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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $827 in Phoenix, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $1,317 in Phoenix, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $1,807 in Phoenix, rent included.

Medellin costs about 103% more than Phoenix, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Phoenix is 40% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.02 COP 25.0K

$2.18 MUR 103

267.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.87 COP 149.4K

$31.64 MUR 1,491

51.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 COP 30.8K

$7.47 MUR 352

32.40%

Cappuccino

$3.13 COP 9,767

$5.37 MUR 253

-41.71%

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

$1.91 COP 5,954

$0.61 MUR 28.66

213.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 COP 4,712

$0.52 MUR 24.50

190.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 COP 9,747

$2.07 MUR 97.6

50.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 COP 17.9K

$5.38 MUR 253

6.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,509

$1.45 MUR 68.1

-0.69%

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 COP 7,759

$0.40 MUR 18.95

522.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 COP 5,535

$2.14 MUR 101

-17.29%

Eggs

$2.96 COP 9,235

$5.11 MUR 241

-42.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 COP 31.4K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.12 COP 31.6K

$8.64 MUR 407

17.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 COP 44.6K

$6.30 MUR 297

126.98%

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 COP 12.9K

$7.57 MUR 357

-45.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 COP 5,019

$3.87 MUR 182

-58.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,007

$4.62 MUR 218

-51.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,028

$1.45 MUR 68.3

55.17%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 COP 6,375

$0.82 MUR 38.83

148.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,790

$0.84 MUR 39.51

83.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 COP 3,651

$0.73 MUR 34.37

60.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 COP 4,077

$0.76 MUR 35.62

72.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.2K

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 43.7K

$10.70 MUR 504

30.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 COP 5,439

$2.11 MUR 99.3

-17.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 COP 8,956

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 COP 3,792

$1.07 MUR 50.5

14.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 251.1K

$10.62 MUR 501

657.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,084

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 COP 6,825

$1.52 MUR 71.6

44.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.2K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 COP 4,260

$1.35 MUR 63.7

1.48%

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

$27.8K COP 86.9M

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

$35.8K COP 111.6M

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

$177 COP 553.2K

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

$13.88 COP 43.3K

$14.28 MUR 673

-2.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.72 COP 92.8K

$25.74 MUR 1,213

15.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.88 COP 140.1K

$25.18 MUR 1,187

78.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 53.4K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 20.7K

$5.47 MUR 258

21.57%

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

$813 COP 2.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 28.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.5 COP 279.3K

$52.6 MUR 2,479

70.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 COP 184.0K

$52.0 MUR 2,452

13.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 COP 431.2K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 318.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 COP 3.3M

$534 MUR 25.2K

98.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 COP 2.1M

$322 MUR 15.2K

105.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,888 COP 5.9M

$832 MUR 39.2K

126.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 COP 3.2M

$533 MUR 25.1K

92.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$678 COP 2.1M

$961 MUR 45.3K

-29.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

118.80%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Phoenix: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $534 in Phoenix. 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 42% higher in Phoenix, 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 $32.00 in Phoenix. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $244 – making Phoenix 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: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 103%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $1,241 in Phoenix. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Phoenix, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 658% less in Phoenix. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

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.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Phoenix, where all-in costs run around $827, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Phoenix it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Phoenix – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Phoenix. 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.