Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Quba Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Quba

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $467 in Quba, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $768 in Quba, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,068 in Quba, rent included.

Medellin costs about 115% more than Quba, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Quba are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Quba 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.9K

$11.98 ₼20.36

-50.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 105.2K

$31.93 ₼54.3

3.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.7K

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,276

$1.19 ₼2.03

38.66%

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

$1.10 COP 3,514

$0.49 ₼0.83

124.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,491

$0.28 ₼0.48

178.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,484

$1.27 ₼2.15

35.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.1K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,521

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,015

$0.39 ₼0.67

223.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,407

$1.16 ₼1.97

18.97%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,950

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.3K

$1.81 ₼3.07

148.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.5K

$2.99 ₼5.08

93.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.6K

$8.95 ₼15.21

0.22%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,405

$0.68 ₼1.15

241.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,397

$1.28 ₼2.17

-17.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,838

$1.79 ₼3.04

-15.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,327

$1.95 ₼3.32

-30.26%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,599

$0.84 ₼1.43

34.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,738

$0.54 ₼0.91

116.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,876

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,861

$0.62 ₼1.05

45.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,128

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.7K

$10.07 ₼17.12

20.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,793

$1.32 ₼2.24

-9.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,920

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,723

$0.27 ₼0.46

214.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 132.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,518

$1.16 ₼1.98

22.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,223

$0.62 ₼1.05

214.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 25.2K

$2.98 ₼5.06

164.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,160

$0.63 ₼1.08

57.14%

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

$17.6K COP 56.2M

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

$26.8K COP 85.5M

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

$83.0 COP 264.9K

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

$9.70 COP 30.9K

$14.69 ₼24.97

-33.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 75.0K

$14.47 ₼24.60

62.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 80.6K

$37.75 ₼64.2

-33.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.6K

$4.14 ₼7.03

-4.59%

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

$316 COP 1.0M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 19.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 191.4K

$17.36 ₼29.51

245.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 101.5K

$29.26 ₼49.72

8.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 324.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 342.8K

$35.98 ₼61.2

198.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$175 ₼298

170.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$119 ₼202

214.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$267 ₼453

218.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$176 ₼300

307.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$208 ₼353

200.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

-32.85%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Quba: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $175 in Quba. 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 201% higher in Medellin, 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 $32.00 in Quba. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $121 – making Quba 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 Quba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 115%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $701 in Quba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Quba, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 59% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $32.00 in Quba. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Quba, where all-in costs run around $467, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Quba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Quba – 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 Quba. 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.