🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,003 in Medellin versus $2,737 in Marathon, FL.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,573 in Medellin versus $3,951 in Marathon, FL.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,143 in Medellin versus $5,165 in Marathon, FL.
🌍Living in Medellin costs roughly 63% less than in Marathon, FL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 25% below, Marathon, FL is 106% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Marathon, FL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91COP 18.9K
$20.39$20.39
-71.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96COP 105.2K
$75.0$75.0
-56.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.43COP 23.7K
$10.12$10.12
-26.58%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,280
$6.32$6.32
-73.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,517
$2.87$2.87
-61.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,493
$1.98$1.98
-60.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,488
$6.11$6.11
-71.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COP 10.1K
$9.24$9.24
-65.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Marathon, FL
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10COP 3,523
$1.03$1.03
6.80%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 4,018
$2.95$2.95
-57.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,410
$5.07$5.07
-72.78%
Eggs
$2.18COP 6,955
$4.52$4.52
-51.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.49COP 14.3K
$21.49$21.49
-79.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.79COP 18.5K
$14.07$14.07
-58.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COP 28.6K
$15.26$15.26
-41.22%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32COP 7,410
$4.54$4.54
-48.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,399
$1.65$1.65
-35.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 4,842
$5.70$5.70
-73.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,330
$5.56$5.56
-75.54%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,602
$3.78$3.78
-70.11%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,740
$3.88$3.88
-69.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90COP 2,878
$1.95$1.95
-53.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COP 2,863
$1.97$1.97
-54.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23COP 7,132
$8.69$8.69
-74.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.12COP 38.7K
$13.22$13.22
-8.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 3,795
$1.75$1.75
-32.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 7,925
$1.97$1.97
25.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Marathon, FL
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85COP 2,725
$2.05$2.05
-58.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.62COP 132.9K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,521
$2.54$2.54
-44.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.95COP 6,227
$1.59$1.59
22.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.89COP 25.2K
$29.74$29.74
-73.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,162
$0.90$0.90
10.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOP 56.2M
$36.1K$36.1K
-51.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 85.6M
$27.4K$27.4K
-2.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Marathon, FL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0COP 265.0K
$260$260
-68.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70COP 31.0K
$46.34$46.34
-79.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52COP 75.1K
$60.8$60.8
-61.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Marathon, FL
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.26COP 80.6K
$42.33$42.33
-40.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10COP 61.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.95COP 12.6K
$14.73$14.73
-73.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Marathon, FL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$316COP 1.0M
$1,105$1,105
-71.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,975COP 19.1M
$23.6K$23.6K
-74.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Marathon, FL
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0COP 191.6K
$53.0$53.0
13.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 101.6K
$33.68$33.68
-5.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102COP 324.6K
$92.6$92.6
9.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 343.1K
$117$117
-7.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Marathon, FL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$475COP 1.5M
$1,630$1,630
-70.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$374COP 1.2M
$1,367$1,367
-72.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$849COP 2.7M
$2,649$2,649
-67.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$719COP 2.3M
$2,255$2,255
-68.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,265COP 10.4M
$2,977$2,977
9.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441COP 4.6M
$2,263$2,263
-36.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Marathon, FL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$624COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
6.53
105.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Last update for Marathon, FL: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $475 in Medellin and $1,630 in Marathon, FL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $75.0 in Marathon, FL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $432 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 Marathon, FL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and in Marathon, FL?
Medellin and Marathon, FL differ by about 173% in total monthly costs ($1,003 vs $2,737 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 Marathon, FL?
You'd need roughly $1,504 in Medellin and $4,106 in Marathon, FL 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 in Marathon, FL?
Rent for a central apartment: $475 in Medellin versus $1,630 in Marathon, FL. 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 123% higher in Marathon, FL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Marathon, FL?
All in, you'll spend $1,003 per month in Medellin versus $2,737 in Marathon, FL – a 173% 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 $1,003 in Medellin versus $2,737 in Marathon, FL, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Marathon, FL. 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 Marathon, FL?
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.
Where should expats move: Medellin or Marathon, FL?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 173% less than in Marathon, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.