🙂A single person spends $1,687 per month in Medellin vs $1,891 in Merignac, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,535 per month in Medellin vs $2,935 in Merignac, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,383 per month in Medellin vs $3,978 in Merignac, rent included.
🙂Medellin is about 11% cheaper than Merignac, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Medellin and Merignac sit above the global median – Medellin by 23%, Merignac by 38%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Merignac
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.89COP 24.2K
$17.07€14.60
-53.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.53COP 136.5K
$81.7€69.9
-45.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.29COP 28.5K
$13.70€11.71
-32.19%
Cappuccino
$2.90COP 8,874
$4.19€3.59
-30.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81COP 5,541
$2.97€2.54
-39.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55COP 4,741
$1.46€1.25
6.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25COP 9,962
$7.44€6.36
-56.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88COP 18.0K
$7.06€6.04
-16.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Merignac
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38COP 4,230
$1.27€1.09
8.66%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45COP 7,517
$2.09€1.79
17.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,617
$2.71€2.32
-44.28%
Eggs
$2.78COP 8,516
$3.76€3.22
-26.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.05COP 27.7K
$14.44€12.35
-37.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.65COP 32.6K
$14.50€12.40
-26.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.63COP 44.8K
$20.74€17.74
-29.46%
Apples(1kg)
$3.97COP 12.2K
$3.45€2.95
15.07%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,219
$2.35€2.01
-41.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,056
$3.40€2.91
-32.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.02COP 6,185
$3.63€3.10
-44.35%
Potato(1kg)
$2.09COP 6,390
$2.28€1.95
-8.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63COP 4,996
$2.93€2.51
-44.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08COP 3,313
$1.41€1.21
-23.40%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25COP 3,843
$0.55€0.47
127.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03COP 12.4K
$13.76€11.77
-70.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.47COP 41.3K
$9.53€8.15
41.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60COP 4,904
$3.55€3.03
-54.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00COP 9,189
$3.48€2.98
-13.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Merignac
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.18COP 3,611
$2.25€1.92
-47.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.9COP 244.9K
$54.6€46.68
46.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.61COP 4,920
$2.29€1.96
-29.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13COP 6,533
$1.90€1.63
12.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.52COP 26.1K
$39.58€33.86
-78.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35COP 4,142
$2.18€1.86
-38.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KCOP 86.8M
$35.5K€30.4K
-20.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KCOP 109.4M
$34.4K€29.4K
3.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Merignac
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151COP 463.8K
$222€190
-31.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.10COP 40.1K
$15.72€13.45
-16.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.30COP 99.0K
$31.90€27.29
1.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Merignac
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.33COP 141.9K
$40.10€34.31
15.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.26COP 52.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.43COP 19.7K
$11.95€10.22
-46.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Merignac
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$835COP 2.6M
$826€707
1.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,887COP 27.2M
$10.4K€8,905
-14.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Merignac
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3COP 273.7K
$119€102
-24.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3COP 169.5K
$45.82€39.19
20.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$137COP 418.5K
$110€94.3
23.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COP 335.1K
$144€124
-24.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Merignac
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$952COP 2.9M
$841€719
13.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$668COP 2.0M
$641€548
4.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,020COP 6.2M
$1,339€1,145
50.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,148COP 3.5M
$1,143€978
0.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,696COP 11.3M
$4,272€3,654
-13.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,586COP 4.9M
$3,196€2,734
-50.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Merignac
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$625COP 1.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.43
3.79
175.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026
Last update for Merignac: August 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $952 in Medellin versus $841 in Merignac. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Medellin versus $82.0 in Merignac. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $369 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Merignac: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Merignac cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Merignac is pricier by about 12%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,530 per month in Medellin and $2,837 in Merignac. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Merignac?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Medellin and $82.0 in Merignac. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Merignac?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,687 in Medellin and $1,891 in Merignac. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Merignac?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,687, than in Merignac at $1,891. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Merignac it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Merignac more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Merignac?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Merignac makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.