😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,589 in Medellin versus $1,273 in Kretinga.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,364 in Medellin versus $1,947 in Kretinga.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,139 in Medellin versus $2,620 in Kretinga.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 25% more expensive than in Kretinga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 19% above, Kretinga is 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Kretinga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.01COP 25.6K
$12.49€11.13
-35.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.55COP 149.1K
$50.9€45.32
-8.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.43COP 30.2K
$6.65€5.93
41.80%
Cappuccino
$2.91COP 9,326
$3.23€2.88
-9.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75COP 5,614
$2.22€1.98
-21.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32COP 4,241
$1.97€1.75
-32.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.13COP 10.0K
$5.64€5.03
-44.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.55COP 17.8K
$5.19€4.62
6.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kretinga
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.41COP 4,519
$1.28€1.14
10.16%
White Bread(500g)
$2.44COP 7,818
$1.45€1.29
68.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63COP 5,218
$1.79€1.59
-8.94%
Eggs
$2.82COP 9,038
$2.98€2.66
-5.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.69COP 31.1K
$10.11€9.01
-4.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.32COP 29.8K
$5.66€5.05
64.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.46COP 43.1K
$9.64€8.59
39.63%
Apples(1kg)
$4.00COP 12.8K
$1.71€1.53
133.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.48COP 4,744
$1.44€1.28
2.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12COP 6,804
$1.75€1.56
21.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,216
$3.01€2.68
-25.25%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91COP 6,124
$0.80€0.71
138.75%
Onion(1kg)
$1.62COP 5,188
$0.79€0.71
105.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.15COP 3,677
$1.48€1.32
-22.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.26COP 4,043
$0.79€0.70
59.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.82COP 12.2K
$5.96€5.31
-35.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.11COP 42.0K
$8.35€7.44
57.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60COP 5,110
$1.67€1.49
-4.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26COP 7,226
$1.67€1.49
35.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Kretinga
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.17COP 3,751
$1.09€0.98
7.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$75.0COP 240.3K
$36.20€32.26
107.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.27COP 4,077
$3.10€2.77
-59.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05COP 6,566
$0.81€0.72
153.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.20COP 26.3K
$13.59€12.11
-39.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27COP 4,067
$1.88€1.67
-32.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8KCOP 85.8M
$27.4K€24.4K
-2.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4KCOP 110.2M
$28.4K€25.3K
21.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kretinga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$162COP 519.6K
$204€182
-20.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.12COP 42.0K
$13.52€12.05
-2.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.09COP 90.0K
$14.52€12.94
93.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kretinga
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.33COP 142.0K
$37.06€33.03
19.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33COP 52.3K
$23.40€20.86
-30.21%
Cinema Ticket
$6.09COP 19.5K
$9.20€8.20
-33.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kretinga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$764COP 2.4M
$464€414
64.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,904COP 28.5M
$9,417€8,393
-5.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kretinga
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.0COP 272.2K
$93.8€83.6
-9.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.5COP 184.1K
$41.63€37.10
38.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$132COP 422.1K
$81.1€72.3
62.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.8COP 306.7K
$131€116
-26.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kretinga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,028COP 3.3M
$478€426
115.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$604COP 1.9M
$313€279
93.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,802COP 5.8M
$811€723
122.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$993COP 3.2M
$722€644
37.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,921COP 12.6M
$3,382€3,014
15.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,639COP 5.2M
$1,854€1,652
-11.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kretinga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$626COP 2.0M
$1,434€1,278
-56.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
3.99
174.19%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: October 6, 2026
Last update for Kretinga: October 4, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,028 in Medellin and $478 in Kretinga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kretinga pays 129% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Medellin vs $51.0 in Kretinga. Groceries flip the comparison at $288 vs $221, 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, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 25% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Kretinga?
On paper, salaries run 129% 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: $1,028 in Medellin versus $478 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 107% 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 $764 in Medellin versus $464 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 $1,273 in Kretinga versus $1,589 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 25% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.