Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ljubljana

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,639 a month against $2,104 in Ljubljana, rent and utilities included – about $5,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Ljubljana
🇸🇮 Slovenia
$2,104
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Ljubljana

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Ljubljana actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,639 in Medellin versus $2,104 in Ljubljana.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • Ljubljana $2,104

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,413 in Medellin versus $3,149 in Ljubljana.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • Ljubljana $3,149

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,186 in Medellin versus $4,194 in Ljubljana.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • Ljubljana $4,194

Living in Medellin costs roughly 22% less than in Ljubljana, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medellin 20% above, Ljubljana 55% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Ljubljana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 26.1K
$15.86 €14.21
-48.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 151.7K
$66.3 €59.4
-29.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.6K
$11.33 €10.15
-16.15%
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,722
$2.85 €2.55
5.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,801
$3.07 €2.75
-41.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,554
$1.89 €1.69
-25.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 10.2K
$3.83 €3.43
-16.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.5K
$4.37 €3.92
31.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Ljubljana
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,869
$1.32 €1.19
14.39%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,667
$2.20 €1.97
8.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,712
$3.09 €2.76
-42.72%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,320
$3.92 €3.51
-26.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.9K
$14.57 €13.05
-30.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.8K
$9.67 €8.66
2.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 45.1K
$14.54 €13.02
-3.78%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.8K
$2.25 €2.01
76.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 5,005
$1.73 €1.55
-10.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 7,039
$2.31 €2.07
-5.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 7,041
$3.45 €3.09
-36.81%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,328
$1.49 €1.34
31.54%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,125
$1.56 €1.40
1.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,694
$1.72 €1.54
-33.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 4,009
$0.85 €0.76
45.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.8K
$6.11 €5.47
-35.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 44.1K
$7.66 €6.86
78.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,352
$1.39 €1.24
19.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,281
$2.18 €1.95
3.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Ljubljana
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,766
$1.69 €1.51
-30.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 249.5K
$41.77 €37.40
85.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,089
$2.22 €1.99
-42.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,603
$1.25 €1.12
64.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 27.6K
$18.81 €16.84
-54.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,343
$1.80 €1.61
-25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 109.8M
$29.4K €26.3K
15.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 111.8M
$24.7K €22.1K
40.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Ljubljana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 547.0K
$289 €259
-41.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 43.7K
$15.95 €14.28
-15.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 90.5K
$38.66 €34.62
-27.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Ljubljana
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 140.9K
$51.3 €45.94
-14.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 55.4K
$24.20 €21.67
-28.97%
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 22.3K
$10.25 €9.18
-32.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Ljubljana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.6M
$643 €576
23.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 29.4M
$13.7K €12.3K
-33.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Ljubljana
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 273.2K
$113 €101
-24.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 186.9K
$43.11 €38.61
34.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 435.2K
$110 €98.3
23.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 315.6K
$143 €128
-31.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Ljubljana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.9M
$1,149 €1,029
5.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.1M
$907 €812
-29.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.5M
$2,366 €2,119
-14.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.3M
$1,623 €1,453
-37.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.4M
$6,815 €6,104
-38.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.2M
$5,052 €4,524
-62.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Ljubljana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
$1,940 €1,737
-66.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
3.52
210.80%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Last update for Ljubljana: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
Ljubljana
$907 41.4% $265
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
Ljubljana
$298 0.5% $1.4
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
Ljubljana
$343 62.5% $132
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
Ljubljana
$243 43.2% $73
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
Ljubljana
$184 8.8% $15
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
Ljubljana
$57 39.1% $37
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Ljubljana
$72 24.8% $14

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,208 in Medellin and $1,149 in Ljubljana. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ljubljana pays about 3 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $47 in Medellin vs $66 in Ljubljana for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $298 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇸🇮 Ljubljana
🕒 Local time
02:10 2:10 AM
08:10 8:10 AM
6 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
285,604 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 3,224 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,600 COP (10,000 COP = 2.78 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Ljubljana 9,510 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Ljubljana

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Ljubljana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Ljubljana?
Medellin is about 22% cheaper overall, especially in eating out, clothing, and leisure. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Ljubljana?
On paper, salaries run 66% lower in Medellin. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Ljubljana?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,208 in Medellin versus $1,149 in Ljubljana. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $797 in Medellin versus $643 in Ljubljana. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Ljubljana?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $47 versus $66 in Ljubljana. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,500 enough for either Medellin or Ljubljana?
Either city works on $2,500 a month, though Medellin gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city suits remote workers better?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value at $1,639 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – Medellin wins on affordability, Ljubljana on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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