Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Lake Forest, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Lake Forest, CA

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 52.9% cheaper than Lake Forest, CA without rent, and 65.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 57.1% cheaper than Lake Forest, CA without rent, and 65.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Lake Forest, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$24.57 $24.57
-74.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$100 $100
-67.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
$10.11 $10.11
-26.90%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$5.91 $5.91
-70.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$2.72 $2.72
-59.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
$2.24 $2.24
-67.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$8.48 $8.48
-80.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$8.84 $8.84
-63.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Lake Forest, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$1.24 $1.24
-12.10%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$4.27 $4.27
-70.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$4.61 $4.61
-71.15%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$4.47 $4.47
-50.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$12.47 $12.47
-63.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$17.03 $17.03
-66.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$19.22 $19.22
-55.31%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$6.56 $6.56
-65.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$1.9 $1.9
-43.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$4.14 $4.14
-63.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$5.42 $5.42
-73.80%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$3.21 $3.21
-65.42%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$3.08 $3.08
-61.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
$1.91 $1.91
-53.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$2.12 $2.12
-60.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$9.75 $9.75
-75.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$19.65 $19.65
-52.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$1.76 $1.76
-32.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$3.9 $3.9
-36.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Lake Forest, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
$3.42 $3.42
-75.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
$3.04 $3.04
-53.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
$2.68 $2.68
-26.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$29.53 $29.53
-73.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 4,265
$1.29 $1.29
-20.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 73.4M
$28.5K $28.5K
-38.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
$26.5K $26.5K
-1.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Lake Forest, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COP 344.1K
$202 $202
-59.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$54.8 $54.8
-82.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
$71.9 $71.9
-67.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Lake Forest, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
$51 $51
-49.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
$17.17 $17.17
-76.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Lake Forest, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
$1,823 $1,823
-83.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
$24.1K $24.1K
-75.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Lake Forest, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
$62.2 $62.2
-6.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
$41.13 $41.13
-23.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
$103 $103
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
$150 $150
-29.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Lake Forest, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
$1,433 $1,433
-65.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
$1,501 $1,501
-74.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
$3,096 $3,096
-73.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
$2,805 $2,805
-74.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
$8,100 $8,100
-72.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
$7,128 $7,128
-78.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Lake Forest, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
$6,899 $6,899
-92.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
6.49
106.93%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

Last update for Lake Forest, CA: October 28, 2025

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