Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Grecia Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Grecia

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,371 in Grecia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $1,845 in Grecia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $2,320 in Grecia.

Living in Medellin costs roughly 26% less than in Grecia, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 24% below, Grecia is 2% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Grecia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99 COPΒ 21.3K
$8.22 β‚‘3,757
-27.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86 COPΒ 116.9K
$39.14 β‚‘17.9K
-16.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.09 COPΒ 25.2K
$9.41 β‚‘4,298
-24.65%
Cappuccino
$1.71 COPΒ 6,093
$2.52 β‚‘1,150
-32.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COPΒ 3,910
$1.43 β‚‘654
-23.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COPΒ 2,771
$0.96 β‚‘441
-18.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.68 COPΒ 5,976
$2.17 β‚‘990
-22.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 COPΒ 10.9K
$2.70 β‚‘1,236
13.70%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Grecia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COPΒ 3,892
$1.91 β‚‘875
-42.93%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COPΒ 4,492
$1.03 β‚‘469
22.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COPΒ 4,905
$2.13 β‚‘972
-35.21%
Eggs
$2.19 COPΒ 7,799
$3.01 β‚‘1,377
-27.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.40 COPΒ 15.7K
$6.02 β‚‘2,748
-26.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.63 COPΒ 20.0K
$4.03 β‚‘1,840
39.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.89 COPΒ 31.6K
$13.94 β‚‘6,371
-36.23%
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 COPΒ 8,319
$2.21 β‚‘1,008
5.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COPΒ 3,764
$1.52 β‚‘696
-30.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.50 COPΒ 5,355
$1.17 β‚‘533
28.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.38 COPΒ 4,906
$1.17 β‚‘535
17.95%
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 COPΒ 4,097
$1.60 β‚‘733
-28.13%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 COPΒ 4,141
$1.37 β‚‘624
-15.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COPΒ 3,170
$1.02 β‚‘468
-12.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COPΒ 2,986
$2.00 β‚‘916
-58.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28 COPΒ 8,116
$5.29 β‚‘2,416
-56.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.64 COPΒ 37.9K
$12.78 β‚‘5,839
-16.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COPΒ 4,268
$1.90 β‚‘868
-36.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 COPΒ 8,793
$1.42 β‚‘648
73.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Grecia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COPΒ 3,045
$1.80 β‚‘820
-52.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.40 COPΒ 147.3K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COPΒ 5,245
$1.83 β‚‘836
-19.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COPΒ 6,984
$1.80 β‚‘821
8.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.74 COPΒ 27.5K
$7.98 β‚‘3,646
-3.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 COPΒ 3,397
$1.46 β‚‘668
-34.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K COPΒ 64.5M
$37.5K β‚‘17.1M
-51.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K COPΒ 94.2M
$32.7K β‚‘14.9M
-18.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Grecia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.3 COPΒ 292.7K
$82.7 β‚‘37.8K
-0.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50 COPΒ 33.8K
$25.62 β‚‘11.7K
-62.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23 COPΒ 86.2K
$59.5 β‚‘27.2K
-59.26%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Grecia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.89 COPΒ 92.1K
$45.15 β‚‘20.6K
-42.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00 COPΒ 67.6K
$23.90 β‚‘10.9K
-20.50%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93 COPΒ 14.0K
$6.95 β‚‘3,175
-43.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Grecia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$309 COPΒ 1.1M
$575 β‚‘262.9K
-46.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,965 COPΒ 21.2M
$12.7K β‚‘5.8M
-53.02%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Grecia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 COPΒ 208.7K
$62.0 β‚‘28.3K
-5.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35 COPΒ 115.1K
$51.6 β‚‘23.6K
-37.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COPΒ 365.1K
$127 β‚‘58.1K
-19.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COPΒ 385.8K
$109 β‚‘49.7K
-0.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Grecia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$476 COPΒ 1.7M
$400 β‚‘182.8K
19.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COPΒ 1.3M
$604 β‚‘275.8K
-37.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$838 COPΒ 3.0M
$703 β‚‘321.2K
19.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$724 COPΒ 2.6M
$608 β‚‘277.6K
19.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,791 COPΒ 9.9M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,211 COPΒ 4.3M
-
-
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Grecia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$512 COPΒ 1.8M
$667 β‚‘304.6K
-23.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
10.17
32.06%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Grecia: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $400 in Grecia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Grecia pays 30% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $39.00 in Grecia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $234 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 Grecia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Grecia?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 35% lower than in Grecia. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or Grecia?
On paper, Grecia earns 30% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin vs Grecia?
Rent for a central apartment: $476 in Medellin versus $400 in Grecia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Medellin and Grecia?
Childcare runs $309 in Medellin versus $575 in Grecia. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin vs Grecia?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $39.00 in Grecia. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Medellin or Grecia?
At $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,371 in Grecia, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Grecia. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Grecia?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,013 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Grecia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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