😐A single person spends $1,014 per month in Medellin vs $522 in Pardis, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,596 per month in Medellin vs $808 in Pardis, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,178 per month in Medellin vs $1,095 in Pardis, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 95% more than Pardis, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Medellin and Pardis are more affordable than the global median – Medellin25% lower, Pardis61% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Pardis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.14COP 22.2K
$3.02$3.02
103.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.05COP 119.3K
$17.81$17.81
85.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.32COP 26.4K
$4.88$4.88
50.00%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.62$0.62
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.02$1.02
-
Cappuccino
$1.66COP 5,987
$0.49$0.49
238.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,987
$0.46$0.46
139.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,822
$0.51$0.51
52.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.71COP 6,188
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 11.5K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Pardis
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.11COP 4,012
$0.64$0.64
73.44%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31COP 4,719
$0.52$0.52
151.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,980
$1.93$1.93
-28.50%
Eggs
$2.22COP 8,009
$1.20$1.20
85.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.34COP 15.7K
$2.51$2.51
72.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.80COP 20.9K
$1.98$1.98
192.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.98COP 32.4K
$10.06$10.06
-10.74%
Apples(1kg)
$2.26COP 8,164
$0.86$0.86
162.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 4,023
$1.01$1.01
9.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.46COP 5,284
$0.49$0.49
197.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,929
$0.62$0.62
120.97%
Potato(1kg)
$1.11COP 4,009
$0.10$0.10
1010.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COP 4,199
$0.54$0.54
114.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COP 3,211
$0.63$0.63
41.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87COP 3,124
$0.25$0.25
248.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$1.01$1.01
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.55$0.55
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.03$1.03
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35COP 8,495
$2.43$2.43
-3.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.86COP 39.2K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 4,330
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 8,946
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Pardis
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,842
$0.20$0.20
295.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.77COP 147.2K
$10.19$10.19
300.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 5,137
$0.49$0.49
189.80%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COP 6,900
$0.27$0.27
607.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.65COP 27.6K
$1.03$1.03
642.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.97COP 3,490
$0.72$0.72
34.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOP 65.3M
$81.3K$81.3K
-77.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3KCOP 95.0M
$55.3K$55.3K
-52.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Pardis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3COP 293.5K
$15.52$15.52
423.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.63COP 34.8K
$1.95$1.95
393.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.36COP 88.0K
$5.81$5.81
319.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Pardis
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.02COP 93.9K
$15.99$15.99
62.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92COP 68.3K
$12.38$12.38
52.83%
Cinema Ticket
$3.89COP 14.0K
$1.53$1.53
154.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Pardis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$304COP 1.1M
$125$125
143.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,902COP 21.3M
$1,931$1,931
205.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Pardis
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COP 211.8K
$30.94$30.94
89.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.48COP 117.2K
$34.30$34.30
-5.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102COP 367.3K
$122$122
-16.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 390.4K
$69.3$69.3
56.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Pardis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$474COP 1.7M
$280$280
69.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$371COP 1.3M
$200$200
85.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$848COP 3.1M
$624$624
35.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COP 2.6M
$319$319
124.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,871COP 10.4M
$1,057$1,057
171.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,375COP 5.0M
$627$627
119.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Pardis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$542COP 2.0M
$202$202
167.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
24
-44.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 13, 2026
Last update for Pardis: April 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $474 in Medellin versus $280 in Pardis. 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 168% higher in Medellin, 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 in Medellin versus $18 in Pardis. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $94 – making Pardis 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 Pardis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pardis cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 95%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,522 per month in Medellin and $782 in Pardis. 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 Pardis, 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 Pardis?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $18.00 in Pardis. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Pardis?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,014 in Medellin and $522 in Pardis. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Medellin or Pardis?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Pardis, where all-in costs run around $522, than in Medellin at $1,014. In Pardis it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Pardis more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Pardis – 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 Pardis?
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 Pardis. 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.