😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,034 in Medellin versus $783 in Marilia.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,577 in Medellin versus $1,260 in Marilia.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,120 in Medellin versus $1,736 in Marilia.
😐Living in Medellin is roughly 32% more expensive than Marilia, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin23% lower, Marilia41% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Marilia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COP 21.4K
$5.50R$27.42
7.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COP 118.2K
$26.72R$133
22.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COP 26.0K
$6.11R$30.51
17.84%
Cappuccino
$1.70COP 6,140
$1.80R$8.99
-5.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,966
$1.09R$5.42
0.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COP 2,605
$0.66R$3.28
9.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COP 6,022
$1.85R$9.23
-9.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COP 11.2K
$2.62R$13.09
18.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Marilia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,809
$1.06R$5.29
-
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COP 4,497
$2.02R$10.06
-38.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COP 5,022
$0.98R$4.90
41.84%
Eggs
$2.26COP 8,168
$1.83R$9.12
23.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COP 15.6K
$8.81R$43.95
-50.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COP 21.1K
$3.76R$18.78
55.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COP 31.9K
$6.17R$30.76
43.11%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COP 8,099
$2.20R$10.97
1.82%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COP 3,882
$0.92R$4.59
17.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 5,522
$1.19R$5.94
28.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,950
$1.45R$7.26
-5.52%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 4,078
$1.14R$5.71
-0.88%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COP 4,036
$1.06R$5.31
5.66%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 3,057
$0.74R$3.71
14.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 3,281
$0.66R$3.28
37.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COP 8,414
$2.10R$10.48
10.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COP 40.2K
$7.90R$39.42
40.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 4,309
$1.22R$6.07
-2.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COP 8,553
$2.08R$10.37
13.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Marilia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,838
$0.96R$4.78
-17.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COP 148.5K
$38.97R$194
5.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COP 5,184
$1.11R$5.53
29.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COP 6,901
$0.70R$3.48
172.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COP 28.9K
$6.56R$32.74
22.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COP 3,385
$0.92R$4.57
2.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
$20.4KR$101.6K
-11.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
$28.2KR$140.6K
-4.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Marilia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COP 303.1K
$61.7R$308
36.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COP 34.7K
$13.74R$68.6
-30.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COP 87.2K
$18.79R$93.8
28.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Marilia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COP 93.4K
$22.38R$112
15.64%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COP 68.7K
$21.69R$108
-12.22%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COP 14.1K
$6.20R$30.92
-36.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Marilia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COP 1.1M
$268R$1,339
14.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COP 21.4M
$6,440R$32.1K
-8.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Marilia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COP 209.1K
$49.99R$249
15.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 114.9K
$41.43R$207
-23.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COP 360.6K
$74.6R$372
33.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 386.8K
$64.7R$323
65.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Marilia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COP 1.8M
$311R$1,554
56.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COP 1.3M
$213R$1,061
73.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COP 3.0M
$588R$2,932
40.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COP 2.6M
$425R$2,120
68.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COP 10.6M
$1,667R$8,316
75.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COP 5.1M
$1,191R$5,943
18.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Marilia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COP 2.0M
$399R$1,990
36.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
10.92
22.99%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Last update for Marilia: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $487 in Medellin and $311 in Marilia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 37% 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 $27.00 in Marilia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $177 per month, with Marilia 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 Marilia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Marilia cheaper than Medellin?
Marilia is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 32% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Marilia?
Medellin pays 37% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Marilia?
Rent for a central apartment: $487 in Medellin versus $311 in Marilia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Marilia runs roughly 6% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $306 in Medellin versus $268 in Marilia. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Marilia?
At $783 in Marilia versus $1,034 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Marilia but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Marilia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Marilia more family-friendly?
For families, Marilia is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Marilia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.