Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Popayan Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Popayan

😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 24.2% more expensive than Popayan without rent, and 32.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Medellin is 47% more expensive than Popayan without rent, and 38.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Popayan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.03 COP 22.7K
$3.91 COP 14.7K
54.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.17 COP 124.8K
$23.50 COP 88.4K
41.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.29 COP 27.4K
$7.38 COP 27.8K
-1.22%
Cappuccino
$1.63 COP 6,133
$1.50 COP 5,651
8.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,947
$0.87 COP 3,270
20.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,899
$0.58 COP 2,165
32.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.73 COP 6,510
$1.20 COP 4,519
44.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 12.0K
$2.24 COP 8,432
41.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Popayan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 COP 4,015
$1.05 COP 3,965
1.90%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,935
$1.24 COP 4,663
5.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 5,195
$1.13 COP 4,268
22.12%
Eggs
$2.25 COP 8,457
$2.24 COP 8,438
0.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.48 COP 16.9K
$4.55 COP 17.1K
-1.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.74 COP 21.6K
$5.37 COP 20.2K
6.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.86 COP 33.3K
$7.48 COP 28.2K
18.45%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COP 8,438
$2.52 COP 9,490
-11.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,988
$1.07 COP 4,025
-0.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 5,697
$1.36 COP 5,117
11.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 5,119
$0.91 COP 3,416
49.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,218
$1.16 COP 4,353
-3.45%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 4,400
$1.13 COP 4,254
3.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 3,395
$0.85 COP 3,202
5.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,150
$0.65 COP 2,451
29.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26 COP 8,501
$2.38 COP 8,969
-5.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.97 COP 37.5K
$8.50 COP 32.0K
17.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,451
$1.09 COP 4,112
8.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 COP 8,993
$1.74 COP 6,530
37.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Popayan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COP 3,233
$0.72 COP 2,694
19.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.45 COP 156.0K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COP 5,521
$1.49 COP 5,601
-1.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 7,323
$1.71 COP 6,418
14.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.76 COP 29.2K
$5.88 COP 22.1K
31.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COP 3,640
$0.95 COP 3,560
2.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COP 67.5M
$17.8K COP 66.9M
1.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K COP 100.6M
$25.2K COP 94.9M
5.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Popayan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.1 COP 305.2K
$82.8 COP 311.7K
-2.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.40 COP 35.4K
$8.99 COP 33.8K
4.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.61 COP 88.8K
$22.62 COP 85.1K
4.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Popayan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.55 COP 96.1K
$23.39 COP 88.0K
9.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.29 COP 72.6K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.10 COP 15.4K
$3.96 COP 14.9K
3.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Popayan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COP 1.2M
$237 COP 890.8K
29.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,899 COP 22.2M
$5,888 COP 22.2M
0.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Popayan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.8 COP 225.1K
$58.4 COP 219.9K
2.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.96 COP 120.3K
$32.73 COP 123.2K
-2.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 386.5K
$82.3 COP 309.9K
24.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 405.9K
$72.0 COP 271.0K
49.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Popayan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$483 COP 1.8M
$282 COP 1.1M
71.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$377 COP 1.4M
$237 COP 890.9K
59.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$822 COP 3.1M
$534 COP 2.0M
53.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$721 COP 2.7M
$423 COP 1.6M
70.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 COP 10.5M
$1,637 COP 6.2M
70.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,320 COP 5.0M
$1,433 COP 5.4M
-7.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Popayan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$538 COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
13.18
1.90%

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

Last update for Medellin: March 3, 2026

Last update for Popayan: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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