๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,034 in Medellin versus $2,739 in Marathon, FL.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,577 in Medellin versus $3,967 in Marathon, FL.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,120 in Medellin versus $5,195 in Marathon, FL.
๐Living in Medellin costs roughly 62% less than in Marathon, FL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% below, Marathon, FL is 105% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Medellin
Marathon, FL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COPย 21.1K
$20.21$20.21
-70.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COPย 116.6K
$74.5$74.5
-56.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COPย 25.6K
$10.16$10.16
-29.13%
Cappuccino
$1.70COPย 6,054
$6.09$6.09
-72.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPย 3,910
$2.86$2.86
-61.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COPย 2,569
$1.91$1.91
-62.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COPย 5,937
$6.18$6.18
-72.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COPย 11.0K
$9.64$9.64
-67.84%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Marathon, FL
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COPย 3,755
$1.07$1.07
-0.93%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COPย 4,434
$2.91$2.91
-57.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COPย 4,951
$5.24$5.24
-73.47%
Eggs
$2.26COPย 8,053
$4.56$4.56
-50.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COPย 15.4K
$21.08$21.08
-79.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COPย 20.8K
$14.05$14.05
-58.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COPย 31.4K
$15.72$15.72
-43.83%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COPย 7,985
$4.75$4.75
-52.84%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COPย 3,827
$1.74$1.74
-37.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COPย 5,444
$5.74$5.74
-73.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COPย 4,880
$5.58$5.58
-75.45%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COPย 4,021
$3.70$3.70
-69.46%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COPย 3,980
$3.83$3.83
-70.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COPย 3,014
$2.06$2.06
-58.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COPย 3,235
$2.03$2.03
-55.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COPย 8,295
$8.61$8.61
-72.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COPย 39.6K
$13.05$13.05
-14.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COPย 4,249
$1.76$1.76
-32.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COPย 8,433
$1.96$1.96
20.92%
๐ Getting Around
Medellin
Marathon, FL
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COPย 2,798
$1.94$1.94
-59.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COPย 146.4K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COPย 5,111
$2.46$2.46
-41.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COPย 6,803
$1.59$1.59
20.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COPย 28.5K
$29.13$29.13
-72.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COPย 3,337
$0.84$0.84
11.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOPย 63.8M
$36.3K$36.3K
-50.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOPย 95.4M
$27.7K$27.7K
-3.15%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Marathon, FL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COPย 298.8K
$255$255
-67.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COPย 34.2K
$46.90$46.90
-79.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COPย 86.0K
$60.4$60.4
-59.97%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Marathon, FL
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COPย 92.1K
$43.03$43.03
-39.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COPย 67.8K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COPย 13.9K
$14.74$14.74
-73.41%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Marathon, FL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COPย 1.1M
$1,103$1,103
-72.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COPย 21.1M
$23.3K$23.3K
-74.59%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Marathon, FL
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COPย 206.1K
$53.4$53.4
8.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COPย 113.3K
$33.59$33.59
-5.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COPย 355.6K
$92.4$92.4
8.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COPย 381.3K
$118$118
-9.30%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Marathon, FL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COPย 1.7M
$1,574$1,574
-69.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COPย 1.3M
$1,345$1,345
-72.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COPย 2.9M
$2,600$2,600
-68.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COPย 2.5M
$2,202$2,202
-67.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COPย 10.4M
$2,641$2,641
10.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COPย 5.0M
$2,102$2,102
-33.06%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Marathon, FL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COPย 1.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
6.53
105.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Last update for Marathon, FL: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $487 in Medellin and $1,574 in Marathon, FL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $33 in Medellin vs $74 in Marathon, FL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $435 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 Marathon, FL?
Medellin and Marathon, FL differ by about 165% in total monthly costs ($1,034 vs $2,739 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable โ 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 $1,550 in Medellin and $4,109 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 Marathon, FL?
Rent for a central apartment: $487 in Medellin versus $1,574 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 129% 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 $1,034 per month in Medellin versus $2,739 in Marathon, FL โ a 165% 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 $1,034 in Medellin versus $2,739 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 โ 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 โ expenses run 165% less than in Marathon, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.