πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,335 in Livani.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $2,024 in Livani.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $2,714 in Livani.
πLiving in Medellin costs roughly 24% less than in Livani, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 24% below, Livani is 0% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Livani
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99COPΒ 21.5K
$11.34β¬9.84
-47.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86COPΒ 118.1K
$58.6β¬50.8
-43.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09COPΒ 25.5K
$7.49β¬6.50
-5.34%
Cappuccino
$1.71COPΒ 6,155
$3.30β¬2.86
-48.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,950
$1.78β¬1.55
-38.20%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COPΒ 2,799
$1.37β¬1.19
-43.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68COPΒ 6,037
$4.95β¬4.29
-66.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07COPΒ 11.0K
$2.95β¬2.56
4.07%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Livani
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09COPΒ 3,931
$1.36β¬1.18
-19.85%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COPΒ 4,537
$1.63β¬1.41
-22.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,955
$2.98β¬2.59
-53.69%
Eggs
$2.19COPΒ 7,878
$3.10β¬2.69
-29.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.40COPΒ 15.8K
$11.91β¬10.34
-63.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63COPΒ 20.2K
$7.82β¬6.79
-28.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89COPΒ 32.0K
$11.95β¬10.37
-25.61%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COPΒ 8,403
$1.34β¬1.16
74.63%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COPΒ 3,802
$1.76β¬1.53
-39.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50COPΒ 5,409
$2.59β¬2.24
-42.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,956
$3.58β¬3.11
-61.45%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COPΒ 4,138
$0.89β¬0.77
29.21%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COPΒ 4,183
$0.94β¬0.82
23.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,203
$1.77β¬1.53
-49.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COPΒ 3,016
$0.81β¬0.70
3.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28COPΒ 8,198
$5.20β¬4.51
-56.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.64COPΒ 38.3K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COPΒ 4,312
$1.80β¬1.56
-33.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COPΒ 8,882
$2.18β¬1.89
13.30%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Livani
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86COPΒ 3,076
$0.94β¬0.82
-8.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.40COPΒ 148.8K
$36.79β¬31.92
12.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COPΒ 5,298
$2.38β¬2.06
-38.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96COPΒ 7,055
$0.80β¬0.69
145.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.74COPΒ 27.8K
$11.73β¬10.17
-34.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95COPΒ 3,431
$1.89β¬1.64
-49.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOPΒ 65.2M
$30.7Kβ¬26.7K
-40.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 95.2M
$31.8Kβ¬27.6K
-16.68%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Livani
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.3COPΒ 295.7K
$311β¬270
-73.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50COPΒ 34.2K
$17.26β¬14.97
-44.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23COPΒ 87.1K
$19.71β¬17.10
22.93%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Livani
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.89COPΒ 93.0K
$51.9β¬45.03
-50.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00COPΒ 68.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.93COPΒ 14.1K
$11.47β¬9.95
-65.74%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Livani
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309COPΒ 1.1M
$538β¬467
-42.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,965COPΒ 21.4M
$15.7Kβ¬13.6K
-62.02%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Livani
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COPΒ 210.8K
$91.3β¬79.2
-35.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35COPΒ 116.3K
$46.64β¬40.46
-30.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103COPΒ 368.8K
$95.3β¬82.7
7.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COPΒ 389.7K
$132β¬115
-18.12%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Livani
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COPΒ 1.7M
$360β¬313
32.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.4M
$252β¬219
50.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COPΒ 3.0M
$745β¬646
12.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$724COPΒ 2.6M
$458β¬397
58.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,791COPΒ 10.0M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,211COPΒ 4.4M
-
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Livani
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$512COPΒ 1.8M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
4.1
227.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Last update for Livani: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $360 in Livani. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
πDining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $59.0 in Livani for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $245 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 Livani: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Livani?
Medellin wins on cost β living expenses run 32% lower than in Livani. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin vs Livani?
You'd need roughly $1,519 in Medellin and $2,002 in Livani to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin vs Livani?
Rent for a central apartment: $476 in Medellin versus $360 in Livani. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin vs Livani?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin β a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $59.0 in Livani. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to Livani?
All in, you'll spend $1,013 per month in Medellin versus $1,335 in Livani β a 32% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Medellin or Livani?
At $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,335 in Livani, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Livani. 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 Livani?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value β similar infrastructure at $1,013 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet β expenses run 32% less than in Livani. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.