🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,716 in Medellin versus $2,180 in Fort-de-france.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,527 in Medellin versus $3,453 in Fort-de-france.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,338 in Medellin versus $4,726 in Fort-de-france.
🌍Living in Medellin costs roughly 21% less than in Fort-de-france, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medellin25% above, Fort-de-france59% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Fort-de-france
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03COP 25.1K
$23.69€20.39
-66.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.26COP 150.8K
$103€88.3
-52.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.77COP 30.5K
$15.81€13.61
-38.20%
Cappuccino
$2.91COP 9,095
$4.80€4.13
-39.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94COP 6,074
$3.72€3.20
-47.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52COP 4,754
$3.95€3.40
-61.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09COP 9,663
$7.67€6.60
-59.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74COP 17.9K
$5.25€4.52
9.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Fort-de-france
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,262
$1.75€1.51
-22.29%
White Bread(500g)
$2.39COP 7,460
$1.96€1.69
21.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,314
$3.79€3.26
-55.15%
Eggs
$2.87COP 8,967
$6.51€5.60
-55.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.94COP 31.1K
$19.45€16.74
-48.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.78COP 33.7K
$22.91€19.72
-52.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.73COP 46.0K
$20.82€17.92
-29.25%
Apples(1kg)
$4.09COP 12.8K
$3.98€3.43
2.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57COP 4,911
$1.44€1.24
9.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13COP 6,642
$3.06€2.63
-30.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.21COP 6,917
$6.62€5.70
-66.62%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05COP 6,396
$1.99€1.71
3.02%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50COP 4,700
$2.28€1.96
-34.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19COP 3,718
$1.69€1.45
-29.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16COP 3,619
$0.74€0.64
56.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$12.19€10.49
-68.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.44COP 45.1K
$8.63€7.43
67.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58COP 4,948
$1.84€1.59
-14.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83COP 8,836
$2.85€2.45
-0.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Fort-de-france
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.17COP 3,650
$1.69€1.46
-30.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.7COP 242.9K
$53.3€45.86
45.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.28COP 4,014
$4.48€3.85
-71.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.09COP 6,537
$2.11€1.81
-0.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.62COP 26.9K
$43.34€37.29
-80.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30COP 4,056
$2.57€2.21
-49.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7KCOP 86.4M
$37.0K€31.8K
-25.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5KCOP 110.9M
$34.3K€29.5K
3.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Fort-de-france
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$176COP 550.1K
$162€139
8.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37COP 41.8K
$11.64€10.02
14.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.89COP 93.4K
$50.3€43.27
-40.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Fort-de-france
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.76COP 139.8K
$39.04€33.60
14.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06COP 53.3K
$18.93€16.29
-9.88%
Cinema Ticket
$6.20COP 19.4K
$11.58€9.97
-46.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Fort-de-france
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$793COP 2.5M
$533€458
48.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,019COP 28.2M
$4,063€3,496
122.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Fort-de-france
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6COP 267.5K
$114€98.4
-25.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.5COP 182.7K
$28.94€24.90
102.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$136COP 425.9K
$155€134
-12.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103COP 322.2K
$217€187
-52.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Fort-de-france
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,060COP 3.3M
$1,045€899
1.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$680COP 2.1M
$751€646
-9.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,012COP 6.3M
$1,766€1,519
13.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,169COP 3.7M
$1,446€1,244
-19.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,111COP 12.8M
$2,428€2,090
69.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,701COP 5.3M
$2,783€2,395
-38.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Fort-de-france
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$665COP 2.1M
$2,343€2,016
-71.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
1.45
654.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Last update for Fort-de-france: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,060 in Medellin and $1,045 in Fort-de-france. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Fort-de-france pays 252% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $103 in Fort-de-france for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $303 vs $446 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 – living expenses run 27% 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 in Fort-de-france?
On paper, salaries run 252% lower in Fort-de-france. 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 compared to Fort-de-france?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,060 in Medellin versus $1,045 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 in Fort-de-france?
Supermarket bills run roughly 47% 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 and in Fort-de-france?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $48.00 versus $103 in Fort-de-france. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Medellin or in Fort-de-france?
At $1,716 in Medellin versus $2,180 in Fort-de-france, a $2,500 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 – similar infrastructure at $1,716 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 – expenses run 27% less than in Fort-de-france. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.