😐A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $813 in Manglaralto, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $1,357 in Manglaralto, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $1,902 in Manglaralto, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 102% more than Manglaralto, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Medellin sits 19% above the global median, while Manglaralto is 41% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Manglaralto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04COP 24.8K
$3.97$3.97
102.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29COP 148.6K
$52.7$52.7
-8.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42COP 29.0K
$8.80$8.80
7.05%
Cappuccino
$2.94COP 9,040
$2.75$2.75
6.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86COP 5,735
$0.83$0.83
124.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46COP 4,479
$0.71$0.71
105.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21COP 9,882
$2.94$2.94
9.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71COP 17.6K
$4.48$4.48
27.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Manglaralto
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,428
$1.16$1.16
24.14%
White Bread(500g)
$2.40COP 7,389
$2.01$2.01
19.40%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,228
$1.48$1.48
14.86%
Eggs
$2.89COP 8,896
$2.06$2.06
40.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.06COP 30.9K
$7.06$7.06
42.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.97COP 30.7K
$5.23$5.23
90.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.20COP 43.7K
$9.12$9.12
55.70%
Apples(1kg)
$3.98COP 12.3K
$1.54$1.54
158.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58COP 4,878
$1.20$1.20
31.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15COP 6,624
$0.99$0.99
117.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,078
$0.90$0.90
155.56%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00COP 6,169
$1.29$1.29
55.04%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,646
$0.96$0.96
57.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20COP 3,701
$0.87$0.87
37.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28COP 3,946
$1.00$1.00
28.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84COP 11.8K
$5.86$5.86
-34.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.1K
$12.07$12.07
16.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71COP 5,256
$1.54$1.54
11.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74COP 8,440
$2.14$2.14
28.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Manglaralto
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.25COP 3,834
$0.36$0.36
247.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.9COP 239.7K
$20.82$20.82
274.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,016
$1.28$1.28
2.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.17COP 6,680
$1.77$1.77
22.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.29COP 25.5K
$12.09$12.09
-31.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,172
$0.88$0.88
54.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
$21.2K$21.2K
29.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
$31.1K$31.1K
17.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Manglaralto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169COP 519.2K
$36.71$36.71
359.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57COP 41.8K
$10.08$10.08
34.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32COP 87.2K
$25.95$25.95
9.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Manglaralto
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.71COP 140.7K
$29.88$29.88
52.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22COP 53.0K
$16.53$16.53
4.17%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.5K
$7.62$7.62
-12.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Manglaralto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$803COP 2.5M
$396$396
103.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,190COP 28.3M
$6,104$6,104
50.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Manglaralto
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4COP 268.8K
$65.2$65.2
33.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4COP 182.7K
$40.10$40.10
48.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$139COP 427.5K
$124$124
12.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 314.0K
$93.2$93.2
9.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Manglaralto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,071COP 3.3M
$299$299
258.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653COP 2.0M
$186$186
251.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,925COP 5.9M
$664$664
190.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,048COP 3.2M
$419$419
150.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,123COP 12.7M
$1,167$1,167
253.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,697COP 5.2M
$783$783
116.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Manglaralto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$655COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
10.05
8.86%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Last update for Manglaralto: September 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,071 in Medellin versus $299 in Manglaralto. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $53.0 in Manglaralto. Groceries tell a different story – $300 in Medellin vs $201 in Manglaralto – so Manglaralto wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Manglaralto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Manglaralto cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 102%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,462 per month in Medellin and $1,219 in Manglaralto. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Manglaralto, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 274% less in Manglaralto. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $803 per month in Medellin and $396 in Manglaralto. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Manglaralto?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Manglaralto, where all-in costs run around $813, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Manglaralto it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Manglaralto more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Manglaralto – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Manglaralto?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Manglaralto. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.