Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Iowa City, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Iowa City, IA

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 48.7% cheaper than Iowa City, IA without rent, and 57.5% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 38.9% cheaper than Iowa City, IA without rent, and 47.8% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 22.5K

$15.1 $15.1

-60.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.19 COP 122.7K

$76 $76

-57.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.21 COP 27.5K

$9.03 $9.03

-20.16%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 6,284

$4.97 $4.97

-66.80%

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

$1.11 COP 4,224

$2.41 $2.41

-53.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 COP 2,716

$1.77 $1.77

-59.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,637

$4.88 $4.88

-64.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 COP 12.2K

$7.05 $7.05

-54.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.1 COP 4,176

$0.84 $0.84

30.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.3 COP 4,965

$2.6 $2.6

-50.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,302

$4.9 $4.9

-71.63%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 8,302

$4 $4

-45.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.54 COP 17.3K

$9.41 $9.41

-51.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.85 COP 22.3K

$10.5 $10.5

-44.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.62 COP 32.8K

$16.28 $16.28

-47.05%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,539

$3.3 $3.3

-32.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 4,080

$1.22 $1.22

-12.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,822

$2.8 $2.8

-45.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.41 COP 5,377

$4.75 $4.75

-70.32%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,269

$2.06 $2.06

-45.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.14 COP 4,343

$2.79 $2.79

-59.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.9 COP 3,418

$1.94 $1.94

-53.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,481

$1.98 $1.98

-54.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 8,932

$8.9 $8.9

-73.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.94 COP 37.9K

$14.4 $14.4

-30.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 COP 4,369

$1.71 $1.71

-32.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 9,066

$4.79 $4.79

-50.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 COP 3,069

$2.03 $2.03

-60.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 154.6K

$15.92 $15.92

154.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.46 COP 5,572

$4.62 $4.62

-68.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.99 COP 7,570

$2.23 $2.23

-10.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.96 COP 30.3K

$41.38 $41.38

-80.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,844

$0.81 $0.81

24.69%

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

$17.7K COP 67.3M

$24.8K $24.8K

-28.77%

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

$26.8K COP 102.1M

$25.3K $25.3K

5.93%

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

$80.8 COP 308K

$219 $219

-63.12%

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

$9.39 COP 35.8K

$50.5 $50.5

-81.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.51 COP 89.6K

$73.8 $73.8

-68.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.61 COP 97.6K

$48.68 $48.68

-47.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.95 COP 72.2K

$20.13 $20.13

-5.86%

Cinema Ticket

$4.12 COP 15.7K

$12.06 $12.06

-65.84%

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

$306 COP 1.2M

$1,262 $1,262

-75.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,875 COP 22.4M

$24.9K $24.9K

-76.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 COP 224K

$66.5 $66.5

-11.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.9 COP 121.5K

$49.21 $49.21

-35.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 387.4K

$101 $101

0.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 413K

$117 $117

-7.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$478 COP 1.8M

$1,238 $1,238

-61.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$375 COP 1.4M

$1,110 $1,110

-66.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.2M

$2,399 $2,399

-65.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$727 COP 2.8M

$1,567 $1,567

-53.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,251 COP 8.6M

$3,897 $3,897

-42.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,598 COP 6.1M

$1,941 $1,941

-17.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$517 COP 2M

$3,620 $3,620

-85.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

6.43

108.86%

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

Last update for Medellin: December 1, 2025

Last update for Iowa City, IA: December 2, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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