Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Norsup Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Norsup

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $3,407 in Norsup, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $2,216 in Norsup, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,026 in Norsup, rent included.

Medellin is about 71% cheaper than Norsup, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 25% below the global median, while Norsup is 156% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$4.28 VUV 497

-74.30%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$4.16 VUV 484

-69.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$4.16 VUV 483

-66.83%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$4.91 VUV 571

-55.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$12.39 VUV 1,439

-63.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$8.45 VUV 982

-31.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$15.12 VUV 1,756

-40.67%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$4.32 VUV 502

-46.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$4.19 VUV 486

-74.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$4.31 VUV 501

-64.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$4.29 VUV 499

-68.30%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$4.24 VUV 493

-73.35%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$4.11 VUV 478

-71.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$4.32 VUV 501

-79.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$2.17 VUV 252

-58.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$16.93 VUV 1,967

-86.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$16.84 VUV 1,956

-28.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$4.27 VUV 496

-72.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$4.24 VUV 493

-41.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

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

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

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

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$2,945 VUV 342.0K

-87.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

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

$289 VUV 33.6K

115.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Norsup: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 116% higher in Medellin, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

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 Norsup: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Norsup is pricier by about 240%, 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 $5,110 in Norsup. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $3,407 in Norsup. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 137% more in Norsup, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Norsup at $3,407. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Norsup 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, Norsup makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.