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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $738 in Ife, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $1,184 in Ife, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $1,630 in Ife, rent included.

Medellin costs about 40% more than Ife, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Ife are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Ife 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.4K

$2.81 ₦3,870

110.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 118.2K

$34.94 ₦48.1K

-6.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.0K

$5.48 ₦7,541

31.39%

Cappuccino

$1.70 COP 6,140

$0.78 ₦1,074

117.95%

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

$1.10 COP 3,966

$0.50 ₦691

120.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,605

$0.26 ₦358

176.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 COP 6,022

$0.95 ₦1,312

75.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 COP 11.2K

$1.14 ₦1,565

171.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,809

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,497

$0.73 ₦1,004

71.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,022

$1.74 ₦2,401

-20.11%

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,168

$2.34 ₦3,216

-3.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.6K

$4.63 ₦6,375

-6.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.1K

$5.06 ₦6,969

15.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 31.9K

$4.27 ₦5,883

106.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,099

$5.79 ₦7,973

-61.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,882

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,522

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,950

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,078

$0.90 ₦1,241

25.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,036

$1.14 ₦1,571

-1.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,057

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,281

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,414

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.2K

$6.93 ₦9,541

60.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,309

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,553

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,838

$0.37 ₦504

113.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,184

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,901

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 28.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,385

$0.41 ₦560

129.27%

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

$17.9K COP 64.7M

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

$26.8K COP 96.7M

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

$84.0 COP 303.1K

$30.15 ₦41.5K

178.47%

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

$9.60 COP 34.7K

$5.92 ₦8,148

62.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.2K

$47.68 ₦65.6K

-49.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 93.4K

$23.35 ₦32.2K

10.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 68.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.1K

$4.64 ₦6,385

-15.52%

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

$306 COP 1.1M

$46.16 ₦63.6K

563.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.4M

$424 ₦583.2K

1297.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 209.1K

$23.07 ₦31.8K

151.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 114.9K

$34.48 ₦47.5K

-7.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 360.6K

$57.8 ₦79.6K

72.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 386.8K

$69.7 ₦96.0K

53.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

$586 ₦806.7K

-16.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

$348 ₦479.1K

5.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

$1,151 ₦1.6M

-28.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

$689 ₦948.7K

3.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 COP 2.0M

$163 ₦224.3K

234.92%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Ife: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $586 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 235% 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 $35.00 in Ife. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $123 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: $1,034 in Medellin, $738 in Ife – roughly 40% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,550 per month in Medellin and $1,106 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 $1,034 in Medellin and $738 in Ife. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Medellin and $46.16 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 $738, than in Medellin at $1,034. 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 $738 in Ife to $1,034 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.