😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,013 in Medellin versus $526 in Masjed Soleyman.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $836 in Masjed Soleyman.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $1,146 in Masjed Soleyman.
😐Living in Medellin is roughly 92% more expensive than Masjed Soleyman, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin24% lower, Masjed Soleyman61% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Masjed Soleyman
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99COP 21.4K
$3.96$3.96
51.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86COP 117.4K
$17.02$17.02
93.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09COP 25.3K
$4.39$4.39
61.50%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.62$0.62
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.04$1.04
-
Cappuccino
$1.71COP 6,115
$1.14$1.14
50.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,924
$0.46$0.46
139.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,781
$1.00$1.00
-22.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68COP 5,997
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07COP 11.0K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Masjed Soleyman
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09COP 3,906
$0.62$0.62
75.81%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 4,508
$0.56$0.56
125.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,922
$1.88$1.88
-26.60%
Eggs
$2.19COP 7,827
$1.18$1.18
85.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.40COP 15.7K
$3.50$3.50
25.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63COP 20.1K
$3.23$3.23
74.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89COP 31.8K
$9.66$9.66
-7.97%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COP 8,349
$0.86$0.86
172.09%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,777
$1.39$1.39
-23.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50COP 5,374
$0.86$0.86
74.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,924
$0.59$0.59
133.90%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COP 4,111
$0.52$0.52
121.15%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COP 4,155
$0.46$0.46
152.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COP 3,182
$0.59$0.59
50.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COP 2,997
$0.25$0.25
236.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$0.51$0.51
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.50$0.50
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.39$1.39
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28COP 8,145
$2.18$2.18
4.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.64COP 38.0K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 4,284
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COP 8,824
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Masjed Soleyman
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86COP 3,056
$0.22$0.22
290.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.40COP 147.9K
$10.05$10.05
311.94%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COP 5,264
$0.36$0.36
308.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96COP 7,009
$0.29$0.29
575.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.74COP 27.6K
$2.02$2.02
283.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95COP 3,409
$0.74$0.74
28.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOP 64.7M
$72.0K$72.0K
-74.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOP 94.6M
$55.2K$55.2K
-51.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Masjed Soleyman
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.3COP 293.7K
$15.79$15.79
420.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50COP 33.9K
$2.05$2.05
363.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23COP 86.5K
$5.85$5.85
314.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Masjed Soleyman
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.89COP 92.4K
$15.87$15.87
63.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00COP 67.9K
$12.71$12.71
49.49%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93COP 14.0K
$1.46$1.46
169.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Masjed Soleyman
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309COP 1.1M
$116$116
166.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,965COP 21.3M
$1,955$1,955
205.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Masjed Soleyman
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COP 209.5K
$22.64$22.64
159.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35COP 115.5K
$24.51$24.51
31.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103COP 366.4K
$112$112
-8.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 387.2K
$68.7$68.7
57.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Masjed Soleyman
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COP 1.7M
$286$286
66.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COP 1.4M
$203$203
86.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COP 3.0M
$624$624
34.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$724COP 2.6M
$315$315
129.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,791COP 10.0M
$1,253$1,253
122.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,211COP 4.3M
$592$592
104.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Masjed Soleyman
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$512COP 1.8M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
22.24
-39.61%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Last update for Masjed Soleyman: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $286 in Masjed Soleyman. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $17.00 in Masjed Soleyman for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $106 per month, with Masjed Soleyman 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 Masjed Soleyman: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Masjed Soleyman?
Masjed Soleyman wins on cost – living expenses run 92% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Masjed Soleyman the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin vs Masjed Soleyman?
You'd need roughly $1,519 in Medellin and $789 in Masjed Soleyman 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin vs Masjed Soleyman?
Rent for a central apartment: $476 in Medellin versus $286 in Masjed Soleyman. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Medellin and Masjed Soleyman?
Childcare runs $309 in Medellin versus $116 in Masjed Soleyman. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or Masjed Soleyman?
Supermarket bills run roughly 77% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or Masjed Soleyman?
At $526 in Masjed Soleyman versus $1,013 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Masjed Soleyman but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Masjed Soleyman the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Masjed Soleyman?
Both work as nomad bases, but Masjed Soleyman delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $526 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Masjed Soleyman hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Masjed Soleyman gentler on the wallet – expenses run 92% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.