😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,687 in Medellin versus $1,275 in Kretinga.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,535 in Medellin versus $2,013 in Kretinga.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,383 in Medellin versus $2,750 in Kretinga.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 32% more expensive than in Kretinga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, Kretinga is 7% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Kretinga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.89COP 24.2K
$12.55€10.73
-37.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.53COP 136.5K
$53.0€45.30
-15.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.29COP 28.5K
$6.89€5.89
34.83%
Cappuccino
$2.90COP 8,874
$3.33€2.85
-12.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81COP 5,541
$2.42€2.07
-25.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55COP 4,741
$1.94€1.66
-20.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25COP 9,962
$5.65€4.83
-42.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88COP 18.0K
$5.16€4.41
13.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kretinga
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38COP 4,230
$1.32€1.13
4.55%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45COP 7,517
$1.54€1.32
59.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,617
$1.86€1.59
-18.82%
Eggs
$2.78COP 8,516
$3.08€2.64
-9.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.05COP 27.7K
$10.40€8.90
-12.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.65COP 32.6K
$5.83€4.98
82.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.63COP 44.8K
$9.73€8.32
50.36%
Apples(1kg)
$3.97COP 12.2K
$1.70€1.45
133.53%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,219
$1.49€1.28
-7.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,056
$1.72€1.47
33.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.02COP 6,185
$3.15€2.69
-35.87%
Potato(1kg)
$2.09COP 6,390
$0.82€0.70
154.88%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63COP 4,996
$0.84€0.72
94.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08COP 3,313
$1.58€1.35
-31.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25COP 3,843
$0.81€0.69
54.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03COP 12.4K
$6.23€5.33
-35.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.47COP 41.3K
$8.93€7.64
50.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60COP 4,904
$1.73€1.48
-7.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00COP 9,189
$1.80€1.54
66.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Kretinga
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.18COP 3,611
$1.31€1.12
-9.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.9COP 244.9K
$33.99€29.08
135.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.61COP 4,920
$3.27€2.80
-50.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13COP 6,533
$0.86€0.74
147.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.52COP 26.1K
$13.53€11.58
-37.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35COP 4,142
$1.80€1.54
-25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KCOP 86.8M
$28.8K€24.6K
-1.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KCOP 109.4M
$30.0K€25.6K
19.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kretinga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151COP 463.8K
$212€181
-28.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.10COP 40.1K
$14.55€12.45
-9.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.30COP 99.0K
$14.94€12.78
116.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kretinga
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.33COP 141.9K
$42.78€36.59
8.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.26COP 52.9K
$25.05€21.42
-31.10%
Cinema Ticket
$6.43COP 19.7K
$9.32€7.97
-31.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kretinga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$835COP 2.6M
$459€392
82.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,887COP 27.2M
$9,596€8,208
-7.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kretinga
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3COP 273.7K
$93.7€80.1
-4.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3COP 169.5K
$42.11€36.02
31.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$137COP 418.5K
$82.7€70.8
65.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COP 335.1K
$131€112
-16.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kretinga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$952COP 2.9M
$499€427
90.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$668COP 2.0M
$325€278
105.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,020COP 6.2M
$808€691
150.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,148COP 3.5M
$723€618
58.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,696COP 11.3M
$2,916€2,494
26.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,586COP 4.9M
$1,675€1,433
-5.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kretinga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$625COP 1.9M
$1,149€983
-45.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.43
3.96
163.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026
Last update for Kretinga: August 18, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $952 in Medellin and $499 in Kretinga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kretinga pays 84% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $45.00 in Medellin vs $53.0 in Kretinga. Groceries flip the comparison at $297 vs $228, with Kretinga cheaper for home cooking.
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 Kretinga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kretinga cheaper than Medellin?
Kretinga is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 32% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Kretinga?
On paper, salaries run 84% lower in Kretinga. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Kretinga?
Rent for a central apartment: $952 in Medellin versus $499 in Kretinga. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Kretinga runs roughly 135% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $835 in Medellin versus $459 in Kretinga. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Kretinga?
At $1,275 in Kretinga versus $1,687 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kretinga but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Kretinga the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Kretinga more family-friendly?
For families, Kretinga is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Kretinga?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Kretinga 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Kretinga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.