Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Pecs Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Pecs

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $1,436 in Pecs, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $2,144 in Pecs, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $2,853 in Pecs, rent included.

Medellin costs about 14% more than Pecs, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Pecs sit above the global median – Medellin by 19%, Pecs by 4%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Pecs
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04 COP 24.8K
$12.59 Ft 3,945
-36.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29 COP 148.6K
$58.9 Ft 18.4K
-17.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.42 COP 29.0K
$9.44 Ft 2,956
-0.21%
Cappuccino
$2.94 COP 9,040
$2.56 Ft 801
14.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 COP 5,735
$1.41 Ft 441
31.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 COP 4,479
$1.34 Ft 420
8.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.21 COP 9,882
$1.86 Ft 582
72.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71 COP 17.6K
$2.51 Ft 786
127.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Pecs
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,428
$1.28 Ft 401
12.50%
White Bread (500g)
$2.40 COP 7,389
$1.69 Ft 530
42.01%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,228
$2.57 Ft 806
-33.85%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 8,896
$3.37 Ft 1,056
-14.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.06 COP 30.9K
$10.87 Ft 3,404
-7.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.97 COP 30.7K
$6.91 Ft 2,165
44.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.20 COP 43.7K
$17.30 Ft 5,419
-17.92%
Apples (1kg)
$3.98 COP 12.3K
$2.61 Ft 818
52.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 COP 4,878
$2.39 Ft 750
-33.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 COP 6,624
$2.74 Ft 859
-21.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.30 COP 7,078
$4.06 Ft 1,271
-43.35%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 COP 6,169
$1.18 Ft 369
69.49%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 COP 4,646
$1.42 Ft 445
6.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.20 COP 3,701
$1.94 Ft 607
-38.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 COP 3,946
$0.57 Ft 178
124.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84 COP 11.8K
$8.72 Ft 2,732
-55.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 43.1K
$4.94 Ft 1,548
183.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 COP 5,256
$1.42 Ft 444
20.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 COP 8,440
$2.66 Ft 832
3.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Pecs
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.25 COP 3,834
$1.58 Ft 495
-20.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.9 COP 239.7K
$24.97 Ft 7,821
211.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,016
$3.54 Ft 1,108
-62.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.17 COP 6,680
$1.55 Ft 487
40.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.29 COP 25.5K
$25.20 Ft 7,893
-67.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 COP 4,172
$1.87 Ft 585
-27.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K COP 84.5M
$31.5K Ft 9.9M
-12.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5K COP 112.4M
$39.1K Ft 12.3M
-6.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Pecs
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 COP 519.2K
$179 Ft 56.1K
-5.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 COP 41.8K
$21.40 Ft 6,705
-36.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32 COP 87.2K
$21.62 Ft 6,773
30.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Pecs
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.71 COP 140.7K
$49.57 Ft 15.5K
-7.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22 COP 53.0K
$18.84 Ft 5,901
-8.60%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 20.5K
$9.05 Ft 2,836
-26.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Pecs
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$803 COP 2.5M
$455 Ft 142.5K
76.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,190 COP 28.3M
$7,932 Ft 2.5M
15.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Pecs
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4 COP 268.8K
$104 Ft 32.6K
-16.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4 COP 182.7K
$53.5 Ft 16.8K
10.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$139 COP 427.5K
$100 Ft 31.4K
38.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 314.0K
$114 Ft 35.7K
-10.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Pecs
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,071 COP 3.3M
$651 Ft 204.0K
64.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$653 COP 2.0M
$458 Ft 143.4K
42.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,925 COP 5.9M
$1,023 Ft 320.6K
88.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,048 COP 3.2M
$728 Ft 228.0K
44.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,123 COP 12.7M
$3,495 Ft 1.1M
17.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,697 COP 5.2M
$2,990 Ft 936.6K
-43.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Pecs
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$655 COP 2.0M
$1,122 Ft 351.4K
-41.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
8
36.75%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Last update for Pecs: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,071 in Medellin versus $651 in Pecs. 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 71% higher in Pecs, 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $59.0 in Pecs. Groceries tell a different story – $300 in Medellin vs $274 in Pecs – so Pecs 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 Pecs: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pecs cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 14%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $2,154 in Pecs. 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 Pecs, 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 Pecs?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $59.0 in Pecs. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Pecs?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,641 in Medellin and $1,436 in Pecs. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Pecs?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Pecs, where all-in costs run around $1,436, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Pecs it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Pecs more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Pecs – 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 Pecs?
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 Pecs. 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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