Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ife Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ife

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $715 in Ife, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,174 in Ife, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,633 in Ife, rent included.

Medellin costs about 42% more than Ife, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Ife are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Ife 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$2.77 ₦3,767

114.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$35.63 ₦48.4K

-6.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$5.19 ₦7,064

39.31%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$0.85 ₦1,152

91.76%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.47 ₦636

131.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.28 ₦382

160.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$0.92 ₦1,250

89.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$1.15 ₦1,567

180.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$0.73 ₦998

76.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$1.78 ₦2,417

-25.84%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$2.37 ₦3,221

-4.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$4.61 ₦6,269

-5.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$5.26 ₦7,151

11.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$4.26 ₦5,791

102.11%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$5.71 ₦7,769

-60.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$0.93 ₦1,262

25.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$1.19 ₦1,624

-1.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$2.15 ₦2,925

413.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$0.36 ₦491

133.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$0.38 ₦516

165.79%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.6K COP 61.4M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.5K COP 92.5M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$29.64 ₦40.3K

182.32%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$5.86 ₦7,975

61.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$46.69 ₦63.5K

-48.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$23.04 ₦31.3K

9.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$4.74 ₦6,451

-13.50%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$312 COP 1.1M

$46.67 ₦63.5K

568.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$415 ₦564.0K

1344.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$23.43 ₦31.9K

147.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$35.55 ₦48.3K

-8.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$58.3 ₦79.2K

70.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$70.9 ₦96.4K

53.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$597 ₦811.5K

-19.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$357 ₦485.6K

6.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$1,187 ₦1.6M

-29.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$706 ₦960.0K

2.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$52.3 ₦71.1K

934.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

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

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for Ife: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $597 in Ife. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 934% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $36.00 in Ife. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $115 in Ife – so Ife wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Ife: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,017 in Medellin, $715 in Ife – roughly 42% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,073 in Ife. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ife, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,017 in Medellin and $715 in Ife. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $312 per month in Medellin and $46.67 in Ife. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ife, where all-in costs run around $715, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Ife it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $715 in Ife to $1,017 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Ife. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.