Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Perth Amboy, NJ

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,625 a month against $2,684 in Perth Amboy, NJ, rent and utilities included – about $12,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,625
/mo nomad
Perth Amboy, NJ
🇺🇸 United States
$2,684
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Perth Amboy, NJ

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Perth Amboy, NJ actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,625 per month in Medellin vs $2,684 in Perth Amboy, NJ, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,625
  • Perth Amboy, NJ $2,684

A couple spends around $2,412 per month in Medellin vs $3,774 in Perth Amboy, NJ, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,412
  • Perth Amboy, NJ $3,774

A family of three spends $3,199 per month in Medellin vs $4,865 in Perth Amboy, NJ, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,199
  • Perth Amboy, NJ $4,865

Medellin is about 39% cheaper than Perth Amboy, NJ, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Medellin and Perth Amboy, NJ sit above the global median – Medellin by 20%, Perth Amboy, NJ by 98%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Perth Amboy, NJ
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.30 COP 26.3K
$19.32 $19.32
-57.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.91 COP 148.7K
$78.5 $78.5
-40.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.24 COP 29.3K
$13.14 $13.14
-29.68%
Cappuccino
$3.05 COP 9,676
$6.28 $6.28
-51.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,707
$2.52 $2.52
-28.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 COP 4,382
$1.51 $1.51
-8.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 COP 10.3K
$8.90 $8.90
-63.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.56 COP 17.6K
$7.13 $7.13
-22.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Perth Amboy, NJ
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 COP 4,760
$1.14 $1.14
31.58%
White Bread (500g)
$2.37 COP 7,508
$2.23 $2.23
6.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,377
$6.16 $6.16
-72.40%
Eggs
$2.96 COP 9,379
$2.93 $2.93
1.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.22 COP 32.4K
$13.68 $13.68
-25.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.74 COP 30.9K
$10.45 $10.45
-6.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.90 COP 44.1K
$19.90 $19.90
-30.15%
Apples (1kg)
$4.13 COP 13.1K
$5.96 $5.96
-30.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,839
$3.51 $3.51
-56.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.22 COP 7,052
$4.33 $4.33
-48.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.27 COP 7,194
$5.22 $5.22
-56.51%
Potato (1kg)
$1.99 COP 6,311
$1.40 $1.40
42.14%
Onion (1kg)
$1.67 COP 5,285
$1.40 $1.40
19.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 COP 3,742
$1.46 $1.46
-19.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 3,919
$2.99 $2.99
-58.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.87 COP 12.3K
$14.80 $14.80
-73.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.78 COP 43.7K
$12.21 $12.21
12.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,256
$1.84 $1.84
-9.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 COP 7,615
$3.62 $3.62
-33.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Perth Amboy, NJ
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.24 COP 3,944
$1.81 $1.81
-31.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$78.2 COP 248.0K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 COP 4,044
$3.04 $3.04
-57.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 COP 6,803
$2.11 $2.11
1.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.37 COP 26.5K
$42.43 $42.43
-80.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,288
$1.04 $1.04
29.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8K COP 110.2M
$27.7K $27.7K
25.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 110.0M
$25.5K $25.5K
35.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Perth Amboy, NJ
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$167 COP 528.4K
$170 $170
-2.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.62 COP 43.2K
$24.07 $24.07
-43.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.12 COP 92.3K
$49.71 $49.71
-41.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Perth Amboy, NJ
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.09 COP 143.0K
$41.11 $41.11
9.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.18 COP 54.5K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.97 COP 22.1K
$17.68 $17.68
-60.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Perth Amboy, NJ
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$790 COP 2.5M
$2,026 $2,026
-61.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,041 COP 28.7M
$16.2K $16.2K
-44.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Perth Amboy, NJ
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.8 COP 278.4K
$33.62 $33.62
161.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.2 COP 184.4K
$40.44 $40.44
43.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$139 COP 440.7K
$77.1 $77.1
80.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.9 COP 313.5K
$96.4 $96.4
2.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Perth Amboy, NJ
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,028 COP 3.3M
$1,617 $1,617
-36.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$620 COP 2.0M
$1,480 $1,480
-58.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,881 COP 6.0M
$2,211 $2,211
-14.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,008 COP 3.2M
$2,137 $2,137
-52.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,988 COP 12.6M
$2,753 $2,753
44.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,702 COP 5.4M
$2,425 $2,425
-29.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Perth Amboy, NJ
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$663 COP 2.1M
$3,323 $3,323
-80.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
6.8
60.88%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 19, 2026

Last update for Perth Amboy, NJ: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$619
Perth Amboy, NJ
$1.5K 139% $861
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$298
Perth Amboy, NJ
$407 36.6% $109
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$209
Perth Amboy, NJ
$244 16.6% $35
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$173
Perth Amboy, NJ
$111 35.5% $61
Eating Out
Medellin
$171
Perth Amboy, NJ
$344 102% $173
Getting Around
Medellin
$95
Perth Amboy, NJ
$21 * 78.1% $74
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$59
Perth Amboy, NJ
$76 29.5% $17

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,028 in Medellin versus $1,617 in Perth Amboy, NJ. 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 401% higher in Perth Amboy, NJ, 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 $47.00 in Medellin versus $78.0 in Perth Amboy, NJ. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $407 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇺🇸 Perth Amboy, NJ
🕒 Local time
17:59 5:59 PM
18:59 6:59 PM
1 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
48,607
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Perth Amboy, NJ 3,810 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Perth Amboy, NJ

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Perth Amboy, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Perth Amboy, NJ cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Perth Amboy, NJ is pricier by about 65%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,437 per month in Medellin and $4,026 in Perth Amboy, NJ. 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 Medellin, 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 Perth Amboy, NJ?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Medellin and $78.0 in Perth Amboy, NJ. 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 Perth Amboy, NJ?
Groceries cost about 37% more in Perth Amboy, NJ, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Perth Amboy, NJ?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,625, than in Perth Amboy, NJ at $2,684. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Perth Amboy, NJ it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Perth Amboy, NJ more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – 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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Perth Amboy, NJ makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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