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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $1,010 in Phoenix, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,548 in Phoenix, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $2,086 in Phoenix, rent included.

Medellin is about 1% cheaper than Phoenix, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Phoenix are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Phoenix 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$6.55 MUR 307

-9.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$43.63 MUR 2,043

-24.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$6.74 MUR 316

10.24%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$2.55 MUR 119

-35.29%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$1.01 MUR 47.22

8.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.59 MUR 27.82

32.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$2.17 MUR 102

-20.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$2.80 MUR 131

13.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.50 MUR 70.1

-26.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$0.71 MUR 33.16

77.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$1.32 MUR 61.7

4.55%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$2.24 MUR 105

-2.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$9.91 MUR 464

-54.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$6.16 MUR 288

-6.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$10.43 MUR 489

-14.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$1.98 MUR 92.8

17.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$1.90 MUR 88.8

-44.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$1.46 MUR 68.3

4.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$2.64 MUR 124

-48.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$0.98 MUR 45.73

15.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$1.02 MUR 47.69

14.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$0.84 MUR 39.11

7.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.53 MUR 24.63

69.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$6.00 MUR 281

-62.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$8.42 MUR 394

43.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$1.72 MUR 80.6

-30.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$2.13 MUR 99.8

16.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$1.00 MUR 46.68

-15.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$4.29 MUR 201

-66.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$2.65 MUR 124

-26.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$15.35 MUR 719

-48.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.58 MUR 73.8

-37.34%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$35.7K MUR 1.7M

-50.73%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$28.4K MUR 1.3M

-5.54%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$49.40 MUR 2,314

68.04%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$18.62 MUR 872

-47.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$31.88 MUR 1,493

-26.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$38.26 MUR 1,792

-33.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$6.02 MUR 282

-34.39%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$154 MUR 7,216

104.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$3,963 MUR 185.6K

50.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$50.0 MUR 2,343

19.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$43.38 MUR 2,032

-26.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$81.7 MUR 3,825

24.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$78.1 MUR 3,660

37.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$561 MUR 26.3K

-15.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$386 MUR 18.1K

-3.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$869 MUR 40.7K

-2.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$605 MUR 28.3K

18.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$932 MUR 43.7K

-33.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

6.25

114.88%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Phoenix: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $561 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 49% higher in Phoenix, 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 $44.00 in Phoenix. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $213 – 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: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phoenix is pricier by about 1%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,514 in Phoenix. 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 $44.00 in Phoenix. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 10% more in Phoenix, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Phoenix at $1,010. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phoenix 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.

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