πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,034 in Medellin versus $798 in Francisco Morato.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,577 in Medellin versus $1,309 in Francisco Morato.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,120 in Medellin versus $1,821 in Francisco Morato.
πLiving in Medellin is roughly 30% more expensive than Francisco Morato, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Medellin23% lower, Francisco Morato40% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Francisco Morato
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COPΒ 21.4K
$6.27R$31.27
-5.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COPΒ 118.2K
$32.59R$163
0.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COPΒ 26.0K
$7.19R$35.89
0.14%
Cappuccino
$1.70COPΒ 6,140
$1.80R$8.97
-5.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,966
$1.37R$6.84
-19.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COPΒ 2,605
$0.87R$4.35
-17.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COPΒ 6,022
$1.76R$8.80
-5.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COPΒ 11.2K
$3.47R$17.30
-10.66%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Francisco Morato
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COPΒ 3,809
$1.13R$5.64
-6.19%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COPΒ 4,497
$1.52R$7.60
-17.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COPΒ 5,022
$1.27R$6.31
9.45%
Eggs
$2.26COPΒ 8,168
$2.29R$11.41
-1.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COPΒ 15.6K
$8.08R$40.34
-46.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COPΒ 21.1K
$3.73R$18.60
56.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COPΒ 31.9K
$8.63R$43.06
2.32%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COPΒ 8,099
$2.24R$11.20
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COPΒ 3,882
$1.78R$8.90
-39.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COPΒ 5,522
$1.48R$7.39
3.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COPΒ 4,950
$1.58R$7.87
-13.29%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COPΒ 4,078
$1.31R$6.55
-13.74%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COPΒ 4,036
$1.14R$5.70
-1.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COPΒ 3,057
$0.76R$3.79
11.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COPΒ 3,281
$0.65R$3.24
40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COPΒ 8,414
$2.69R$13.41
-13.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COPΒ 40.2K
$9.69R$48.33
14.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COPΒ 4,309
$1.32R$6.57
-9.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COPΒ 8,553
$3.33R$16.61
-28.83%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Francisco Morato
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COPΒ 2,838
$0.94R$4.71
-15.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COPΒ 148.5K
$38.91R$194
5.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COPΒ 5,184
$0.86R$4.29
67.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COPΒ 6,901
$1.02R$5.07
87.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COPΒ 28.9K
$8.41R$41.97
-4.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COPΒ 3,385
$1.01R$5.06
-6.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOPΒ 64.7M
$22.4KR$111.9K
-20.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOPΒ 96.7M
$29.4KR$146.5K
-8.74%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Francisco Morato
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COPΒ 303.1K
$47.80R$239
75.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COPΒ 34.7K
$15.07R$75.2
-36.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COPΒ 87.2K
$19.04R$95.0
26.89%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Francisco Morato
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COPΒ 93.4K
$22.27R$111
16.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COPΒ 68.7K
$21.73R$108
-12.38%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COPΒ 14.1K
$5.27R$26.29
-25.62%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Francisco Morato
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COPΒ 1.1M
$313R$1,561
-2.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COPΒ 21.4M
$6,840R$34.1K
-13.47%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Francisco Morato
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COPΒ 209.1K
$57.9R$289
0.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COPΒ 114.9K
$52.5R$262
-39.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COPΒ 360.6K
$83.9R$418
19.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COPΒ 386.8K
$72.0R$359
48.87%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Francisco Morato
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COPΒ 1.8M
$312R$1,555
56.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COPΒ 1.3M
$218R$1,087
68.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COPΒ 3.0M
$590R$2,946
39.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COPΒ 2.6M
$436R$2,175
64.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COPΒ 10.6M
$1,692R$8,445
72.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COPΒ 5.1M
$1,193R$5,955
17.88%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Francisco Morato
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COPΒ 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
10.92
22.99%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Last update for Francisco Morato: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $487 in Medellin and $312 in Francisco Morato. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
πDining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $33.00 in Francisco Morato for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $195 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 Francisco Morato: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Francisco Morato cheaper than Medellin?
Francisco Morato is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 30% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,550 in Medellin and $1,196 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: $487 in Medellin versus $312 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 Francisco Morato?
Dining out is cheaper in Francisco Morato β a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Francisco Morato?
All in, you'll spend $1,034 per month in Medellin versus $798 in Francisco Morato β a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Francisco Morato?
At $798 in Francisco Morato versus $1,034 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 β expenses run 30% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.