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

😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 30.3% more expensive than Popayan without rent, and 30.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Medellin is 20% more expensive than Popayan without rent, and 35.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Popayan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.14 COP 22.1K
$3.95 COP 14.2K
55.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.05 COP 119.0K
$23.78 COP 85.6K
38.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.32 COP 26.4K
$7.16 COP 25.8K
2.23%
Cappuccino
$1.66 COP 5,971
$1.54 COP 5,546
7.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,977
$0.87 COP 3,116
26.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,815
$0.61 COP 2,199
27.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.71 COP 6,172
$1.20 COP 4,306
42.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 11.4K
$2.12 COP 7,646
49.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Popayan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 COP 4,002
$1.10 COP 3,953
0.91%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,707
$1.29 COP 4,648
1.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,967
$1.14 COP 4,115
21.05%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 7,989
$2.14 COP 7,697
3.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.34 COP 15.6K
$4.52 COP 16.3K
-3.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.80 COP 20.9K
$5.12 COP 18.5K
13.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.98 COP 32.3K
$7.37 COP 26.5K
21.85%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 8,143
$2.56 COP 9,231
-11.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,013
$1.12 COP 4,042
-0.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.46 COP 5,271
$1.31 COP 4,732
11.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,916
$0.85 COP 3,058
61.18%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,999
$1.17 COP 4,212
-5.13%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 COP 4,188
$1.14 COP 4,100
1.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,202
$0.86 COP 3,079
3.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 COP 3,116
$0.66 COP 2,368
31.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 8,473
$2.31 COP 8,312
1.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.86 COP 39.1K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 4,319
$1.08 COP 3,881
11.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 8,923
$1.74 COP 6,264
42.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Popayan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,835
$0.72 COP 2,603
9.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.77 COP 146.8K
$30.24 COP 108.9K
34.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 5,124
$1.42 COP 5,129
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,882
$1.64 COP 5,906
16.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.65 COP 27.5K
$5.89 COP 21.2K
29.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COP 3,481
$1.01 COP 3,654
-3.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K COP 65.2M
$17.9K COP 64.5M
1.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K COP 94.7M
$25.9K COP 93.1M
1.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Popayan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.3 COP 292.8K
$83.9 COP 302.1K
-3.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.63 COP 34.7K
$9.26 COP 33.3K
4.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.36 COP 87.7K
$22.63 COP 81.5K
7.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Popayan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.02 COP 93.7K
$23.49 COP 84.6K
10.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 COP 68.1K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.89 COP 14.0K
$3.97 COP 14.3K
-2.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Popayan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 COP 1.1M
$239 COP 860.5K
27.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,902 COP 21.3M
$5,989 COP 21.6M
-1.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Popayan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 COP 211.3K
$59.7 COP 215.0K
-1.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.48 COP 116.9K
$32.40 COP 116.7K
0.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 COP 366.3K
$84.1 COP 303.0K
20.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 389.4K
$72.1 COP 259.4K
50.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Popayan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$474 COP 1.7M
$278 COP 1.0M
70.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$371 COP 1.3M
$238 COP 855.2K
56.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$848 COP 3.1M
$521 COP 1.9M
62.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 COP 2.6M
$429 COP 1.5M
67.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,871 COP 10.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,375 COP 5.0M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Popayan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$542 COP 1.9M
-
-
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Popayan: April 12, 2026

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

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