Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Medina Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Medina

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $1,469 in Medina, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,858 in Medina, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $2,248 in Medina, rent included.

Medellin is about 32% cheaper than Medina, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Medellin sits 25% below the global median, while Medina is 10% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$5.58 SAR 20.95

5.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.9K

$32.14 SAR 121

2.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$8.22 SAR 30.86

-9.61%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.57 SAR 5.89

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 SAR 6.69

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,212

$2.48 SAR 9.32

-33.47%

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

$1.10 COP 3,472

$0.77 SAR 2.88

42.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,461

$0.39 SAR 1.45

100.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,417

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,478

$1.61 SAR 6.04

-31.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,966

$0.93 SAR 3.49

35.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,354

$2.39 SAR 8.99

-42.26%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,866

$2.07 SAR 7.77

5.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.2K

$6.75 SAR 25.33

-33.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.3K

$6.99 SAR 26.23

-17.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.3K

$12.76 SAR 47.92

-29.70%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,315

$2.47 SAR 9.28

-6.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,356

$2.16 SAR 8.13

-50.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,779

$2.15 SAR 8.07

-29.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,274

$1.69 SAR 6.33

-19.53%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,555

$1.43 SAR 5.37

-20.98%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,692

$1.44 SAR 5.40

-18.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,841

$1.03 SAR 3.86

-12.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,826

$0.87 SAR 3.26

3.45%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.35 SAR 5.06

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 SAR 6.52

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 SAR 6.13

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,041

$7.44 SAR 27.94

-70.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,747

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,823

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,690

$1.10 SAR 4.12

-22.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.2K

$37.40 SAR 140

11.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,463

$1.37 SAR 5.14

3.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,147

$1.69 SAR 6.36

15.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.9K

$5.46 SAR 20.50

44.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,122

$0.60 SAR 2.27

65.00%

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

$17.6K COP 55.5M

$20.9K SAR 78.5K

-15.80%

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

$26.8K COP 84.5M

$21.6K SAR 81.2K

23.88%

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

$83.0 COP 261.6K

$201 SAR 755

-58.71%

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

$9.70 COP 30.6K

$32.18 SAR 121

-69.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$103 SAR 386

-77.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.6K

$75.0 SAR 282

-66.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.2K

$8.99 SAR 33.77

112.46%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$13.35 SAR 50.1

-70.41%

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

$316 COP 995.3K

$291 SAR 1,092

8.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$7,343 SAR 27.6K

-18.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 189.1K

$36.82 SAR 138

62.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.3K

$52.8 SAR 198

-39.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.4K

$67.6 SAR 254

50.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.7K

$97.4 SAR 366

10.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$424 SAR 1,591

12.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$569 SAR 2,138

-34.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$710 SAR 2,668

19.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$419 SAR 1,575

71.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$2,306 SAR 8,661

41.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

$1,364 SAR 5,123

5.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$1,338 SAR 5,023

-53.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

347.67%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Medina: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $424 in Medina. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 114% higher in Medina, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $32.00 in Medina. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $201 in Medina – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Medina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medina is pricier by about 46%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $2,203 in Medina. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $32.00 in Medina. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $1,469 in Medina. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Medina at $1,469. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medina it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medina makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.