🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,030 in Medellin versus $2,264 in Mansfield.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,586 in Medellin versus $3,279 in Mansfield.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,143 in Medellin versus $4,293 in Mansfield.
🙂Living in Medellin costs roughly 55% less than in Mansfield, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% below, Mansfield is 69% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Mansfield
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COP 21.2K
$16.34A$22.88
-63.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.17COP 118.7K
$76.5A$107
-56.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.25COP 25.9K
$10.00A$14.00
-27.50%
Cappuccino
$1.71COP 6,137
$3.38A$4.73
-49.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09COP 3,915
$2.55A$3.57
-57.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,743
$2.13A$2.99
-63.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.75COP 6,254
$6.42A$8.99
-72.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COP 11.4K
$7.06A$9.88
-54.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Mansfield
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,792
$1.44A$2.02
-26.39%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,657
$2.31A$3.23
-43.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,926
$1.97A$2.75
-29.95%
Eggs
$2.21COP 7,908
$4.24A$5.94
-47.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.52COP 16.2K
$8.54A$11.95
-47.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.80COP 20.7K
$8.59A$12.03
-32.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COP 32.1K
$13.40A$18.77
-33.06%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29COP 8,182
$3.32A$4.65
-31.02%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,791
$2.77A$3.87
-61.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.51COP 5,411
$2.99A$4.18
-49.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,869
$4.15A$5.80
-67.23%
Potato(1kg)
$1.16COP 4,146
$2.52A$3.52
-53.97%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 4,174
$2.19A$3.07
-46.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.83COP 2,960
$2.08A$2.91
-60.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85COP 3,043
$1.59A$2.23
-46.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35COP 8,423
$31.32A$43.85
-92.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.09COP 39.7K
$14.12A$19.77
-21.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15COP 4,133
$4.45A$6.23
-74.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COP 8,853
$5.27A$7.38
-53.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Mansfield
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,827
$2.66A$3.72
-70.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.85COP 149.8K
$66.0A$92.4
-36.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COP 5,140
$3.48A$4.88
-58.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90COP 6,793
$1.61A$2.26
18.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.70COP 27.6K
$33.64A$47.09
-77.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.03COP 3,680
$1.19A$1.66
-13.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7KCOP 63.3M
$28.8KA$40.3K
-38.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0KCOP 96.7M
$22.6KA$31.6K
19.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Mansfield
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.4COP 291.4K
$186A$260
-56.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.42COP 33.7K
$27.47A$38.46
-65.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.77COP 85.1K
$53.2A$74.4
-55.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Mansfield
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.86COP 92.6K
$49.34A$69.1
-47.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.34COP 69.2K
$15.89A$22.24
21.71%
Cinema Ticket
$4.05COP 14.5K
$12.89A$18.05
-68.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Mansfield
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312COP 1.1M
$1,642A$2,299
-80.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,067COP 21.7M
$12.0KA$16.8K
-49.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Mansfield
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.9COP 210.7K
$69.1A$96.7
-14.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.82COP 117.5K
$51.2A$71.6
-35.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100COP 359.6K
$99.8A$140
0.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106COP 380.3K
$106A$149
-0.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Mansfield
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$490COP 1.8M
$1,282A$1,794
-61.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$371COP 1.3M
$1,058A$1,482
-64.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COP 3.0M
$2,044A$2,861
-59.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$715COP 2.6M
$1,705A$2,386
-58.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,952COP 10.6M
$6,357A$8,900
-53.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,394COP 5.0M
$4,551A$6,371
-69.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Mansfield
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$532COP 1.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
6.34
111.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 20, 2026
Last update for Mansfield: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $490 in Medellin and $1,282 in Mansfield. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $33 in Medellin vs $77 in Mansfield for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $337 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 Mansfield: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and Mansfield?
Medellin and Mansfield differ by about 120% in total monthly costs ($1,030 vs $2,264 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Mansfield?
You'd need roughly $1,544 in Medellin and $3,396 in Mansfield 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 do apartment prices compare in Medellin and Mansfield?
Rent for a central apartment: $490 in Medellin versus $1,282 in Mansfield. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Medellin and Mansfield?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 58% less than in Mansfield. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Medellin and Mansfield?
Childcare runs $312 in Medellin versus $1,642 in Mansfield. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,030 in Medellin versus $2,264 in Mansfield, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Mansfield. 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 Mansfield?
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 Mansfield safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Mansfield 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 Mansfield?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 120% less than in Mansfield. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.