Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Monrovia Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Monrovia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $1,391 in Monrovia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $2,469 in Monrovia, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $3,547 in Monrovia, rent included.

Medellin is about 27% cheaper than Monrovia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 24% below the global median, while Monrovia is 4% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$7.31 LRD 1,329

-18.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

$149 LRD 27.2K

-78.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$11.20 LRD 2,036

-36.70%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

$3.38 LRD 614

-49.41%

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

$1.10 COP 3,924

$2.01 LRD 366

-45.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

$2.70 LRD 491

-71.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

$2.72 LRD 494

-38.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

$3.02 LRD 548

1.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$2.18 LRD 396

-50.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$1.81 LRD 329

-30.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$5.01 LRD 911

-72.46%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$3.61 LRD 656

-39.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$11.60 LRD 2,108

-62.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$11.66 LRD 2,119

-51.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

$36.19 LRD 6,576

-75.44%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

$1.69 LRD 306

38.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

$8.41 LRD 1,529

-87.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

$10.27 LRD 1,866

-85.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$10.81 LRD 1,964

-87.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

$2.23 LRD 406

-48.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

$10.69 LRD 1,942

-89.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

$4.70 LRD 855

-81.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$1.95 LRD 354

-56.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

$4.98 LRD 904

-54.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

$6.94 LRD 1,260

53.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

$2.47 LRD 449

-51.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

$3.19 LRD 580

-22.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

$3.04 LRD 552

-71.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

$20.03 LRD 3,639

106.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

$2.82 LRD 512

-47.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

$1.21 LRD 220

61.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$17.72 LRD 3,220

-56.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

$1.23 LRD 223

-22.76%

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

$12.3K LRD 2.2M

47.07%

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

$14.9K LRD 2.7M

78.02%

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

$82.3 COP 293.7K

$269 LRD 48.9K

-69.43%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$22.55 LRD 4,097

-57.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

$94.4 LRD 17.2K

-74.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

$77.6 LRD 14.1K

-66.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

$8.12 LRD 1,476

133.99%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$9.54 LRD 1,734

-58.81%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$130 LRD 23.6K

138.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$902 LRD 163.9K

561.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

$18.64 LRD 3,387

214.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

$33.24 LRD 6,040

-2.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

$56.9 LRD 10.3K

80.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

$68.5 LRD 12.4K

58.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$666 LRD 120.9K

-28.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$94.2 LRD 17.1K

302.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$1,827 LRD 332.0K

-54.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$271 LRD 49.2K

167.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$705 LRD 128.1K

-27.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

168.60%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Monrovia: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $666 in Monrovia. 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 38% higher in Monrovia, 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 $149 in Monrovia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $533 – 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 Monrovia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Monrovia is pricier by about 37%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $2,087 in Monrovia. 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 $149 in Monrovia. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $1,391 in Monrovia. 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 $1,013, than in Monrovia at $1,391. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Monrovia 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.

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