😐A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $652 in Samtredia, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,106 in Samtredia, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,560 in Samtredia, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 58% more than Samtredia, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Medellin and Samtredia are more affordable than the global median – Medellin23% lower, Samtredia51% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Samtredia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 19.8K
$10.76₾28.20
-42.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 104.8K
$44.75₾117
-27.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.6K
$8.48₾22.23
-13.44%
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,527
$2.99₾7.84
-42.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,376
$0.81₾2.14
29.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,482
$0.43₾1.12
79.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,417
$2.13₾5.58
-20.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.2K
$2.89₾7.59
9.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Samtredia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,379
$1.94₾5.08
-45.88%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,181
$0.71₾1.87
83.10%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,485
$1.89₾4.96
-25.93%
Eggs
$2.16COP 6,956
$2.48₾6.50
-12.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.1K
$7.51₾19.68
-41.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 18.9K
$6.26₾16.42
-6.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 27.8K
$9.58₾25.13
-9.81%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,330
$1.18₾3.09
93.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,557
$1.64₾4.30
-32.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,918
$1.88₾4.94
-18.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,353
$2.34₾6.13
-42.31%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,627
$0.70₾1.84
61.43%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,644
$0.69₾1.81
63.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,717
$1.18₾3.11
-27.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,937
$0.71₾1.87
28.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,531
$3.08₾8.07
-24.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 39.7K
$7.78₾20.38
59.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,859
$1.60₾4.18
-25.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,000
$2.31₾6.04
7.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Samtredia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,692
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 130.4K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,563
$1.42₾3.72
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,155
$0.72₾1.90
166.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.6K
$7.24₾18.98
5.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,181
$1.14₾2.98
-13.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 57.9M
$18.2K₾47.8K
-1.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 85.6M
$20.5K₾53.8K
29.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Samtredia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8COP 259.7K
$74.4₾195
8.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.0K
$11.89₾31.16
-16.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 77.7K
$17.75₾46.52
36.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Samtredia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 80.6K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 61.5K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 12.8K
$6.73₾17.63
-40.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Samtredia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 980.7K
$260₾682
17.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.5M
$5,213₾13.7K
16.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Samtredia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 186.8K
$75.0₾197
-22.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 103.5K
$44.10₾116
-26.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 323.7K
$118₾311
-14.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 346.3K
$113₾296
-4.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Samtredia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.5M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.4M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Samtredia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
11.89
12.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Last update for Samtredia: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $45.00 in Samtredia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $206 – 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 Samtredia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Samtredia cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 58%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $979 in Samtredia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Samtredia?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $45.00 in Samtredia. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Samtredia?
Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Samtredia?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Samtredia, where all-in costs run around $652, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Samtredia it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Samtredia more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Samtredia – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Samtredia?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Samtredia. 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.