πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,017 in Medellin versus $1,483 in Livadeia.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $2,167 in Livadeia.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,188 in Medellin versus $2,851 in Livadeia.
πLiving in Medellin costs roughly 31% less than in Livadeia, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 24% below, Livadeia is 10% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Livadeia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95COPΒ 20.8K
$13.57β¬11.69
-56.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.33COPΒ 116.3K
$36.05β¬31.06
-7.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.23COPΒ 25.2K
$8.45β¬7.28
-14.44%
Cappuccino
$1.63COPΒ 5,687
$3.57β¬3.08
-54.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09COPΒ 3,821
$1.70β¬1.46
-35.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73COPΒ 2,548
$0.56β¬0.49
30.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.74COPΒ 6,065
$4.58β¬3.95
-62.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23COPΒ 11.3K
$4.13β¬3.56
-21.79%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Livadeia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COPΒ 3,662
$1.53β¬1.31
-31.37%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29COPΒ 4,515
$1.31β¬1.13
-1.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32COPΒ 4,617
$2.12β¬1.83
-37.74%
Eggs
$2.27COPΒ 7,927
$4.21β¬3.62
-46.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.35COPΒ 15.2K
$13.59β¬11.71
-67.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COPΒ 20.5K
$9.57β¬8.24
-38.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.61COPΒ 30.0K
$13.34β¬11.49
-35.46%
Apples(1kg)
$2.25COPΒ 7,844
$2.29β¬1.97
-1.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.07COPΒ 3,733
$1.93β¬1.66
-44.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COPΒ 5,322
$0.96β¬0.83
58.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42COPΒ 4,964
$1.79β¬1.55
-20.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,084
$1.07β¬0.92
9.35%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,077
$0.97β¬0.83
20.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,096
$1.04β¬0.90
-14.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COPΒ 3,146
$0.43β¬0.37
109.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25COPΒ 7,837
$4.77β¬4.11
-52.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.04COPΒ 38.5K
$6.34β¬5.46
74.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14COPΒ 3,977
$1.61β¬1.39
-29.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38COPΒ 8,301
$2.03β¬1.75
17.24%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Livadeia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COPΒ 2,916
$1.61β¬1.38
-47.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.95COPΒ 146.4K
$46.72β¬40.25
-10.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41COPΒ 4,912
$7.33β¬6.32
-80.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90COPΒ 6,634
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.75COPΒ 27.0K
$13.60β¬11.71
-43.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COPΒ 3,509
$2.07β¬1.78
-51.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOPΒ 61.4M
$28.3Kβ¬24.4K
-37.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 92.5M
$25.4Kβ¬21.9K
4.19%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Livadeia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.7COPΒ 292.1K
$304β¬262
-72.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.45COPΒ 33.0K
$22.79β¬19.63
-58.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.11COPΒ 84.1K
$30.85β¬26.58
-21.85%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Livadeia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.31COPΒ 88.3K
$57.8β¬49.81
-56.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14COPΒ 66.8K
$26.32β¬22.67
-27.28%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10COPΒ 14.3K
$9.78β¬8.42
-58.08%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Livadeia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312COPΒ 1.1M
$521β¬449
-40.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,993COPΒ 20.9M
$5,484β¬4,725
9.29%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Livadeia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0COPΒ 202.6K
$92.2β¬79.5
-37.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56COPΒ 113.6K
$35.40β¬30.50
-8.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.6COPΒ 347.7K
$92.0β¬79.2
8.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COPΒ 378.8K
$94.7β¬81.6
14.68%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Livadeia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$482COPΒ 1.7M
$495β¬427
-2.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.3M
$397β¬342
-4.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$837COPΒ 2.9M
$779β¬671
7.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$723COPΒ 2.5M
$619β¬534
16.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,840COPΒ 9.9M
$2,874β¬2,476
-1.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,223COPΒ 4.3M
$2,675β¬2,304
-54.27%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Livadeia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$541COPΒ 1.9M
$979β¬843
-44.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
4.34
209.45%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Last update for Livadeia: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $482 in Medellin and $495 in Livadeia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Livadeia pays 81% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $36.00 in Livadeia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $257 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 β living expenses run 46% 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 Livadeia?
On paper, Livadeia earns 81% 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 Livadeia?
Rent for a central apartment: $482 in Medellin versus $495 in Livadeia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Medellin vs Livadeia?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 11% 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 Livadeia?
Childcare runs $312 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 Livadeia?
At $1,017 in Medellin versus $1,483 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 β similar infrastructure at $1,017 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 β expenses run 46% less than in Livadeia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.