Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Neiva Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Neiva

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $752 in Neiva, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,125 in Neiva, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,498 in Neiva, rent included.

Medellin costs about 35% more than Neiva, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Neiva are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Neiva 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$2.84 COP 9,904

109.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$15.62 COP 54.5K

113.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$7.61 COP 26.6K

-4.99%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$1.29 COP 4,520

26.36%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.82 COP 2,856

32.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.50 COP 1,734

46.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$1.01 COP 3,516

72.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$2.21 COP 7,725

46.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.22 COP 4,245

-13.93%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$0.75 COP 2,631

72.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$0.46 COP 1,605

186.96%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$1.58 COP 5,502

43.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$4.86 COP 16.9K

-10.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$5.24 COP 18.3K

12.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$6.71 COP 23.4K

28.32%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$1.43 COP 4,980

57.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$1.14 COP 3,964

-6.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$1.34 COP 4,688

13.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$1.29 COP 4,514

10.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$1.15 COP 4,026

1.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$1.17 COP 4,099

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$0.78 COP 2,712

14.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.47 COP 1,624

91.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$1.90 COP 6,629

18.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$13.83 COP 48.3K

-20.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$1.16 COP 4,056

-1.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$1.94 COP 6,762

22.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$0.72 COP 2,510

16.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

$29.73 COP 103.8K

41.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$1.19 COP 4,154

18.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$1.41 COP 4,918

34.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$5.89 COP 20.6K

31.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$0.79 COP 2,772

27.85%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$15.7K COP 54.7M

12.15%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$25.3K COP 88.3M

4.75%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$73.1 COP 255.2K

14.43%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$10.18 COP 35.5K

-7.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$11.98 COP 41.8K

101.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$23.43 COP 81.8K

8.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$3.44 COP 12.0K

19.19%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$294 COP 1.0M

6.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$8,497 COP 29.7M

-29.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$59.7 COP 208.4K

-2.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$41.82 COP 146.0K

-22.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$59.6 COP 208.0K

67.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$59.6 COP 208.1K

82.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$286 COP 998.3K

68.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$243 COP 847.6K

56.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$532 COP 1.9M

57.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$425 COP 1.5M

70.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

$1,674 COP 5.8M

69.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

$1,058 COP 3.7M

15.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$412 COP 1.4M

31.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

11.92%

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

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for Neiva: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $286 in Neiva. 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 31% higher in Medellin, 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 $16.00 in Neiva. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $166 – making Neiva 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 Neiva: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 35%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,128 in Neiva. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Neiva, 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 $16.00 in Neiva. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,017 in Medellin and $752 in Neiva. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Neiva, where all-in costs run around $752, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Neiva it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Neiva – 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 Neiva. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.