πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,017 in Medellin versus $811 in Francisco Morato.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $1,300 in Francisco Morato.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,188 in Medellin versus $1,790 in Francisco Morato.
πLiving in Medellin is roughly 25% more expensive than Francisco Morato, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Medellin24% lower, Francisco Morato40% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Francisco Morato
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95COPΒ 20.8K
$6.35R$32.13
-6.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.33COPΒ 116.3K
$32.56R$165
2.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.23COPΒ 25.2K
$7.01R$35.49
3.14%
Cappuccino
$1.63COPΒ 5,687
$1.80R$9.12
-9.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09COPΒ 3,821
$1.36R$6.87
-19.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73COPΒ 2,548
$0.93R$4.70
-21.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.74COPΒ 6,065
$1.84R$9.31
-5.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23COPΒ 11.3K
$3.33R$16.87
-3.00%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Francisco Morato
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COPΒ 3,662
$1.12R$5.68
-6.25%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29COPΒ 4,515
$1.55R$7.86
-16.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32COPΒ 4,617
$1.30R$6.59
1.54%
Eggs
$2.27COPΒ 7,927
$2.35R$11.91
-3.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.35COPΒ 15.2K
$8.07R$40.85
-46.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COPΒ 20.5K
$3.87R$19.58
51.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.61COPΒ 30.0K
$8.59R$43.48
0.23%
Apples(1kg)
$2.25COPΒ 7,844
$2.28R$11.54
-1.32%
Banana(1kg)
$1.07COPΒ 3,733
$1.74R$8.80
-38.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COPΒ 5,322
$1.45R$7.35
4.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42COPΒ 4,964
$1.53R$7.75
-7.19%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,084
$1.27R$6.42
-7.87%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,077
$1.08R$5.45
8.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,096
$0.81R$4.08
9.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COPΒ 3,146
$0.66R$3.34
36.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25COPΒ 7,837
$2.63R$13.33
-14.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.04COPΒ 38.5K
$8.56R$43.36
28.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14COPΒ 3,977
$1.31R$6.63
-12.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38COPΒ 8,301
$3.38R$17.11
-29.59%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Francisco Morato
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COPΒ 2,916
$0.86R$4.35
-2.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.95COPΒ 146.4K
$38.00R$192
10.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41COPΒ 4,912
$0.87R$4.41
62.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90COPΒ 6,634
$1.01R$5.11
88.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.75COPΒ 27.0K
$8.61R$43.61
-9.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COPΒ 3,509
$1.02R$5.15
-0.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOPΒ 61.4M
$22.3KR$113.1K
-21.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 92.5M
$28.9KR$146.2K
-8.24%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Francisco Morato
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.7COPΒ 292.1K
$46.35R$235
80.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.45COPΒ 33.0K
$15.10R$76.4
-37.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.11COPΒ 84.1K
$18.96R$96.0
27.16%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Francisco Morato
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.31COPΒ 88.3K
$22.54R$114
12.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14COPΒ 66.8K
$22.04R$112
-13.16%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10COPΒ 14.3K
$5.41R$27.41
-24.21%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Francisco Morato
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312COPΒ 1.1M
$319R$1,615
-2.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,993COPΒ 20.9M
$6,950R$35.2K
-13.76%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Francisco Morato
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0COPΒ 202.6K
$56.1R$284
3.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56COPΒ 113.6K
$50.8R$257
-35.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.6COPΒ 347.7K
$85.4R$432
16.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COPΒ 378.8K
$71.3R$361
52.34%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Francisco Morato
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$482COPΒ 1.7M
$312R$1,581
54.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.3M
$216R$1,092
75.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$837COPΒ 2.9M
$583R$2,951
43.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$723COPΒ 2.5M
$433R$2,194
66.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,840COPΒ 9.9M
$1,559R$7,892
82.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,223COPΒ 4.3M
$1,010R$5,114
21.09%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Francisco Morato
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$541COPΒ 1.9M
-
-
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Francisco Morato: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $482 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 $193 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 25% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,525 in Medellin and $1,217 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: $482 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 $1,017 per month in Medellin versus $811 in Francisco Morato β a 25% 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 $811 in Francisco Morato versus $1,017 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 25% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.