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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $1,249 in Noord, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $2,110 in Noord, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $2,971 in Noord, rent included.

Medellin is about 17% cheaper than Noord, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Noord are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Noord 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.4K

$13.37 AWG 23.93

-55.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 118.2K

$65.0 AWG 116

-49.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.0K

$10.11 AWG 18.10

-28.78%

Cappuccino

$1.70 COP 6,140

$4.91 AWG 8.78

-65.38%

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

$1.10 COP 3,966

$1.02 AWG 1.83

7.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,605

$1.47 AWG 2.63

-51.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 COP 6,022

$5.13 AWG 9.18

-67.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 COP 11.2K

$6.92 AWG 12.40

-55.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,809

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,497

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,022

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,168

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.6K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 31.9K

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,099

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,882

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,522

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,950

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,078

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,036

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,057

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,281

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,414

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.2K

$9.83 AWG 17.59

13.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,309

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,553

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,838

$3.02 AWG 5.41

-73.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,184

$6.05 AWG 10.84

-76.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,901

$5.94 AWG 10.62

-67.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 28.9K

$49.33 AWG 88.3

-83.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,385

$1.52 AWG 2.73

-38.16%

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

$17.9K COP 64.7M

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

$26.8K COP 96.7M

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

$84.0 COP 303.1K

$152 AWG 272

-44.70%

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

$9.60 COP 34.7K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.2K

$100 AWG 180

-75.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 93.4K

$49.55 AWG 88.7

-47.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 68.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.1K

$7.93 AWG 14.19

-50.57%

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

$306 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 209.1K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 114.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 360.6K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 386.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

$805 AWG 1,441

-39.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

$610 AWG 1,092

-39.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

$1,782 AWG 3,190

-53.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

$1,637 AWG 2,931

-56.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 COP 2.0M

$983 AWG 1,759

-44.49%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Noord: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 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.

Salaries run about 80% higher in Noord, 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 $65.0 in Noord. Groceries tell a different story – $190 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 21%, 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 $1,550 per month in Medellin and $1,874 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 866% 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 $65.0 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 $1,034, than in Noord at $1,249. 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.