Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Mount Vernon, NY

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,625 a month against $2,675 in Mount Vernon, NY, rent and utilities included – about $12,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,625
/mo nomad
Mount Vernon, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$2,675
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Mount Vernon, NY

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Mount Vernon, NY actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,625 per month in Medellin vs $2,675 in Mount Vernon, NY, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,625
  • Mount Vernon, NY $2,675

A couple spends around $2,412 per month in Medellin vs $4,104 in Mount Vernon, NY, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,412
  • Mount Vernon, NY $4,104

A family of three spends $3,199 per month in Medellin vs $5,534 in Mount Vernon, NY, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,199
  • Mount Vernon, NY $5,534

Medellin is about 39% cheaper than Mount Vernon, NY, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Medellin and Mount Vernon, NY sit above the global median – Medellin by 20%, Mount Vernon, NY by 97%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Mount Vernon, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.30 COP 26.3K
$24.89 $24.89
-66.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.91 COP 148.7K
$99.7 $99.7
-52.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.24 COP 29.3K
$10.79 $10.79
-14.37%
Cappuccino
$3.05 COP 9,676
$6.15 $6.15
-50.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,707
$2.19 $2.19
-17.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 COP 4,382
$1.60 $1.60
-13.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 COP 10.3K
$7.98 $7.98
-59.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.56 COP 17.6K
$7.98 $7.98
-30.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Mount Vernon, NY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 COP 4,760
$1.31 $1.31
14.50%
White Bread (500g)
$2.37 COP 7,508
$4.17 $4.17
-43.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,377
$7.57 $7.57
-77.54%
Eggs
$2.96 COP 9,379
$5.95 $5.95
-50.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.22 COP 32.4K
$12.32 $12.32
-17.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.74 COP 30.9K
$11.75 $11.75
-17.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.90 COP 44.1K
$16.95 $16.95
-17.99%
Apples (1kg)
$4.13 COP 13.1K
$5.30 $5.30
-22.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,839
$1.79 $1.79
-14.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.22 COP 7,052
$6.21 $6.21
-64.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.27 COP 7,194
$6.01 $6.01
-62.23%
Potato (1kg)
$1.99 COP 6,311
$4.09 $4.09
-51.34%
Onion (1kg)
$1.67 COP 5,285
$3.83 $3.83
-56.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 COP 3,742
$2.88 $2.88
-59.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 3,919
$2.54 $2.54
-51.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.87 COP 12.3K
$11.86 $11.86
-67.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.78 COP 43.7K
$20.14 $20.14
-31.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,256
$1.70 $1.70
-2.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 COP 7,615
$3.83 $3.83
-37.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Mount Vernon, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.24 COP 3,944
$2.06 $2.06
-39.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$78.2 COP 248.0K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 COP 4,044
$3.06 $3.06
-58.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 COP 6,803
$2.10 $2.10
2.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.37 COP 26.5K
$23.54 $23.54
-64.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,288
$1.12 $1.12
20.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8K COP 110.2M
$27.8K $27.8K
25.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 110.0M
$25.5K $25.5K
35.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Mount Vernon, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$167 COP 528.4K
$212 $212
-21.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.62 COP 43.2K
$74.8 $74.8
-81.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.12 COP 92.3K
$64.3 $64.3
-54.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Mount Vernon, NY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.09 COP 143.0K
$39.42 $39.42
14.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.18 COP 54.5K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.97 COP 22.1K
$14.62 $14.62
-52.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Mount Vernon, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$790 COP 2.5M
$2,242 $2,242
-64.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,041 COP 28.7M
$24.1K $24.1K
-62.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Mount Vernon, NY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.8 COP 278.4K
$40.81 $40.81
115.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.2 COP 184.4K
$50.4 $50.4
15.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$139 COP 440.7K
$74.9 $74.9
85.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.9 COP 313.5K
$135 $135
-26.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Mount Vernon, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,028 COP 3.3M
$1,366 $1,366
-24.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$620 COP 2.0M
$1,256 $1,256
-50.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,881 COP 6.0M
$2,516 $2,516
-25.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,008 COP 3.2M
$2,295 $2,295
-56.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,988 COP 12.6M
$2,539 $2,539
57.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,702 COP 5.4M
$2,089 $2,089
-18.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Mount Vernon, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$663 COP 2.1M
$4,460 $4,460
-85.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
6.75
62.07%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 19, 2026

Last update for Mount Vernon, NY: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$619
Mount Vernon, NY
$1.3K 103% $636
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$298
Mount Vernon, NY
$466 56.4% $168
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$209
Mount Vernon, NY
$351 67.8% $142
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$173
Mount Vernon, NY
$135 21.7% $37
Eating Out
Medellin
$171
Mount Vernon, NY
$376 120% $205
Getting Around
Medellin
$95
Mount Vernon, NY
$22 * 77.1% $73
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$59
Mount Vernon, NY
$69 16.3% $9.6

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,028 in Medellin versus $1,366 in Mount Vernon, NY. 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 572% higher in Mount Vernon, NY, 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 $47.00 in Medellin versus $100 in Mount Vernon, NY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $466 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇺🇸 Mount Vernon, NY
🕒 Local time
16:18 4:18 PM
17:18 5:18 PM
1 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
73,893
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Mount Vernon, NY 3,860 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Mount Vernon, NY

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Mount Vernon, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mount Vernon, NY cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Mount Vernon, NY is pricier by about 65%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,437 per month in Medellin and $4,012 in Mount Vernon, NY. 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 Mount Vernon, NY?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Medellin and $100 in Mount Vernon, NY. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Mount Vernon, NY?
Groceries cost about 56% more in Mount Vernon, NY, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Mount Vernon, NY?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,625, than in Mount Vernon, NY at $2,675. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mount Vernon, NY it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Mount Vernon, NY 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 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, Mount Vernon, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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