πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,034 in Medellin versus $1,475 in Livadeia.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,577 in Medellin versus $2,165 in Livadeia.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,120 in Medellin versus $2,856 in Livadeia.
πLiving in Medellin costs roughly 30% less than in Livadeia, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% below, Livadeia is 10% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Livadeia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COPΒ 21.5K
$13.18β¬11.26
-55.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COPΒ 119.1K
$36.77β¬31.40
-10.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COPΒ 26.2K
$8.49β¬7.25
-15.19%
Cappuccino
$1.70COPΒ 6,186
$3.37β¬2.88
-49.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,996
$1.64β¬1.40
-32.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COPΒ 2,625
$0.56β¬0.48
28.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COPΒ 6,067
$4.74β¬4.04
-64.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COPΒ 11.3K
$4.14β¬3.54
-25.12%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Livadeia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COPΒ 3,837
$1.46β¬1.25
-27.40%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COPΒ 4,531
$1.30β¬1.11
-3.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COPΒ 5,060
$2.12β¬1.81
-34.43%
Eggs
$2.26COPΒ 8,229
$4.14β¬3.53
-45.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COPΒ 15.8K
$13.64β¬11.65
-68.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COPΒ 21.2K
$9.74β¬8.31
-40.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COPΒ 32.1K
$13.44β¬11.48
-34.30%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COPΒ 8,159
$2.25β¬1.93
-0.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COPΒ 3,911
$1.86β¬1.59
-41.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COPΒ 5,563
$0.94β¬0.80
62.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COPΒ 4,987
$1.83β¬1.57
-25.14%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COPΒ 4,109
$1.07β¬0.91
5.61%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COPΒ 4,067
$0.97β¬0.83
15.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COPΒ 3,080
$0.99β¬0.85
-14.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COPΒ 3,305
$0.42β¬0.36
116.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COPΒ 8,477
$4.76β¬4.06
-51.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COPΒ 40.5K
$6.31β¬5.39
76.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COPΒ 4,342
$1.59β¬1.36
-25.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COPΒ 8,617
$1.95β¬1.67
21.54%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Livadeia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COPΒ 2,859
$1.59β¬1.36
-50.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COPΒ 149.6K
$45.38β¬38.75
-9.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COPΒ 5,223
$7.02β¬6.00
-79.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COPΒ 6,952
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COPΒ 29.2K
$13.49β¬11.52
-40.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COPΒ 3,410
$2.14β¬1.83
-56.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOPΒ 65.2M
$27.6Kβ¬23.5K
-35.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOPΒ 97.4M
$25.2Kβ¬21.5K
6.31%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Livadeia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COPΒ 305.4K
$305β¬261
-72.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COPΒ 34.9K
$23.24β¬19.85
-58.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COPΒ 87.9K
$31.07β¬26.53
-22.24%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Livadeia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COPΒ 94.1K
$58.5β¬49.92
-55.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COPΒ 69.3K
$26.10β¬22.29
-27.05%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COPΒ 14.2K
$10.13β¬8.65
-61.30%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Livadeia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COPΒ 1.1M
$516β¬441
-40.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COPΒ 21.5M
$5,527β¬4,720
7.08%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Livadeia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COPΒ 210.6K
$92.6β¬79.1
-37.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COPΒ 115.7K
$35.27β¬30.12
-9.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COPΒ 363.3K
$92.9β¬79.3
7.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COPΒ 389.7K
$97.0β¬82.8
10.48%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Livadeia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COPΒ 1.8M
$504β¬431
-3.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COPΒ 1.3M
$387β¬330
-4.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COPΒ 3.0M
$759β¬648
8.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COPΒ 2.6M
$607β¬518
17.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COPΒ 10.6M
$3,171β¬2,708
-7.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COPΒ 5.1M
$2,529β¬2,160
-44.37%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Livadeia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COPΒ 2.0M
$990β¬846
-44.91%
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Livadeia: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $487 in Medellin and $504 in Livadeia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Livadeia pays 82% 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 $37.00 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 43% 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 82% 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: $487 in Medellin versus $504 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 10% 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 $306 in Medellin versus $516 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 $1,034 in Medellin versus $1,475 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 $1,034 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 43% less than in Livadeia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.