🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,003 in Medellin versus $1,503 in Livadeia.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,573 in Medellin versus $2,151 in Livadeia.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,143 in Medellin versus $2,799 in Livadeia.
🌍Living in Medellin costs roughly 33% less than in Livadeia, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 25% below, Livadeia is 13% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Livadeia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91COP 19.1K
$13.55€11.77
-56.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96COP 106.5K
$35.78€31.09
-7.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.43COP 24.0K
$8.66€7.52
-14.20%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,343
$3.39€2.94
-51.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,559
$1.67€1.45
-34.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,523
$0.60€0.52
30.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,553
$4.72€4.10
-63.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COP 10.3K
$3.98€3.46
-20.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Livadeia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10COP 3,565
$1.52€1.32
-27.63%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 4,066
$1.36€1.18
-7.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,463
$2.14€1.86
-35.51%
Eggs
$2.18COP 7,038
$4.17€3.62
-47.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.49COP 14.5K
$13.56€11.78
-66.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.79COP 18.7K
$9.47€8.23
-38.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COP 29.0K
$13.39€11.63
-33.01%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32COP 7,499
$2.28€1.98
1.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,440
$1.86€1.61
-43.01%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 4,899
$1.01€0.88
50.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,381
$1.84€1.60
-26.09%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,645
$1.11€0.97
1.80%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,785
$0.90€0.78
30.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90COP 2,912
$1.01€0.87
-10.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COP 2,897
$0.42€0.37
114.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23COP 7,218
$4.57€3.97
-51.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.12COP 39.2K
$6.77€5.88
79.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 3,841
$1.59€1.38
-25.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 8,020
$2.01€1.75
23.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Livadeia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85COP 2,758
$1.60€1.39
-46.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.62COP 134.5K
$46.96€40.80
-11.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,575
$7.44€6.46
-80.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.95COP 6,302
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.89COP 25.5K
$13.65€11.86
-42.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,200
$2.13€1.85
-53.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOP 56.9M
$27.4K€23.8K
-35.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 86.6M
$25.3K€22.0K
5.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Livadeia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0COP 268.2K
$307€266
-72.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70COP 31.3K
$23.20€20.15
-58.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52COP 76.0K
$31.53€27.39
-25.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Livadeia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.26COP 81.6K
$57.4€49.90
-56.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10COP 61.7K
$26.71€23.21
-28.49%
Cinema Ticket
$3.95COP 12.8K
$10.06€8.74
-60.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Livadeia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$316COP 1.0M
$521€453
-39.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,975COP 19.3M
$5,598€4,864
6.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Livadeia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0COP 193.8K
$93.6€81.3
-35.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 102.8K
$35.16€30.55
-9.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102COP 328.5K
$92.4€80.2
10.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 347.2K
$95.6€83.0
12.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Livadeia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$475COP 1.5M
$503€437
-5.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$374COP 1.2M
$397€345
-5.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$849COP 2.7M
$768€667
10.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$719COP 2.3M
$625€543
15.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,265COP 10.5M
$2,506€2,177
30.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441COP 4.7M
$2,526€2,194
-42.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Livadeia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$624COP 2.0M
$959€833
-34.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
4.34
209.45%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Last update for Livadeia: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $475 in Medellin and $503 in Livadeia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Livadeia pays 54% 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 $36.00 in Livadeia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 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 Livadeia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Livadeia?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 50% lower than in Livadeia. 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 in Livadeia?
On paper, salaries run 54% lower in Livadeia. 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 compared to Livadeia?
Rent for a central apartment: $475 in Medellin versus $503 in Livadeia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Medellin compared to Livadeia?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 13% less than in Livadeia. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Medellin and in Livadeia?
Childcare runs $316 in Medellin versus $521 in Livadeia. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Medellin or in Livadeia?
At $1,003 in Medellin versus $1,503 in Livadeia, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Livadeia. 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 Livadeia?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,003 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 Livadeia?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Livadeia 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 50% less than in Livadeia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.