Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and IzolaCost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Izola
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,028 in Medellin versus $1,701 in Izola.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,586 in Medellin versus $2,591 in Izola.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,144 in Medellin versus $3,482 in Izola.
🙂Living in Medellin costs roughly 40% less than in Izola, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% below, Izola is 28% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Izola
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.00COP 20.6K
$11.40€9.82
-47.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.84COP 112.5K
$52.1€44.88
-36.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.42COP 25.4K
$9.34€8.05
-20.56%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,659
$1.42€1.22
16.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07COP 3,663
$3.43€2.95
-68.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76COP 2,607
$1.79€1.54
-57.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,908
$3.39€2.92
-49.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20COP 11.0K
$4.56€3.93
-29.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Izola
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,597
$1.23€1.06
-14.63%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31COP 4,479
$1.63€1.40
-19.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.34COP 4,591
$2.34€2.02
-42.74%
Eggs
$2.19COP 7,521
$2.53€2.18
-13.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.41COP 15.1K
$13.36€11.50
-66.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.69COP 19.5K
$8.79€7.57
-35.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.52COP 29.2K
$14.72€12.68
-42.12%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COP 8,023
$1.90€1.63
23.16%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,804
$1.83€1.58
-39.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 5,210
$1.80€1.55
-15.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,680
$3.00€2.58
-54.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COP 3,950
$1.24€1.07
-7.26%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18COP 4,043
$1.40€1.21
-15.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.84COP 2,885
$1.13€0.97
-25.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86COP 2,931
$0.71€0.61
21.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26COP 7,753
$5.94€5.12
-61.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.60COP 39.8K
$5.44€4.68
113.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 4,109
$1.24€1.07
-3.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 8,484
$1.25€1.07
98.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Izola
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,721
$2.04€1.76
-61.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.83COP 139.9K
$32.02€27.58
27.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COP 5,023
$1.69€1.46
-13.02%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,568
$1.27€1.09
51.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.77COP 26.6K
$29.44€25.35
-73.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COP 3,464
$1.70€1.46
-40.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7KCOP 60.5M
$26.0K€22.4K
-32.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOP 90.7M
$26.7K€23.0K
-1.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Izola
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.1COP 277.9K
$301€259
-73.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.43COP 32.3K
$8.33€7.17
13.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.86COP 81.8K
$33.17€28.57
-28.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Izola
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.99COP 89.1K
$51.9€44.68
-49.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.71COP 64.1K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.09COP 14.0K
$7.86€6.77
-47.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Izola
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$315COP 1.1M
$508€438
-38.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,022COP 20.6M
$8,627€7,429
-30.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Izola
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.7COP 204.6K
$103€88.5
-41.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.97COP 109.6K
$35.04€30.17
-8.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 346.9K
$121€105
-16.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105COP 360.3K
$153€132
-31.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Izola
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$485COP 1.7M
$742€639
-34.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$365COP 1.3M
$616€530
-40.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$827COP 2.8M
$1,315€1,132
-37.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.5M
$1,226€1,056
-40.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,992COP 10.3M
$4,630€3,987
-35.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,314COP 4.5M
$3,365€2,898
-60.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Izola
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$551COP 1.9M
$1,697€1,461
-67.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
3.6
273.06%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: June 15, 2026
Last update for Izola: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $485 in Medellin and $742 in Izola. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Izola pays 208% 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 $52.0 in Izola for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $258 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 Izola: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Izola?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 65% lower than in Izola. 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 Izola?
On paper, Izola earns 208% less. 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 vs Izola?
Rent for a central apartment: $485 in Medellin versus $742 in Izola. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin vs Izola?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $52.0 in Izola. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to Izola?
All in, you'll spend $1,028 per month in Medellin versus $1,701 in Izola – a 65% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Medellin or Izola?
At $1,028 in Medellin versus $1,701 in Izola, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Izola. 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 Izola?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,028 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
How safe is Medellin compared to Izola?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Izola are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 65% less than in Izola. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.