Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Puerto Escondido Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Puerto Escondido

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $1,108 in Puerto Escondido, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,744 in Puerto Escondido, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $2,380 in Puerto Escondido, rent included.

Medellin is about 10% cheaper than Puerto Escondido, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Puerto Escondido are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Puerto Escondido 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.9K

$9.69 MX$169

-39.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 105.2K

$38.37 MX$669

-14.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.7K

$7.82 MX$136

-4.99%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,276

$3.37 MX$58.8

-51.04%

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

$1.10 COP 3,514

$1.28 MX$22.37

-14.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,491

$0.90 MX$15.78

-13.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,484

$2.66 MX$46.42

-35.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.1K

$3.80 MX$66.3

-16.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,521

$1.45 MX$25.23

-24.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,015

$2.72 MX$47.44

-53.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,407

$1.08 MX$18.76

27.78%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,950

$1.86 MX$32.40

17.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.3K

$8.14 MX$142

-44.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.5K

$7.98 MX$139

-27.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.6K

$11.44 MX$199

-21.59%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,405

$2.62 MX$45.67

-11.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,397

$1.04 MX$18.20

1.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,838

$1.73 MX$30.14

-12.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,327

$1.75 MX$30.57

-22.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,599

$2.15 MX$37.43

-47.44%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,738

$2.61 MX$45.51

-55.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,876

$1.21 MX$21.02

-25.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,861

$0.97 MX$16.94

-7.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,128

$4.97 MX$86.7

-55.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.7K

$10.88 MX$190

11.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,793

$2.30 MX$40.04

-48.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,920

$2.75 MX$47.91

-9.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,723

$0.68 MX$11.93

25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 132.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,518

$2.65 MX$46.18

-46.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,223

$1.58 MX$27.58

23.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 25.2K

$8.20 MX$143

-3.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,160

$1.27 MX$22.11

-22.05%

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

$17.6K COP 56.2M

$21.0K MX$366.8K

-16.30%

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

$26.8K COP 85.5M

$22.8K MX$397.0K

17.73%

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

$83.0 COP 264.9K

$56.6 MX$987

46.66%

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

$9.70 COP 30.9K

$21.78 MX$380

-55.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 75.0K

$56.2 MX$980

-58.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 80.6K

$20.97 MX$366

20.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.9K

$10.72 MX$187

78.17%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.6K

$4.76 MX$83.0

-17.02%

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

$316 COP 1.0M

$161 MX$2,803

96.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 19.1M

$3,588 MX$62.6K

66.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 191.4K

$52.6 MX$918

14.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 101.5K

$39.87 MX$695

-20.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 324.4K

$89.2 MX$1,556

13.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 342.8K

$79.2 MX$1,381

35.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$403 MX$7,023

17.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$391 MX$6,816

-4.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$936 MX$16.3K

-9.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$751 MX$13.1K

-4.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.4M

$2,006 MX$35.0K

62.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.6M

$1,206 MX$21.0K

19.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$351 MX$6,114

78.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

11.5

16.78%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Puerto Escondido: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $403 in Puerto Escondido. 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 78% higher in Medellin, 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 $38.00 in Puerto Escondido. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $254 – 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 Puerto Escondido: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Puerto Escondido is pricier by about 11%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,662 in Puerto Escondido. 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 $38.00 in Puerto Escondido. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 31% more in Puerto Escondido, 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 Puerto Escondido at $1,108. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Puerto Escondido 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, Puerto Escondido makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.