Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Phoenix, AZ Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Phoenix, AZ

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $2,814 in Phoenix, AZ, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $4,101 in Phoenix, AZ, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $5,388 in Phoenix, AZ, rent included.

Medellin is about 64% cheaper than Phoenix, AZ, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Medellin sits 24% below the global median, while Phoenix, AZ is 109% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 21.4K

$20.32 $20.32

-70.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 119.6K

$80.7 $80.7

-58.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 26.0K

$11.83 $11.83

-38.88%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,848

$5.85 $5.85

-72.14%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.09 COP 3,929

$2.64 $2.64

-58.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,621

$2.19 $2.19

-66.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,237

$6.01 $6.01

-71.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.6K

$6.96 $6.96

-53.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,766

$0.90 $0.90

16.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,643

$4.28 $4.28

-69.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,748

$5.19 $5.19

-74.57%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 8,152

$4.70 $4.70

-51.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.6K

$11.91 $11.91

-63.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 21.1K

$11.72 $11.72

-49.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.9K

$13.76 $13.76

-37.43%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 8,066

$4.38 $4.38

-48.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,839

$1.48 $1.48

-27.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,473

$4.04 $4.04

-62.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 5,105

$5.19 $5.19

-72.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,199

$3.25 $3.25

-64.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,193

$2.55 $2.55

-54.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,183

$1.96 $1.96

-54.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,235

$2.26 $2.26

-60.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 8,059

$11.71 $11.71

-80.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 39.6K

$14.85 $14.85

-25.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 4,089

$2.19 $2.19

-47.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,537

$4.03 $4.03

-40.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,998

$2.56 $2.56

-67.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 150.6K

$60.8 $60.8

-31.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 5,051

$3.76 $3.76

-62.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,823

$1.34 $1.34

41.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.8K

$35.88 $35.88

-78.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,608

$0.95 $0.95

6.32%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.6K COP 63.1M

$31.3K $31.3K

-43.78%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.5K COP 95.1M

$26.8K $26.8K

-1.11%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$83.7 COP 300.3K

$252 $252

-66.74%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.45 COP 33.9K

$75.0 $75.0

-87.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 86.5K

$84.8 $84.8

-71.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 90.8K

$34.33 $34.33

-26.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 68.7K

$14.55 $14.55

31.55%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.7K

$12.10 $12.10

-66.12%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$312 COP 1.1M

$1,130 $1,130

-72.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 21.5M

$16.6K $16.6K

-63.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 208.3K

$55.3 $55.3

4.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 116.9K

$41.43 $41.43

-21.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 357.6K

$93.9 $93.9

6.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 389.6K

$120 $120

-9.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$1,644 $1,644

-70.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$1,377 $1,377

-72.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 3.0M

$2,681 $2,681

-68.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.6M

$2,238 $2,238

-67.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 10.2M

$4,637 $4,637

-38.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.4M

$3,104 $3,104

-60.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$4,252 $4,252

-87.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

6.46

107.89%

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

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for Phoenix, AZ: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $1,644 in Phoenix, AZ. 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 686% higher in Phoenix, AZ, 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $81.0 in Phoenix, AZ. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $398 – making Medellin 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 Phoenix, AZ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phoenix, AZ is pricier by about 177%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Medellin and $4,221 in Phoenix, AZ. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $81.0 in Phoenix, AZ. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,017 in Medellin and $2,814 in Phoenix, AZ. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Phoenix, AZ at $2,814. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phoenix, AZ it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phoenix, AZ makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.