Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Mary Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Mary

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,716 in Medellin versus $464 in Mary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,527 in Medellin versus $712 in Mary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,338 in Medellin versus $960 in Mary.

Living in Medellin is roughly 270% more expensive than in Mary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 25% above, Mary is 66% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.03 COP 25.1K

$11.48 TMT 38.46

-30.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.26 COP 150.8K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.77 COP 30.5K

$8.59 TMT 28.76

13.74%

Cappuccino

$2.91 COP 9,095

$8.66 TMT 29.02

-66.40%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 COP 6,074

$12.98 TMT 43.49

-85.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 COP 4,754

$1.39 TMT 4.67

9.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 COP 9,663

$14.30 TMT 47.90

-78.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.74 COP 17.9K

$11.25 TMT 37.68

-48.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 COP 4,262

$2.79 TMT 9.36

-51.25%

White Bread (500g)

$2.39 COP 7,460

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 COP 5,314

Eggs

$2.87 COP 8,967

$6.67 TMT 22.33

-56.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.94 COP 31.1K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.78 COP 33.7K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.73 COP 46.0K

Apples (1kg)

$4.09 COP 12.8K

$2.22 TMT 7.43

84.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 COP 4,911

Oranges (1kg)

$2.13 COP 6,642

Tomato (1kg)

$2.21 COP 6,917

$1.44 TMT 4.83

53.47%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 COP 6,396

$1.96 TMT 6.56

4.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 COP 4,700

$1.67 TMT 5.60

-10.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 COP 3,718

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 COP 3,619

$1.16 TMT 3.87

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.2K

$17.06 TMT 57.2

-77.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.44 COP 45.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 COP 4,948

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 COP 8,836

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.17 COP 3,650

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.7 COP 242.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.28 COP 4,014

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.09 COP 6,537

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.62 COP 26.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 COP 4,056

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.7K COP 86.4M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$35.5K COP 110.9M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$176 COP 550.1K

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.37 COP 41.8K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.89 COP 93.4K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.76 COP 139.8K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.06 COP 53.3K

Cinema Ticket

$6.20 COP 19.4K

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$793 COP 2.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,019 COP 28.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.6 COP 267.5K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.5 COP 182.7K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$136 COP 425.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 COP 322.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,060 COP 3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 COP 2.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,012 COP 6.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,169 COP 3.7M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,111 COP 12.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,701 COP 5.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$665 COP 2.1M

$206 TMT 690

222.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

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

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Last update for Mary: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Medellin pays 223% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

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 Mary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mary wins on cost – living expenses run 270% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mary the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 223% higher in Medellin, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 216% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,716 per month in Medellin versus $464 in Mary – a 270% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $464 in Mary versus $1,716 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mary but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Mary the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Mary delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $464 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mary hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Medellin and Mary are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Mary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 270% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.