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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $279 in Ife, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $426 in Ife, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $573 in Ife, rent included.

Medellin costs about 487% more than Ife, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 19% above the global median, while Ife is 80% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.04 COP 24.8K

$1.60 ₦2,118

402.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.29 COP 148.6K

$11.13 ₦14.7K

333.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.42 COP 29.0K

$3.66 ₦4,856

157.38%

Cappuccino

$2.94 COP 9,040

$0.27 ₦361

988.89%

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

$1.86 COP 5,735

$0.33 ₦441

463.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 COP 4,479

$0.19 ₦255

668.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 COP 9,882

$0.29 ₦378

1006.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.71 COP 17.6K

$0.35 ₦470

1531.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,428

White Bread (500g)

$2.40 COP 7,389

$0.23 ₦305

943.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 COP 5,228

$0.58 ₦775

193.10%

Eggs

$2.89 COP 8,896

$1.32 ₦1,749

118.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.06 COP 30.9K

$1.47 ₦1,946

584.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.97 COP 30.7K

$1.62 ₦2,153

515.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.20 COP 43.7K

$1.30 ₦1,727

992.31%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 COP 12.3K

$1.90 ₦2,521

109.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 COP 4,878

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 COP 6,624

Tomato (1kg)

$2.30 COP 7,078

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 COP 6,169

$0.31 ₦411

545.16%

Onion (1kg)

$1.51 COP 4,646

$0.35 ₦469

331.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 COP 3,701

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 COP 3,946

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.84 COP 11.8K

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 43.1K

$2.21 ₦2,934

533.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 COP 5,256

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 COP 8,440

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.25 COP 3,834

$0.12 ₦158

941.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.9 COP 239.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,016

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.17 COP 6,680

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.29 COP 25.5K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 COP 4,172

$0.14 ₦182

871.43%

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

$27.5K COP 84.5M

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

$36.5K COP 112.4M

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

$169 COP 519.2K

$30.32 ₦40.2K

456.46%

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

$13.57 COP 41.8K

$6.05 ₦8,019

124.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.32 COP 87.2K

$15.07 ₦20.0K

87.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.71 COP 140.7K

$7.34 ₦9,721

522.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.22 COP 53.0K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 20.5K

$1.51 ₦2,006

340.40%

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

$803 COP 2.5M

$15.14 ₦20.1K

5206.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,190 COP 28.3M

$135 ₦179.5K

6684.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.4 COP 268.8K

$7.62 ₦10.1K

1046.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.4 COP 182.7K

$11.23 ₦14.9K

428.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$139 COP 427.5K

$18.87 ₦25.0K

636.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 314.0K

$22.29 ₦29.5K

357.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,071 COP 3.3M

$184 ₦244.5K

480.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$653 COP 2.0M

$111 ₦147.0K

488.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,925 COP 5.9M

$373 ₦493.9K

416.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,048 COP 3.2M

$226 ₦299.6K

363.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,123 COP 12.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,697 COP 5.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$655 COP 2.0M

$52.4 ₦69.4K

1150.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

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

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Last update for Ife: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,071 in Medellin versus $184 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 1150% 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $11.00 in Ife. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $42.00 – making Ife the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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: $1,641 in Medellin, $279 in Ife – roughly 487% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,462 per month in Medellin and $419 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 $1,641 in Medellin and $279 in Ife. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $803 per month in Medellin and $15.14 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 $279, than in Medellin at $1,641. 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 $279 in Ife to $1,641 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.