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: $1,031 in Medellin versus $1,358 in Grecia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,599 in Medellin versus $1,852 in Grecia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,167 in Medellin versus $2,346 in Grecia.

Living in Medellin costs roughly 24% less than in Grecia, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% below, Grecia is 2% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Grecia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16 COP 20.1K
$8.68 ₡3,883
-29.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60 COP 106.1K
$39.25 ₡17.6K
-16.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.34 COP 23.9K
$9.26 ₡4,144
-20.73%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 5,599
$2.54 ₡1,135
-32.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,420
$1.36 ₡609
-22.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,515
$1.01 ₡450
-23.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 COP 5,487
$2.11 ₡945
-19.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.3K
$2.64 ₡1,183
20.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Grecia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,423
$1.83 ₡819
-42.62%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COP 4,236
$0.94 ₡422
38.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 COP 4,544
$2.15 ₡963
-34.88%
Eggs
$2.16 COP 7,046
$2.99 ₡1,336
-27.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.39 COP 14.3K
$6.01 ₡2,689
-26.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COP 19.1K
$3.87 ₡1,730
51.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 28.1K
$13.82 ₡6,181
-37.48%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 COP 7,425
$2.15 ₡961
6.05%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,603
$1.45 ₡647
-23.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,982
$1.22 ₡544
25.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 COP 4,410
$1.17 ₡523
15.38%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,674
$1.60 ₡717
-29.38%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,692
$1.35 ₡604
-16.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 2,753
$1.04 ₡463
-18.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 2,975
$1.96 ₡878
-53.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 COP 7,629
$5.41 ₡2,422
-56.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.37 COP 40.3K
$12.54 ₡5,610
-1.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 3,909
$1.84 ₡822
-34.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 8,104
$1.36 ₡608
83.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Grecia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,727
$1.77 ₡792
-52.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.57 COP 132.1K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,623
$1.83 ₡820
-22.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 COP 6,235
$1.79 ₡802
7.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.66 COP 24.9K
$8.08 ₡3,613
-5.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,223
$1.40 ₡625
-29.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K COP 58.7M
$38.0K ₡17.0M
-52.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K COP 86.7M
$33.0K ₡14.7M
-19.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Grecia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 COP 263.1K
$83.1 ₡37.2K
-2.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95 COP 32.4K
$26.00 ₡11.6K
-61.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18 COP 78.7K
$58.6 ₡26.2K
-58.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Grecia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.08 COP 81.6K
$44.28 ₡19.8K
-43.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15 COP 62.3K
$23.95 ₡10.7K
-20.04%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98 COP 13.0K
$7.04 ₡3,149
-43.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Grecia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 993.4K
$576 ₡257.5K
-46.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,059 COP 19.7M
$12.4K ₡5.6M
-51.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Grecia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 COP 189.2K
$61.6 ₡27.6K
-5.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20 COP 104.8K
$50.6 ₡22.6K
-36.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 327.9K
$127 ₡56.6K
-20.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 350.8K
$106 ₡47.5K
1.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Grecia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 COP 1.6M
$391 ₡174.9K
21.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 COP 1.2M
$600 ₡268.3K
-37.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 COP 2.7M
$709 ₡317.2K
19.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$730 COP 2.4M
$621 ₡277.7K
17.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,215 COP 10.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,372 COP 4.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Grecia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 COP 2.0M
$652 ₡291.6K
-5.37%
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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Grecia: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $477 in Medellin and $391 in Grecia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Grecia pays 6% 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 $193 vs $229 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 32% 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 in Grecia?
On paper, salaries run 6% lower in Grecia. 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 compared to Grecia?
Rent for a central apartment: $477 in Medellin versus $391 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 in Grecia?
Childcare runs $305 in Medellin versus $576 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 and in 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 in Grecia?
At $1,031 in Medellin versus $1,358 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 $1,031 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 32% less than in Grecia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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