β¬1.50
-37.71%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COPΒ 4,508
$1.70β¬1.46
-25.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,922
$3.68β¬3.16
-62.50%
Eggs
$2.19COPΒ 7,827
$3.69β¬3.18
-40.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.40COPΒ 15.7K
$19.59β¬16.85
-77.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63COPΒ 20.1K
$18.09β¬15.56
-68.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89COPΒ 31.8K
$20.77β¬17.87
-57.20%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COPΒ 8,349
$3.83β¬3.29
-38.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COPΒ 3,777
$1.36β¬1.17
-22.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50COPΒ 5,374
$3.05β¬2.62
-50.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,924
$6.67β¬5.73
-79.31%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COPΒ 4,111
$2.28β¬1.96
-49.56%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COPΒ 4,155
$2.32β¬2.00
-50.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,182
$1.29β¬1.11
-31.01%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COPΒ 2,997
$0.73β¬0.63
15.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28COPΒ 8,145
$12.28β¬10.56
-81.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.64COPΒ 38.0K
$8.72β¬7.50
22.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COPΒ 4,284
$1.74β¬1.50
-31.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COPΒ 8,824
$2.84β¬2.44
-13.03%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Fort-de-france
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86COPΒ 3,056
$1.70β¬1.46
-49.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.40COPΒ 147.9K
$52.7β¬45.35
-21.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COPΒ 5,264
$4.52β¬3.89
-67.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96COPΒ 7,009
$1.96β¬1.68
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.74COPΒ 27.6K
$44.01β¬37.85
-82.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95COPΒ 3,409
$2.26β¬1.95
-57.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOPΒ 64.7M
$24.8Kβ¬21.3K
-26.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 94.6M
$34.2Kβ¬29.4K
-22.49%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Fort-de-france
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.3COPΒ 293.7K
$165β¬142
-50.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50COPΒ 33.9K
$11.74β¬10.10
-19.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23COPΒ 86.5K
$40.78β¬35.08
-40.58%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Fort-de-france
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.89COPΒ 92.4K
$34.11β¬29.34
-24.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00COPΒ 67.9K
$18.21β¬15.66
4.34%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93COPΒ 14.0K
$10.99β¬9.45
-64.24%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Fort-de-france
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309COPΒ 1.1M
$287β¬247
7.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,965COPΒ 21.3M
$2,605β¬2,241
128.96%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Fort-de-france
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COPΒ 209.5K
$116β¬99.8
-49.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35COPΒ 115.5K
$29.36β¬25.26
10.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103COPΒ 366.4K
$153β¬132
-33.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COPΒ 387.2K
$221β¬190
-50.98%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Fort-de-france
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COPΒ 1.7M
$809β¬696
-41.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.4M
$757β¬651
-49.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COPΒ 3.0M
$1,285β¬1,105
-34.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$724COPΒ 2.6M
$1,410β¬1,213
-48.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,791COPΒ 10.0M
$2,424β¬2,085
15.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,211COPΒ 4.3M
$2,850β¬2,452
-57.50%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Fort-de-france
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$512COPΒ 1.8M
$2,317β¬1,993
-77.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
1.45
826.21%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Last update for Fort-de-france: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $809 in Fort-de-france. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Fort-de-france pays 353% 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 $83.0 in Fort-de-france for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $406 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 Fort-de-france: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Fort-de-france?
Medellin wins on cost β living expenses run 108% lower than in Fort-de-france. 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 Fort-de-france?
On paper, Fort-de-france earns 353% 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 Fort-de-france?
Rent for a central apartment: $476 in Medellin versus $809 in Fort-de-france. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or Fort-de-france?
Supermarket bills run roughly 115% higher in Fort-de-france. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin vs Fort-de-france?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin β a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $83.0 in Fort-de-france. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Medellin or Fort-de-france?
At $1,013 in Medellin versus $2,111 in Fort-de-france, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Fort-de-france. 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 Fort-de-france?
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 Fort-de-france?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Fort-de-france 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 108% less than in Fort-de-france. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.