Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Monterrey Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Monterrey

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 31.9% cheaper than Monterrey without rent, and 36.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 34.1% cheaper than Monterrey without rent, and 39.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Monterrey
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$13.45 MX$254
-53.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$53.6 MX$1,013
-39.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
$10.45 MX$198
-29.28%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$3.69 MX$69.7
-53.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$1.44 MX$27.29
-23.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
$0.99 MX$18.72
-26.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$2.62 MX$49.49
-36.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$4.27 MX$80.8
-25.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Monterrey
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$1.65 MX$31.24
-33.94%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$2.63 MX$49.78
-52.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$1.86 MX$35.1
-28.49%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$2.72 MX$51.4
-18.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$10.13 MX$191
-55.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$9.06 MX$171
-36.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$13.66 MX$258
-37.12%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$3.04 MX$57.5
-25.66%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$1.46 MX$27.52
-26.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$2.03 MX$38.39
-25.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$2.08 MX$39.26
-31.73%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$2.23 MX$42.09
-50.22%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$2.53 MX$47.89
-53.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
$1.5 MX$28.33
-40.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$1.08 MX$20.4
-22.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$4.27 MX$80.8
-44.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$13.62 MX$257
-31.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$1.72 MX$32.44
-31.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$3.16 MX$59.8
-21.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Monterrey
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
$0.83 MX$15.62
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
$40.3 MX$762
3.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
$1.7 MX$32.18
-17.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
$1.01 MX$19.06
94.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$10.55 MX$199
-25.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 4,265
$1.3 MX$24.5
-21.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 73.4M
$26.6K MX$502.3K
-33.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
$25.6K MX$484.3K
2.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Monterrey
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COP 344.1K
$121 MX$2,296
-32.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$27.79 MX$525
-66.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
$30.17 MX$570
-22.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Monterrey
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
$37.83 MX$715
-32.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
$21.73 MX$411
-11.92%
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
$5.99 MX$113
-33.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Monterrey
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
$346 MX$6,550
-12.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
$9,005 MX$170.2K
-34.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Monterrey
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
$58.1 MX$1,099
-0.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
$41.69 MX$788
-24.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
$107 MX$2,030
-3.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
$127 MX$2,398
-16.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Monterrey
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
$888 MX$16.8K
-44.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
$654 MX$12.4K
-42.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
$1,585 MX$30K
-47.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
$1,412 MX$26.7K
-48.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
$3,043 MX$57.5K
-28.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
$3,611 MX$68.3K
-57.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Monterrey
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
$1,026 MX$19.4K
-46.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
11.55
16.28%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

Last update for Monterrey: October 28, 2025

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