😐A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $1,217 in Permet, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $1,877 in Permet, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $2,538 in Permet, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 38% more than Permet, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Permet is 11% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Permet
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.0K
$10.08ALL 797
-20.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 149.4K
$57.2ALL 4,516
-16.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 30.8K
$11.36ALL 898
-12.94%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,767
$2.42ALL 191
29.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 5,954
$2.47ALL 195
-22.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,712
$1.28ALL 101
17.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,747
$3.66ALL 289
-14.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 17.9K
$4.09ALL 323
40.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Permet
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,509
$2.20ALL 174
-34.55%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,759
$1.24ALL 97.7
100.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,535
$2.39ALL 189
-25.94%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,235
$3.80ALL 300
-22.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.4K
$13.78ALL 1,089
-26.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.6K
$9.13ALL 721
10.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 44.6K
$17.45ALL 1,378
-18.05%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 12.9K
$1.95ALL 154
112.31%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,019
$2.53ALL 200
-36.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,007
$2.19ALL 173
2.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,028
$1.92ALL 152
17.19%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,375
$1.08ALL 85.1
88.89%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,790
$1.27ALL 101
21.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,651
$1.43ALL 113
-18.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,077
$0.82ALL 65.0
59.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$4.88ALL 386
-20.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.7K
$11.34ALL 895
23.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,439
$1.75ALL 138
-0.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 8,956
$2.13ALL 168
34.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Permet
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,792
$0.52ALL 40.99
134.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 251.1K
$17.95ALL 1,418
348.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,084
$3.79ALL 299
-65.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,825
$3.73ALL 295
-41.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.2K
$18.75ALL 1,481
-53.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,260
$2.39ALL 188
-42.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
$34.1KALL 2.7M
-18.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
$36.1KALL 2.9M
-0.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Permet
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 553.2K
$103ALL 8,134
72.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.3K
$19.32ALL 1,526
-28.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 92.8K
$20.66ALL 1,632
43.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Permet
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 140.1K
$59.9ALL 4,730
-25.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 53.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.7K
$9.92ALL 784
-32.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Permet
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.5M
$357ALL 28.2K
127.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 28.7M
$8,271ALL 653.4K
11.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Permet
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 279.3K
$50.6ALL 3,997
76.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 184.0K
$48.01ALL 3,793
22.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 431.2K
$125ALL 9,846
10.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 318.7K
$117ALL 9,223
-12.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Permet
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
$484ALL 38.2K
119.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$371ALL 29.3K
78.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 5.9M
$738ALL 58.3K
155.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
$496ALL 39.2K
107.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.1M
$1,745ALL 137.9K
139.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.2M
$1,117ALL 88.2K
49.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Permet
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
5.64
93.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Permet: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $484 in Permet. 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $57.0 in Permet. Groceries tell a different story – $305 in Medellin vs $299 in Permet – so Permet 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 Permet: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Permet cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 38%, 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 $2,521 per month in Medellin and $1,826 in Permet. 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 Permet, 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 Permet?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $57.0 in Permet. 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 Permet?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,681 in Medellin and $1,217 in Permet. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Permet?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Permet, where all-in costs run around $1,217, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Permet it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Permet more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Permet – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Permet. 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.