😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,681 in Medellin versus $905 in Francisco Morato.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,445 in Medellin versus $1,486 in Francisco Morato.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,210 in Medellin versus $2,066 in Francisco Morato.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 86% more expensive than in Francisco Morato, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, Francisco Morato is 34% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Francisco Morato
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.4K
$6.76R$34.74
18.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 152.0K
$39.23R$202
22.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 31.4K
$8.04R$41.34
23.01%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,937
$2.07R$10.64
51.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 6,058
$1.67R$8.60
14.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,794
$1.19R$6.12
26.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,917
$2.96R$15.22
5.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 18.3K
$4.66R$23.95
23.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Francisco Morato
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,587
$1.16R$5.99
24.14%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,894
$1.99R$10.24
25.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,631
$1.15R$5.92
53.91%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,396
$2.69R$13.84
10.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 32.0K
$8.50R$43.69
18.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 32.1K
$4.25R$21.85
138.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 45.4K
$10.70R$55.0
33.64%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 13.1K
$2.76R$14.19
50.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,106
$1.81R$9.33
-11.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,129
$1.75R$9.00
28.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,150
$1.82R$9.35
23.63%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,486
$1.38R$7.09
47.83%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,873
$1.34R$6.90
14.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,715
$0.89R$4.55
31.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,148
$0.71R$3.67
84.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.4K
$2.70R$13.90
44.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 44.5K
$8.61R$44.29
62.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,534
$1.63R$8.37
6.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 9,112
$4.32R$22.21
-33.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Francisco Morato
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,858
$0.98R$5.06
24.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 255.5K
$39.60R$204
103.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,155
$1.29R$6.63
1.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,944
$1.34R$6.87
63.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.7K
$9.38R$48.26
-7.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,334
$1.22R$6.29
12.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 88.4M
$23.8KR$122.4K
16.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 113.6M
$32.4KR$166.8K
10.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Francisco Morato
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 562.9K
$45.08R$232
293.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 44.1K
$15.16R$77.9
-8.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 94.4K
$17.70R$91.0
67.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Francisco Morato
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 142.5K
$23.26R$120
92.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 54.4K
$28.11R$145
-39.10%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 21.1K
$7.64R$39.28
-12.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Francisco Morato
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.6M
$421R$2,163
93.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 29.2M
$7,339R$37.7K
25.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Francisco Morato
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 284.1K
$55.2R$284
62.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 187.2K
$57.3R$295
2.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 438.8K
$92.6R$476
49.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 324.2K
$82.0R$422
24.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Francisco Morato
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.4M
$347R$1,786
205.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$231R$1,188
187.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 6.0M
$646R$3,320
192.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.3M
$460R$2,365
123.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.3M
$1,791R$9,210
133.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.3M
$1,299R$6,680
28.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Francisco Morato
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.2M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
11.12
-1.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Francisco Morato: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,062 in Medellin and $347 in Francisco Morato. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $39.00 in Francisco Morato for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $305 vs $219 per month, with Francisco Morato 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 Francisco Morato: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Francisco Morato cheaper than Medellin?
Francisco Morato is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 86% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,521 in Medellin and $1,358 in Francisco Morato 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 Francisco Morato?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,062 in Medellin versus $347 in Francisco Morato. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Francisco Morato?
Dining out is cheaper in Francisco Morato – a meal for two runs $39.00 versus $48.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Francisco Morato?
All in, you'll spend $1,681 per month in Medellin versus $905 in Francisco Morato – a 86% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Francisco Morato?
At $905 in Francisco Morato versus $1,681 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Francisco Morato but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Francisco Morato the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Francisco Morato more family-friendly?
For families, Francisco Morato 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Francisco Morato gentler on the wallet – expenses run 86% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.