Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Mankato, MN Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Mankato, MN

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,028 in Medellin versus $1,992 in Mankato, MN.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,586 in Medellin versus $3,011 in Mankato, MN.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,144 in Medellin versus $4,030 in Mankato, MN.

Living in Medellin costs roughly 48% less than in Mankato, MN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% below, Mankato, MN is 49% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Mankato, MN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.00 COP 20.6K
$15.73 $15.73
-61.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.84 COP 112.9K
$71.3 $71.3
-53.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.42 COP 25.5K
$10.14 $10.14
-26.82%
Cappuccino
$1.65 COP 5,675
$5.11 $5.11
-67.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07 COP 3,673
$2.09 $2.09
-48.80%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 COP 2,614
$1.70 $1.70
-55.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 COP 5,925
$4.90 $4.90
-64.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 COP 11.0K
$5.85 $5.85
-45.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Mankato, MN
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,607
$0.98 $0.98
7.14%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,492
$2.54 $2.54
-48.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.34 COP 4,604
$2.18 $2.18
-38.53%
Eggs
$2.19 COP 7,543
$3.30 $3.30
-33.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.41 COP 15.2K
$8.18 $8.18
-46.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.69 COP 19.6K
$14.93 $14.93
-61.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.52 COP 29.3K
$16.84 $16.84
-49.41%
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 COP 8,046
$4.39 $4.39
-46.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,815
$1.61 $1.61
-31.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 COP 5,225
$3.58 $3.58
-57.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,694
$3.46 $3.46
-60.40%
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 COP 3,962
$4.23 $4.23
-72.81%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,055
$2.93 $2.93
-59.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.84 COP 2,893
$2.27 $2.27
-63.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86 COP 2,940
$2.03 $2.03
-57.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26 COP 7,776
$12.19 $12.19
-81.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.60 COP 39.9K
$14.80 $14.80
-21.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 4,121
$1.71 $1.71
-29.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 8,508
$4.14 $4.14
-40.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Mankato, MN
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,729
$2.04 $2.04
-61.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.83 COP 140.4K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COP 5,038
$2.04 $2.04
-27.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 COP 6,587
$1.43 $1.43
34.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.77 COP 26.7K
$19.98 $19.98
-61.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 COP 3,474
$0.84 $0.84
20.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7K COP 60.7M
$25.6K $25.6K
-30.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K COP 90.9M
$24.6K $24.6K
7.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Mankato, MN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.1 COP 278.8K
$130 $130
-37.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.43 COP 32.4K
$51.1 $51.1
-81.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.86 COP 82.0K
$75.1 $75.1
-68.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Mankato, MN
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.99 COP 89.4K
$39.74 $39.74
-34.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.71 COP 64.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.09 COP 14.1K
$15.23 $15.23
-73.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Mankato, MN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$315 COP 1.1M
$1,391 $1,391
-77.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,022 COP 20.7M
$11.8K $11.8K
-48.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Mankato, MN
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.7 COP 205.2K
$63.7 $63.7
-6.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.97 COP 109.9K
$36.28 $36.28
-11.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 347.9K
$73.0 $73.0
38.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 COP 361.3K
$141 $141
-25.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Mankato, MN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$485 COP 1.7M
$992 $992
-51.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$365 COP 1.3M
$881 $881
-58.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 2.8M
$2,679 $2,679
-69.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$730 COP 2.5M
$1,510 $1,510
-51.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,992 COP 10.3M
$1,642 $1,642
82.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,314 COP 4.5M
$1,622 $1,622
-19.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Mankato, MN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$551 COP 1.9M
$3,937 $3,937
-86.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
6.61
103.18%

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

Last update for Medellin: June 15, 2026

Last update for Mankato, MN: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $485 in Medellin and $992 in Mankato, MN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mankato, MN pays 615% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $71.0 in Mankato, MN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $369 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 Mankato, MN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and in Mankato, MN?
Medellin and Mankato, MN differ by about 94% in total monthly costs ($1,028 vs $1,992 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 615% lower in Mankato, MN. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and in Mankato, MN?
Rent for a central apartment: $485 in Medellin versus $992 in Mankato, MN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 94% higher in Mankato, MN. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Mankato, MN?
All in, you'll spend $1,028 per month in Medellin versus $1,992 in Mankato, MN – a 94% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,028 in Medellin versus $1,992 in Mankato, MN, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Mankato, MN. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Mankato, MN?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Medellin or Mankato, MN safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Mankato, MN are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Medellin or Mankato, MN?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 94% less than in Mankato, MN. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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