Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Pago Pago Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Pago Pago

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $816 in Pago Pago, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,379 in Pago Pago, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,942 in Pago Pago, rent included.

Medellin costs about 23% more than Pago Pago, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Pago Pago are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Pago Pago 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.9K

$25.26 $25.26

-76.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 105.2K

$6.79 $6.79

385.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.7K

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,276

$1.03 $1.03

60.19%

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

$1.10 COP 3,514

$1.27 $1.27

-13.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,491

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,484

$1.98 $1.98

-13.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.1K

$2.03 $2.03

56.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,521

$2.59 $2.59

-57.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,015

$2.93 $2.93

-57.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,407

$4.24 $4.24

-67.45%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,950

$4.42 $4.42

-50.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.3K

$10.15 $10.15

-55.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.5K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.6K

$11.37 $11.37

-21.11%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,405

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,397

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,838

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,327

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,599

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,738

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,876

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,861

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,128

$11.31 $11.31

-80.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.7K

$15.16 $15.16

-20.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,793

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,920

$2.91 $2.91

-14.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,723

$1.94 $1.94

-56.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 132.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,518

$5.12 $5.12

-72.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,223

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 25.2K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,160

$1.34 $1.34

-26.12%

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

$17.6K COP 56.2M

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

$26.8K COP 85.5M

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

$83.0 COP 264.9K

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

$9.70 COP 30.9K

$30.18 $30.18

-67.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 75.0K

$76.4 $76.4

-69.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 80.6K

$49.53 $49.53

-49.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.9K

$10.19 $10.19

87.44%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.6K

$8.94 $8.94

-55.82%

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

$316 COP 1.0M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 19.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 191.4K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 101.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 324.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 342.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$151 $151

214.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$198 $198

88.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$895 $895

-5.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$690 $690

4.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.4M

$17.9K $17.9K

-81.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.6M

$10.8K $10.8K

-86.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$1,217 $1,217

-48.68%

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 Pago Pago: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $151 in Pago Pago. 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 95% higher in Pago Pago, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $7.00 in Pago Pago. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $191 – making Pago Pago 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 Pago Pago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 23%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,224 in Pago Pago. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Pago Pago, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 1% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $7.00 in Pago Pago. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Pago Pago, where all-in costs run around $816, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Pago Pago it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Pago Pago – 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 Pago Pago. 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.