Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Nueve de Julio Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Nueve de Julio

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $1,354 in Nueve de Julio, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $2,269 in Nueve de Julio, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $3,184 in Nueve de Julio, rent included.

Medellin costs about 21% more than Nueve de Julio, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Medellin sits 19% above the global median, while Nueve de Julio is 2% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Nueve de Julio
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04 COP 24.8K
$19.12 ARS 28.8K
-57.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29 COP 148.6K
$69.9 ARS 105.5K
-30.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.42 COP 29.0K
$12.77 ARS 19.3K
-26.23%
Cappuccino
$2.94 COP 9,040
$3.81 ARS 5,740
-22.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 COP 5,735
$2.15 ARS 3,248
-13.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 COP 4,479
$1.73 ARS 2,605
-15.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.21 COP 9,882
$3.65 ARS 5,505
-12.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71 COP 17.6K
$4.58 ARS 6,902
24.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Nueve de Julio
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,428
$1.05 ARS 1,584
37.14%
White Bread (500g)
$2.40 COP 7,389
$2.50 ARS 3,772
-4.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,228
$1.58 ARS 2,381
7.59%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 8,896
$1.22 ARS 1,842
136.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.06 COP 30.9K
$10.44 ARS 15.7K
-3.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.97 COP 30.7K
$10.04 ARS 15.1K
-0.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.20 COP 43.7K
$14.07 ARS 21.2K
0.92%
Apples (1kg)
$3.98 COP 12.3K
$2.89 ARS 4,366
37.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 COP 4,878
$2.11 ARS 3,179
-25.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 COP 6,624
$1.41 ARS 2,127
52.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.30 COP 7,078
$2.14 ARS 3,229
7.48%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 COP 6,169
$1.17 ARS 1,767
70.94%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 COP 4,646
$1.19 ARS 1,798
26.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.20 COP 3,701
$1.02 ARS 1,545
17.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 COP 3,946
$1.02 ARS 1,539
25.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84 COP 11.8K
$1.02 ARS 1,537
276.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 43.1K
$5.61 ARS 8,470
149.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 COP 5,256
$1.45 ARS 2,187
17.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 COP 8,440
$2.03 ARS 3,068
34.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Nueve de Julio
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.25 COP 3,834
$0.98 ARS 1,472
27.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.9 COP 239.7K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,016
$1.61 ARS 2,434
-18.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.17 COP 6,680
$0.97 ARS 1,468
123.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.29 COP 25.5K
$7.68 ARS 11.6K
7.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 COP 4,172
$1.40 ARS 2,116
-2.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K COP 84.5M
$28.7K ARS 43.3M
-4.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5K COP 112.4M
$33.6K ARS 50.6M
8.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Nueve de Julio
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 COP 519.2K
$202 ARS 304.8K
-16.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 COP 41.8K
$23.62 ARS 35.6K
-42.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32 COP 87.2K
$31.60 ARS 47.7K
-10.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Nueve de Julio
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.71 COP 140.7K
$30.85 ARS 46.5K
48.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22 COP 53.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 20.5K
$11.29 ARS 17.0K
-41.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Nueve de Julio
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$803 COP 2.5M
$295 ARS 444.4K
172.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,190 COP 28.3M
$9,046 ARS 13.6M
1.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Nueve de Julio
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4 COP 268.8K
$114 ARS 171.6K
-23.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4 COP 182.7K
$92.8 ARS 140.0K
-36.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$139 COP 427.5K
$118 ARS 178.5K
17.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 314.0K
$134 ARS 202.7K
-24.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Nueve de Julio
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,071 COP 3.3M
$485 ARS 732.2K
120.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$653 COP 2.0M
$302 ARS 455.9K
116.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,925 COP 5.9M
$991 ARS 1.5M
94.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,048 COP 3.2M
$760 ARS 1.1M
37.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,123 COP 12.7M
$2,384 ARS 3.6M
72.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,697 COP 5.2M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Nueve de Julio
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$655 COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
56.56
-80.66%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Last update for Nueve de Julio: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,071 in Medellin versus $485 in Nueve de Julio. 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $70.0 in Nueve de Julio. Groceries tell a different story – $300 in Medellin vs $259 in Nueve de Julio – so Nueve de Julio 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 Nueve de Julio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nueve de Julio cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 21%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,462 per month in Medellin and $2,030 in Nueve de Julio. 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 Nueve de Julio, 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 Nueve de Julio?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $70.0 in Nueve de Julio. 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 Nueve de Julio?
Groceries cost about 16% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Nueve de Julio?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Nueve de Julio, where all-in costs run around $1,354, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Nueve de Julio it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Nueve de Julio more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Nueve de Julio – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Nueve de Julio?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Nueve de Julio. 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.

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