😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,031 in Medellin versus $894 in Fort Wellington.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,599 in Medellin versus $1,533 in Fort Wellington.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,167 in Medellin versus $2,171 in Fort Wellington.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 15% more expensive than in Fort Wellington, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin23% lower, Fort Wellington33% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Fort Wellington
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 20.1K
$11.97GYD 2,488
-48.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 106.1K
$71.6GYD 14.9K
-54.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.9K
$8.37GYD 1,740
-12.31%
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,599
$5.17GYD 1,074
-66.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,420
$1.24GYD 258
-15.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,515
$0.71GYD 147
8.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,487
$2.05GYD 426
-17.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.3K
$2.36GYD 491
34.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Fort Wellington
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,423
$3.33GYD 692
-68.47%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,236
$2.13GYD 442
-38.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,544
$1.98GYD 411
-29.29%
Eggs
$2.16COP 7,046
$4.20GYD 873
-48.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.3K
$13.67GYD 2,841
-67.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 19.1K
$6.23GYD 1,296
-5.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 28.1K
$9.42GYD 1,959
-8.28%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,425
$9.40GYD 1,954
-75.74%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,603
$2.67GYD 556
-58.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,982
$3.31GYD 688
-53.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,410
$6.54GYD 1,359
-79.36%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,674
$2.39GYD 497
-52.72%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,692
$2.89GYD 602
-60.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,753
$2.27GYD 471
-62.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,975
$1.45GYD 301
-37.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,629
$2.56GYD 532
-8.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 40.3K
$16.74GYD 3,479
-26.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,909
$1.68GYD 349
-28.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,104
$2.44GYD 508
2.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Fort Wellington
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,727
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 132.1K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,623
$3.16GYD 657
-55.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,235
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.9K
$11.92GYD 2,478
-35.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,223
$1.02GYD 212
-2.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
$22.2KGYD 4.6M
-18.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
$17.5KGYD 3.6M
52.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Fort Wellington
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8COP 263.1K
$90.1GYD 18.7K
-10.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.4K
$27.08GYD 5,629
-63.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 78.7K
$50.6GYD 10.5K
-52.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Fort Wellington
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 81.6K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 62.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 13.0K
$6.68GYD 1,388
-40.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Fort Wellington
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 993.4K
$1,008GYD 209.6K
-69.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.7M
$22.9KGYD 4.8M
-73.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Fort Wellington
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 189.2K
$34.12GYD 7,094
70.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 104.8K
$53.3GYD 11.1K
-39.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 327.9K
$127GYD 26.4K
-20.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 350.8K
$76.2GYD 15.8K
41.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Fort Wellington
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.6M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Fort Wellington
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
$972GYD 202.1K
-36.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
7.5
79.07%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Last update for Fort Wellington: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Fort Wellington pays 58% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $72.0 in Fort Wellington for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $375 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 15% 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 58% 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 $305 in Medellin versus $1,008 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 $33.00 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 $894 in Fort Wellington versus $1,031 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 15% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.