😐A single person spends $1,687 per month in Medellin vs $1,213 in Pergamino, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,535 per month in Medellin vs $1,938 in Pergamino, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,383 per month in Medellin vs $2,664 in Pergamino, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 39% more than Pergamino, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Pergamino is 11% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Pergamino
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.89COP 24.2K
$14.71ARS 22.0K
-46.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.53COP 136.5K
$29.76ARS 44.6K
49.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.29COP 28.5K
$13.12ARS 19.6K
-29.19%
Cappuccino
$2.90COP 8,874
$4.02ARS 6,017
-27.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81COP 5,541
$1.96ARS 2,930
-7.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55COP 4,741
$1.48ARS 2,222
4.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25COP 9,962
$3.87ARS 5,789
-16.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88COP 18.0K
$2.05ARS 3,071
186.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Pergamino
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38COP 4,230
$1.41ARS 2,113
-2.13%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45COP 7,517
$2.52ARS 3,777
-2.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,617
$1.50ARS 2,251
0.67%
Eggs
$2.78COP 8,516
$2.42ARS 3,624
14.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.05COP 27.7K
$10.45ARS 15.6K
-13.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.65COP 32.6K
$2.92ARS 4,369
264.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.63COP 44.8K
$11.88ARS 17.8K
23.15%
Apples(1kg)
$3.97COP 12.2K
$2.78ARS 4,168
42.81%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,219
$2.07ARS 3,103
-33.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,056
$1.49ARS 2,230
54.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.02COP 6,185
$1.97ARS 2,953
2.54%
Potato(1kg)
$2.09COP 6,390
$1.11ARS 1,662
88.29%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63COP 4,996
$1.12ARS 1,683
45.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08COP 3,313
$1.66ARS 2,485
-34.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25COP 3,843
$1.60ARS 2,393
-21.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03COP 12.4K
$4.28ARS 6,409
-5.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.47COP 41.3K
$5.40ARS 8,079
149.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60COP 4,904
$1.96ARS 2,930
-18.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00COP 9,189
$2.99ARS 4,474
0.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Pergamino
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.18COP 3,611
$0.99ARS 1,484
19.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.9COP 244.9K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.61COP 4,920
$1.60ARS 2,388
0.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13COP 6,533
$0.79ARS 1,181
169.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.52COP 26.1K
$7.95ARS 11.9K
7.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35COP 4,142
$1.17ARS 1,756
15.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KCOP 86.8M
$20.2KARS 30.3M
40.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KCOP 109.4M
$24.5KARS 36.7M
45.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Pergamino
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151COP 463.8K
$80.9ARS 121.1K
87.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.10COP 40.1K
$22.68ARS 34.0K
-42.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.30COP 99.0K
$29.73ARS 44.5K
8.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Pergamino
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.33COP 141.9K
$30.75ARS 46.0K
50.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.26COP 52.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.43COP 19.7K
$11.67ARS 17.5K
-44.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Pergamino
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$835COP 2.6M
$305ARS 456.7K
173.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,887COP 27.2M
$8,534ARS 12.8M
4.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Pergamino
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3COP 273.7K
$112ARS 167.8K
-20.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3COP 169.5K
$96.4ARS 144.3K
-42.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$137COP 418.5K
$125ARS 186.4K
9.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COP 335.1K
$131ARS 195.5K
-16.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Pergamino
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$952COP 2.9M
$512ARS 767.0K
85.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$668COP 2.0M
$322ARS 481.9K
107.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,020COP 6.2M
$1,091ARS 1.6M
85.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,148COP 3.5M
$694ARS 1.0M
65.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,696COP 11.3M
$2,315ARS 3.5M
59.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,586COP 4.9M
$1,143ARS 1.7M
38.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Pergamino
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$625COP 1.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.43
54.72
-80.94%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026
Last update for Pergamino: August 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $952 in Medellin versus $512 in Pergamino. 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 $45.00 in Medellin versus $30.00 in Pergamino. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $237 – making Pergamino 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 Pergamino: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pergamino cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 39%, 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 $2,530 per month in Medellin and $1,819 in Pergamino. 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 Pergamino, 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 Pergamino?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Medellin and $30.00 in Pergamino. 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 Pergamino?
Groceries cost about 25% 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 $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Pergamino?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Pergamino, where all-in costs run around $1,213, than in Medellin at $1,687. In Pergamino it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Pergamino more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Pergamino – 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 Pergamino?
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 Pergamino. 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.