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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $1,014 in Sal, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,540 in Sal, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $2,066 in Sal, rent included.

Medellin and Sal have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Medellin and Sal are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Sal 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$5.80 CVE 549

3.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

$46.87 CVE 4,437

-29.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$7.28 CVE 690

-2.61%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

$2.28 CVE 216

-25.00%

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

$1.10 COP 3,924

$2.43 CVE 230

-54.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

$1.12 CVE 106

-30.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

$3.85 CVE 364

-56.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

$3.11 CVE 295

-1.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$1.50 CVE 142

-27.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$2.22 CVE 210

-43.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$1.55 CVE 147

-10.97%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$2.87 CVE 272

-23.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$11.06 CVE 1,048

-60.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$8.21 CVE 777

-31.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

$16.60 CVE 1,572

-46.45%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

$2.93 CVE 278

-20.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

$2.54 CVE 240

-58.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

$2.94 CVE 279

-48.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$4.16 CVE 394

-66.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

$1.63 CVE 154

-29.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

$1.97 CVE 186

-41.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

$1.84 CVE 174

-51.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$1.14 CVE 108

-26.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

$4.84 CVE 459

-52.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

$6.99 CVE 662

52.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

$2.98 CVE 283

-59.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

$1.97 CVE 187

25.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

$1.03 CVE 97.7

-16.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

$2.13 CVE 201

-30.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

$2.83 CVE 268

-30.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$12.83 CVE 1,214

-39.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

$1.43 CVE 135

-33.57%

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

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

$82.3 COP 293.7K

$89.8 CVE 8,500

-8.39%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

$55.2 CVE 5,225

-56.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

$35.47 CVE 3,358

-27.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$150 CVE 14.2K

106.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$2,546 CVE 241.1K

134.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

$31.74 CVE 3,006

84.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

$146 CVE 13.8K

-25.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$335 CVE 31.7K

42.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$295 CVE 27.9K

28.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$446 CVE 42.2K

87.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$400 CVE 37.9K

81.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

$674 CVE 63.8K

313.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$348 CVE 33.0K

247.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$263 CVE 24.9K

94.62%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Sal: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $335 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 95% higher in Medellin. 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: $188 vs $304 – 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

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $1,521 in Sal. 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 $47.00 in Sal. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Medellin and $150 in Sal. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Sal at $1,014. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sal 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, Sal makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.