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 $1,030 per month in Medellin vs $821 in Pago Pago, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,586 per month in Medellin vs $1,411 in Pago Pago, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $2,001 in Pago Pago, rent included.

Medellin costs about 25% more than Pago Pago, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Pago Pago are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Pago Pago 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.2K

$24.98 $24.98

-76.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.17 COP 118.7K

$6.95 $6.95

377.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.25 COP 25.9K

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,137

$0.99 $0.99

72.73%

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

$1.09 COP 3,915

$1.21 $1.21

-9.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,743

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 COP 6,254

$1.98 $1.98

-11.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 11.4K

$1.99 $1.99

59.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,792

$2.60 $2.60

-59.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,657

$2.87 $2.87

-54.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,926

$4.42 $4.42

-68.78%

Eggs

$2.21 COP 7,908

$4.37 $4.37

-49.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.52 COP 16.2K

$10.29 $10.29

-56.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.80 COP 20.7K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 32.1K

$11.26 $11.26

-20.34%

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 COP 8,182

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,791

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 COP 5,411

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,869

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,146

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,174

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 COP 2,960

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 COP 3,043

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.35 COP 8,423

$11.47 $11.47

-79.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.09 COP 39.7K

$15.17 $15.17

-26.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 COP 4,133

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,853

$3.03 $3.03

-18.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,827

$1.94 $1.94

-59.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.85 COP 149.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,140

$4.97 $4.97

-71.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,793

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.70 COP 27.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 COP 3,680

$1.34 $1.34

-23.13%

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

$17.7K COP 63.3M

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

$27.0K COP 96.7M

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

$81.4 COP 291.4K

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

$9.42 COP 33.7K

$29.74 $29.74

-68.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.77 COP 85.1K

$74.3 $74.3

-68.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.86 COP 92.6K

$49.42 $49.42

-47.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.34 COP 69.2K

$9.87 $9.87

95.95%

Cinema Ticket

$4.05 COP 14.5K

$9.02 $9.02

-55.10%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,067 COP 21.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 COP 210.7K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.82 COP 117.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 COP 359.6K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 COP 380.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 COP 1.8M

$153 $153

220.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$371 COP 1.3M

$199 $199

86.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$913 $913

-8.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$715 COP 2.6M

$692 $692

3.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,952 COP 10.6M

$17.8K $17.8K

-83.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,394 COP 5.0M

$10.6K $10.6K

-86.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$532 COP 1.9M

$1,201 $1,201

-55.69%

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Pago Pago: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Medellin versus $153 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 126% 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 in Medellin versus $7 in Pago Pago. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $191 in Pago Pago – so Medellin 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 Pago Pago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 25%, 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 $1,544 per month in Medellin and $1,232 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.

Interestingly, groceries are about 0% cheaper in Medellin – 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 $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 $821, than in Medellin at $1,030. 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.