😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,641 in Medellin versus $1,002 in Fort Wellington.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,447 in Medellin versus $1,677 in Fort Wellington.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,253 in Medellin versus $2,352 in Fort Wellington.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 64% more expensive than in Fort Wellington, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 19% above, Fort Wellington is 27% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Fort Wellington
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04COP 24.8K
$17.91GYD 3,725
-55.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29COP 148.6K
$71.6GYD 14.9K
-32.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42COP 29.0K
$9.60GYD 1,996
-1.87%
Cappuccino
$2.94COP 9,040
$5.69GYD 1,183
-48.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86COP 5,735
$1.21GYD 251
53.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46COP 4,479
$0.65GYD 135
124.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21COP 9,882
$1.86GYD 387
72.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71COP 17.6K
$3.38GYD 704
68.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Fort Wellington
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,428
$3.16GYD 657
-54.43%
White Bread(500g)
$2.40COP 7,389
$2.07GYD 430
15.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,228
$2.01GYD 417
-15.42%
Eggs
$2.89COP 8,896
$4.00GYD 831
-27.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.06COP 30.9K
$15.73GYD 3,273
-36.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.97COP 30.7K
$6.86GYD 1,426
45.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.20COP 43.7K
$8.82GYD 1,835
61.00%
Apples(1kg)
$3.98COP 12.3K
$8.19GYD 1,702
-51.40%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58COP 4,878
$3.85GYD 801
-58.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15COP 6,624
$4.11GYD 854
-47.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,078
$7.21GYD 1,500
-68.10%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00COP 6,169
$2.37GYD 492
-15.61%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,646
$3.12GYD 649
-51.60%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20COP 3,701
$2.99GYD 623
-59.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28COP 3,946
$1.63GYD 338
-21.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84COP 11.8K
$3.27GYD 680
17.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.1K
$16.97GYD 3,529
-17.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71COP 5,256
$1.80GYD 374
-5.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74COP 8,440
$2.52GYD 524
8.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Fort Wellington
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.25COP 3,834
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.9COP 239.7K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,016
$4.39GYD 914
-70.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.17COP 6,680
$2.45GYD 510
-11.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.29COP 25.5K
$12.03GYD 2,502
-31.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,172
$1.03GYD 215
32.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
$27.2KGYD 5.7M
1.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
$23.1KGYD 4.8M
57.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Fort Wellington
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169COP 519.2K
$119GYD 24.7K
42.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57COP 41.8K
$21.22GYD 4,414
-36.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32COP 87.2K
$42.79GYD 8,899
-33.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Fort Wellington
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.71COP 140.7K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22COP 53.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.5K
$6.40GYD 1,331
3.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Fort Wellington
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$803COP 2.5M
$1,009GYD 209.8K
-20.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,190COP 28.3M
$18.9KGYD 3.9M
-51.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Fort Wellington
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4COP 268.8K
$37.63GYD 7,826
132.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4COP 182.7K
$41.65GYD 8,661
42.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$139COP 427.5K
$134GYD 27.8K
3.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 314.0K
$85.8GYD 17.8K
18.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Fort Wellington
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,071COP 3.3M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653COP 2.0M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,925COP 5.9M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,048COP 3.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,123COP 12.7M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,697COP 5.2M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Fort Wellington
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$655COP 2.0M
$967GYD 201.1K
-32.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
6.94
57.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Last update for Fort Wellington: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Fort Wellington pays 48% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $72.0 in Fort Wellington for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $300 vs $394 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 Wellington: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fort Wellington cheaper than Medellin?
Fort Wellington is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 64% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Fort Wellington?
On paper, salaries run 48% lower in Fort Wellington. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $803 in Medellin versus $1,009 in Fort Wellington. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Fort Wellington?
Dining out is cheaper in Fort Wellington – a meal for two runs $72.0 versus $48.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Fort Wellington?
At $1,002 in Fort Wellington versus $1,641 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Fort Wellington but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Fort Wellington the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Fort Wellington more family-friendly?
For families, Fort Wellington is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Fort Wellington?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Fort Wellington 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 Fort Wellington gentler on the wallet – expenses run 64% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.