Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Noord Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Noord

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $1,247 in Noord, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $2,085 in Noord, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $2,923 in Noord, rent included.

Medellin is about 20% cheaper than Noord, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Noord are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Noord 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$13.55 AWG 24.25

-56.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$64.3 AWG 115

-48.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$10.15 AWG 18.17

-26.80%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$5.03 AWG 9.01

-67.20%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$0.99 AWG 1.77

11.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$1.52 AWG 2.73

-48.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$5.19 AWG 9.29

-66.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$6.93 AWG 12.40

-54.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$9.79 AWG 17.51

23.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$2.98 AWG 5.32

-71.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$5.96 AWG 10.66

-76.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$5.96 AWG 10.67

-67.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$49.40 AWG 88.4

-84.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.47 AWG 2.63

-32.65%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$149 AWG 267

-44.40%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$101 AWG 180

-76.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$49.97 AWG 89.4

-49.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$7.99 AWG 14.29

-50.56%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$805 AWG 1,440

-40.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$602 AWG 1,078

-37.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$1,756 AWG 3,142

-51.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$1,626 AWG 2,909

-55.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

123.83%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Noord: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $805 in Noord. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $64.0 in Noord. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $20.00 in Noord – so Noord wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Noord: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Noord is pricier by about 24%, 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 $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,871 in Noord. 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.

Interestingly, groceries are about 888% cheaper in Noord – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $64.0 in Noord. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Noord at $1,247. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Noord 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.

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.

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