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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $1,011 in Phoenix, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,549 in Phoenix, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $2,086 in Phoenix, rent included.

Medellin costs about 1% more than Phoenix, driven mainly by Getting Around.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$6.74 MUR 318

-11.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$43.39 MUR 2,043

-23.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$6.50 MUR 306

11.23%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$2.57 MUR 121

-36.58%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.98 MUR 45.97

11.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.60 MUR 28.43

21.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$2.08 MUR 98.1

-16.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$2.66 MUR 125

21.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.46 MUR 68.9

-28.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$0.71 MUR 33.25

81.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$1.33 MUR 62.6

-0.75%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$2.27 MUR 107

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$9.87 MUR 465

-55.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$6.03 MUR 284

-2.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$10.41 MUR 490

-17.29%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$2.03 MUR 95.7

10.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$2.00 MUR 94.3

-46.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$1.45 MUR 68.4

4.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$2.67 MUR 126

-46.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$1.02 MUR 48.20

14.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$1.00 MUR 47.00

17.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$0.84 MUR 39.55

5.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.56 MUR 26.53

60.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$6.14 MUR 289

-63.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$8.25 MUR 389

33.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$1.78 MUR 84.1

-35.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$2.11 MUR 99.2

12.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$1.04 MUR 49.09

-19.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$4.48 MUR 211

-68.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$2.72 MUR 128

-30.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$15.48 MUR 729

-49.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$1.54 MUR 72.7

-34.42%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$35.9K MUR 1.7M

-50.99%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$29.2K MUR 1.4M

-9.23%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$50.0 MUR 2,356

67.26%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$18.57 MUR 875

-49.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$33.02 MUR 1,555

-26.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$38.92 MUR 1,833

-34.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$6.19 MUR 292

-33.76%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$155 MUR 7,306

101.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$3,965 MUR 186.7K

51.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$50.2 MUR 2,361

15.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$43.39 MUR 2,043

-24.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$81.9 MUR 3,858

21.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$80.4 MUR 3,785

35.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$552 MUR 26.0K

-12.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$387 MUR 18.2K

-2.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$879 MUR 41.4K

-4.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$617 MUR 29.0K

17.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$952 MUR 44.8K

-43.20%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Phoenix: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $552 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 76% 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $43.00 in Phoenix. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 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 – Medellin 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 $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,517 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $43.00 in Phoenix. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 12% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Phoenix, where all-in costs run around $1,011, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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.