😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,681 in Medellin versus $512 in Masjed Soleyman.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,445 in Medellin versus $828 in Masjed Soleyman.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,210 in Medellin versus $1,144 in Masjed Soleyman.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 229% more expensive than in Masjed Soleyman, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, Masjed Soleyman is 63% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Masjed Soleyman
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.0K
$3.14$3.14
155.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 149.4K
$17.63$17.63
171.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 30.8K
$4.04$4.04
144.80%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.80$0.80
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.22$1.22
-
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,767
$1.12$1.12
179.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 5,954
$0.46$0.46
315.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,712
$0.88$0.88
71.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,747
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 17.9K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Masjed Soleyman
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,509
$0.66$0.66
118.18%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,759
$0.49$0.49
408.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,535
$2.20$2.20
-19.55%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,235
$1.38$1.38
114.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.4K
$3.29$3.29
206.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.6K
$3.29$3.29
207.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 44.6K
$8.53$8.53
67.64%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 12.9K
$0.96$0.96
331.25%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,019
$1.46$1.46
10.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,007
$0.71$0.71
216.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,028
$0.58$0.58
287.93%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,375
$0.52$0.52
292.31%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,790
$0.53$0.53
190.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,651
$0.50$0.50
134.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,077
$0.26$0.26
403.85%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$0.54$0.54
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.48$0.48
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.64$1.64
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$2.33$2.33
67.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.7K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,439
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 8,956
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Masjed Soleyman
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,792
$0.20$0.20
510.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 251.1K
$6.42$6.42
1153.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,084
$0.40$0.40
227.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,825
$0.31$0.31
606.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.2K
$1.97$1.97
342.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,260
$0.08$0.08
1612.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
$46.6K$46.6K
-40.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
$49.5K$49.5K
-27.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Masjed Soleyman
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 553.2K
$11.45$11.45
1448.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.3K
$1.62$1.62
756.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 92.8K
$3.83$3.83
675.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Masjed Soleyman
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 140.1K
$20.20$20.20
122.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 53.4K
$11.74$11.74
45.83%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.7K
$1.76$1.76
277.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Masjed Soleyman
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.5M
$95.6$95.6
750.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 28.7M
$1,576$1,576
483.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Masjed Soleyman
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 279.3K
$20.00$20.00
347.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 184.0K
$27.99$27.99
110.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 431.2K
$100$100
37.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 318.7K
$79.4$79.4
28.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Masjed Soleyman
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
$263$263
304.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$219$219
202.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 5.9M
$764$764
147.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
$331$331
209.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.1M
$1,220$1,220
242.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.2M
$600$600
178.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Masjed Soleyman
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
23.21
-52.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Masjed Soleyman: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,062 in Medellin and $263 in Masjed Soleyman. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $18.00 in Masjed Soleyman for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $305 vs $105 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 229% 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 and in Masjed Soleyman?
You'd need roughly $2,521 in Medellin and $767 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 compared to Masjed Soleyman?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,062 in Medellin versus $263 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 in Masjed Soleyman?
Childcare runs $813 in Medellin versus $95.6 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 in Masjed Soleyman?
Supermarket bills run roughly 190% 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 in Masjed Soleyman?
At $512 in Masjed Soleyman versus $1,681 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 $512 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 229% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.