Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Quevedo Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Quevedo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $954 in Quevedo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $1,450 in Quevedo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $1,945 in Quevedo, rent included.

Medellin costs about 8% more than Quevedo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Quevedo are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Quevedo 29% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Quevedo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92 COP 21.4K
$4.61 $4.61
28.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75 COP 118.2K
$32.57 $32.57
0.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.20 COP 26.0K
$7.17 $7.17
0.42%
Cappuccino
$1.70 COP 6,140
$2.93 $2.93
-41.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,966
$1.12 $1.12
-1.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 COP 2,605
$0.66 $0.66
9.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.67 COP 6,022
$2.02 $2.02
-17.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 COP 11.2K
$4.09 $4.09
-24.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Quevedo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 COP 3,809
$1.07 $1.07
-0.93%
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 COP 4,497
$1.50 $1.50
-16.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 COP 5,022
$1.78 $1.78
-21.91%
Eggs
$2.26 COP 8,168
$2.34 $2.34
-3.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.33 COP 15.6K
$8.41 $8.41
-48.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.84 COP 21.1K
$7.62 $7.62
-23.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.83 COP 31.9K
$8.20 $8.20
7.68%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COP 8,099
$2.01 $2.01
11.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 COP 3,882
$1.20 $1.20
-10.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 5,522
$1.03 $1.03
48.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,950
$1.29 $1.29
6.20%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 4,078
$1.44 $1.44
-21.53%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,036
$1.06 $1.06
5.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 3,057
$0.84 $0.84
1.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 3,281
$1.06 $1.06
-14.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33 COP 8,414
$6.07 $6.07
-61.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.13 COP 40.2K
$10.09 $10.09
10.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 4,309
$1.57 $1.57
-24.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 8,553
$2.87 $2.87
-17.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Quevedo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,838
$0.34 $0.34
132.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.13 COP 148.5K
$23.69 $23.69
73.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 COP 5,184
$1.47 $1.47
-2.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,901
$1.47 $1.47
29.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.02 COP 28.9K
$9.83 $9.83
-18.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 COP 3,385
$0.72 $0.72
30.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COP 64.7M
$20.3K $20.3K
-11.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 96.7M
$25.3K $25.3K
5.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Quevedo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.0 COP 303.1K
$34.58 $34.58
142.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60 COP 34.7K
$14.15 $14.15
-32.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16 COP 87.2K
$28.73 $28.73
-15.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Quevedo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.88 COP 93.4K
$30.57 $30.57
-15.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04 COP 68.7K
$14.58 $14.58
30.59%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92 COP 14.1K
$6.99 $6.99
-43.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Quevedo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COP 1.1M
$282 $282
8.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,919 COP 21.4M
$8,636 $8,636
-31.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Quevedo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 209.1K
$56.3 $56.3
2.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 114.9K
$43.41 $43.41
-26.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.9 COP 360.6K
$99.4 $99.4
0.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 386.8K
$87.0 $87.0
23.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Quevedo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$487 COP 1.8M
$342 $342
42.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$368 COP 1.3M
$319 $319
15.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$826 COP 3.0M
$624 $624
32.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 COP 2.6M
$501 $501
43.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,925 COP 10.6M
$1,265 $1,265
131.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,407 COP 5.1M
$870 $870
61.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Quevedo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$546 COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
11.19
20.02%

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

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Last update for Quevedo: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $342 in Quevedo. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $33.00 in Quevedo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $214 – 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 Quevedo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Quevedo cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 8%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,550 per month in Medellin and $1,432 in Quevedo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Quevedo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or Quevedo?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $33.00 in Quevedo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Quevedo?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,034 in Medellin and $954 in Quevedo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Medellin or Quevedo?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Quevedo, where all-in costs run around $954, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Quevedo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Quevedo more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Quevedo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Quevedo. 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.

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