Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Sal Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Sal

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $997 in Sal, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,518 in Sal, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $2,038 in Sal, rent included.

Medellin costs about 3% more than Sal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Sal are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Sal 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$5.72 CVE 552

7.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

$46.66 CVE 4,505

-30.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

$7.38 CVE 712

-0.54%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

$2.37 CVE 229

-27.43%

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

$2.43 CVE 234

-56.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$1.17 CVE 113

-34.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

$3.98 CVE 384

-57.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

$3.22 CVE 311

-1.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$1.47 CVE 142

-28.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$2.18 CVE 210

-40.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$1.54 CVE 149

-9.09%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

$2.73 CVE 264

-20.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$11.08 CVE 1,069

-60.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$8.32 CVE 804

-29.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$16.37 CVE 1,581

-47.22%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

$2.82 CVE 272

-19.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

$2.55 CVE 246

-56.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

$2.97 CVE 287

-48.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$4.05 CVE 391

-66.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$1.62 CVE 156

-30.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$1.99 CVE 192

-43.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$1.86 CVE 180

-54.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$1.11 CVE 107

-18.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

$4.74 CVE 457

-50.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

$6.65 CVE 642

86.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

$3.07 CVE 297

-60.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

$1.96 CVE 189

27.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

$1.04 CVE 100

-19.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

$2.12 CVE 205

-33.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

$2.77 CVE 268

-30.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

$13.00 CVE 1,255

-41.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

$1.48 CVE 143

-33.11%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

$91.3 CVE 8,818

-11.52%

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$56.0 CVE 5,408

-56.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

$34.94 CVE 3,374

-28.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

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

$305 COP 993.4K

$146 CVE 14.1K

109.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

$2,548 CVE 246.1K

137.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

$31.14 CVE 3,007

86.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

$145 CVE 14.0K

-25.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

$333 CVE 32.2K

42.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

$294 CVE 28.4K

27.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

$440 CVE 42.5K

91.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

$388 CVE 37.5K

88.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

$672 CVE 64.9K

378.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

$343 CVE 33.2K

299.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

$257 CVE 24.8K

140.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

6.17

117.67%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Sal: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $333 in Sal. 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 140% 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 $47.00 in Sal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $301 – 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 Sal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 3%, 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $1,495 in Sal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sal, 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 $47.00 in Sal. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 56% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sal, where all-in costs run around $997, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Sal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sal – 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 Sal. 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.