Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Milton Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Milton

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $3,044 in Milton, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $4,159 in Milton, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $5,275 in Milton, rent included.

Medellin is about 67% cheaper than Milton, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 24% below the global median, while Milton is 127% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Milton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99 COPΒ 21.4K
$14.65 CA$20.29
-59.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86 COPΒ 117.4K
$72.4 CA$100
-54.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.09 COPΒ 25.3K
$12.96 CA$17.95
-45.29%
Cappuccino
$1.71 COPΒ 6,115
$3.86 CA$5.34
-55.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COPΒ 3,924
$3.23 CA$4.48
-65.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COPΒ 2,781
$2.50 CA$3.46
-68.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.68 COPΒ 5,997
$8.00 CA$11.08
-79.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 COPΒ 11.0K
$5.40 CA$7.48
-43.15%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Milton
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COPΒ 3,906
$2.50 CA$3.47
-56.40%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COPΒ 4,508
$2.61 CA$3.61
-51.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COPΒ 4,922
$4.55 CA$6.30
-69.67%
Eggs
$2.19 COPΒ 7,827
$3.47 CA$4.81
-36.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.40 COPΒ 15.7K
$6.61 CA$9.15
-33.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.63 COPΒ 20.1K
$29.96 CA$41.49
-81.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.89 COPΒ 31.8K
$19.04 CA$26.37
-53.31%
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 COPΒ 8,349
$5.60 CA$7.76
-58.21%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COPΒ 3,777
$1.57 CA$2.18
-32.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.50 COPΒ 5,374
$2.91 CA$4.03
-48.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.38 COPΒ 4,924
$3.29 CA$4.56
-58.05%
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 COPΒ 4,111
$1.04 CA$1.44
10.58%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 COPΒ 4,155
$1.26 CA$1.74
-7.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COPΒ 3,182
$1.65 CA$2.29
-46.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COPΒ 2,997
$2.27 CA$3.15
-63.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28 COPΒ 8,145
$12.57 CA$17.40
-81.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.64 COPΒ 38.0K
$13.56 CA$18.77
-21.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COPΒ 4,284
$2.26 CA$3.12
-46.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 COPΒ 8,824
$2.70 CA$3.74
-8.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Milton
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COPΒ 3,056
$2.93 CA$4.06
-70.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.40 COPΒ 147.9K
$45.77 CA$63.4
-9.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COPΒ 5,264
$3.13 CA$4.34
-53.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COPΒ 7,009
$1.45 CA$2.01
35.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.74 COPΒ 27.6K
$37.15 CA$51.4
-79.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 COPΒ 3,409
$1.09 CA$1.51
-12.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K COPΒ 64.7M
$24.8K CA$34.4K
-26.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K COPΒ 94.6M
$24.2K CA$33.5K
9.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Milton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.3 COPΒ 293.7K
$247 CA$341
-66.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50 COPΒ 33.9K
$60.4 CA$83.6
-84.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23 COPΒ 86.5K
$67.7 CA$93.8
-64.22%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Milton
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.89 COPΒ 92.4K
$33.36 CA$46.19
-22.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00 COPΒ 67.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.93 COPΒ 14.0K
$16.87 CA$23.35
-76.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Milton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$309 COPΒ 1.1M
$556 CA$770
-44.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,965 COPΒ 21.3M
$11.8K CA$16.3K
-49.31%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Milton
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 COPΒ 209.5K
$57.5 CA$79.6
2.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35 COPΒ 115.5K
$53.7 CA$74.3
-39.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COPΒ 366.4K
$95.0 CA$132
8.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COPΒ 387.2K
$129 CA$179
-16.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Milton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$476 COPΒ 1.7M
$1,783 CA$2,469
-73.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COPΒ 1.4M
$1,672 CA$2,315
-77.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$838 COPΒ 3.0M
$2,588 CA$3,583
-67.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$724 COPΒ 2.6M
$2,288 CA$3,168
-68.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,791 COPΒ 10.0M
$4,840 CA$6,701
-42.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,211 COPΒ 4.3M
$4,220 CA$5,843
-71.30%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Milton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$512 COPΒ 1.8M
$3,162 CA$4,378
-83.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
6.8
97.50%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Milton: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $1,783 in Milton. 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 518% higher in Milton, 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 $72.0 in Milton. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $459 – 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 Milton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Milton cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Milton is pricier by about 201%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,519 per month in Medellin and $4,566 in Milton. 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 Milton?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $72.0 in Milton. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafΓ© pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Milton?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $3,044 in Milton. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Milton?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Milton at $3,044. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Milton it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Milton 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 Milton?
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, Milton makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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