Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Mexicali Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Mexicali

😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 10.1% more expensive than Mexicali without rent, and 2.8% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Medellin is 1.7% more expensive than Mexicali without rent, and 2.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Mexicali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.03 COP 22.9K
$12.02 MX$211
-49.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.17 COP 125.7K
$32.32 MX$569
2.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.29 COP 27.6K
$6.36 MX$112
14.62%
Cappuccino
$1.63 COP 6,174
$2.70 MX$47.46
-39.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,974
$1.16 MX$20.40
-9.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,918
$0.97 MX$17.13
-20.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.73 COP 6,554
$1.35 MX$23.67
28.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 12.0K
$3.99 MX$70.1
-20.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Mexicali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 COP 4,043
$1.16 MX$20.36
-7.76%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,968
$2.28 MX$40.19
-42.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 5,230
$1.48 MX$26.08
-6.76%
Eggs
$2.25 COP 8,515
$2.60 MX$45.65
-13.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.48 COP 17.0K
$2.43 MX$42.79
84.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.74 COP 21.7K
$5.63 MX$99.1
1.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.86 COP 33.6K
$6.27 MX$110
41.31%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COP 8,496
$1.60 MX$28.17
40.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 4,015
$1.33 MX$23.48
-20.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 5,736
$1.35 MX$23.80
11.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 5,154
$1.61 MX$28.25
-15.53%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,247
$1.30 MX$22.81
-13.85%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 4,430
$1.34 MX$23.55
-12.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 3,418
$1.05 MX$18.54
-14.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,171
$0.77 MX$13.55
9.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26 COP 8,559
$3.94 MX$69.3
-42.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.97 COP 37.8K
$8.84 MX$155
12.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,482
$1.94 MX$34.15
-39.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 COP 9,054
$3.21 MX$56.4
-25.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Mexicali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COP 3,255
$1.00 MX$17.64
-14.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.45 COP 157.1K
$33.75 MX$594
22.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COP 5,559
$2.83 MX$49.70
-48.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 7,372
$1.59 MX$28.04
22.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.76 COP 29.4K
$3.26 MX$57.4
138.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COP 3,665
$1.26 MX$22.11
-23.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COP 68.0M
$22.9K MX$403.3K
-21.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K COP 101.2M
$20.4K MX$358.8K
31.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Mexicali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.1 COP 307.3K
$55.6 MX$978
45.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.40 COP 35.6K
$22.20 MX$391
-57.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.61 COP 89.4K
$31.55 MX$555
-25.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Mexicali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.55 COP 96.8K
$38.85 MX$683
-34.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.29 COP 73.1K
$15.99 MX$281
20.64%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10 COP 15.5K
$3.99 MX$70.1
2.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Mexicali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COP 1.2M
$205 MX$3,610
49.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,899 COP 22.3M
$2,713 MX$47.7K
117.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Mexicali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.8 COP 226.6K
$26.48 MX$466
125.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.96 COP 121.1K
$32.15 MX$566
-0.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 389.1K
$75.0 MX$1,320
36.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 408.7K
$69.6 MX$1,225
54.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Mexicali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$483 COP 1.8M
$625 MX$11.0K
-22.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$377 COP 1.4M
$401 MX$7,050
-5.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$822 COP 3.1M
$1,206 MX$21.2K
-31.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$721 COP 2.7M
$649 MX$11.4K
11.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 COP 10.5M
$2,823 MX$49.7K
-1.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,320 COP 5.0M
$1,519 MX$26.7K
-13.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Mexicali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$538 COP 2.0M
$909 MX$16.0K
-40.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
11.5
16.78%

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

Last update for Medellin: March 3, 2026

Last update for Mexicali: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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