Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Seki Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Seki

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $673 in Seki, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,103 in Seki, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,533 in Seki, rent included.

Medellin costs about 53% more than Seki, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Seki are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Seki 50% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Seki
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16 COP 20.1K
$8.99 ₼15.28
-31.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60 COP 106.1K
$35.66 ₼60.6
-8.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.34 COP 23.9K
$7.78 ₼13.21
-5.66%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 5,599
$3.66 ₼6.22
-53.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,420
$0.84 ₼1.43
25.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,515
$0.43 ₼0.73
79.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 COP 5,487
$1.81 ₼3.08
-6.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.3K
$2.99 ₼5.08
6.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Seki
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,423
$1.38 ₼2.35
-23.91%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COP 4,236
$0.48 ₼0.82
170.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 COP 4,544
$2.28 ₼3.87
-38.60%
Eggs
$2.16 COP 7,046
$1.39 ₼2.37
55.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.39 COP 14.3K
$5.19 ₼8.81
-15.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COP 19.1K
$4.96 ₼8.43
18.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 28.1K
$10.19 ₼17.32
-15.21%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 COP 7,425
$1.33 ₼2.26
71.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,603
$1.74 ₼2.96
-36.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,982
$1.48 ₼2.51
3.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 COP 4,410
$1.81 ₼3.08
-25.41%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,674
$0.77 ₼1.31
46.75%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,692
$0.51 ₼0.87
121.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 2,753
$0.39 ₼0.66
117.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 2,975
$0.61 ₼1.03
49.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 COP 7,629
$3.49 ₼5.92
-32.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.37 COP 40.3K
$8.99 ₼15.28
37.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 3,909
$1.34 ₼2.27
-10.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 8,104
$2.68 ₼4.55
-7.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Seki
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,727
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.57 COP 132.1K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,623
$2.04 ₼3.47
-30.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 COP 6,235
$0.61 ₼1.04
214.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.66 COP 24.9K
$3.56 ₼6.04
115.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,223
$0.74 ₼1.26
33.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K COP 58.7M
$20.3K ₼34.5K
-11.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K COP 86.7M
$22.6K ₼38.3K
18.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Seki
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 COP 263.1K
$23.87 ₼40.57
238.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95 COP 32.4K
$8.70 ₼14.79
14.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18 COP 78.7K
$11.37 ₼19.32
112.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Seki
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.08 COP 81.6K
$17.41 ₼29.59
44.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15 COP 62.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.98 COP 13.0K
$5.71 ₼9.70
-30.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Seki
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 993.4K
$249 ₼423
22.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,059 COP 19.7M
$6,606 ₼11.2K
-8.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Seki
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 COP 189.2K
$58.1 ₼98.7
0.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20 COP 104.8K
$54.8 ₼93.2
-41.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 327.9K
$124 ₼212
-19.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 350.8K
$97.6 ₼166
10.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Seki
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 COP 1.6M
$180 ₼305
165.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 COP 1.2M
$107 ₼182
250.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 COP 2.7M
$320 ₼544
163.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$730 COP 2.4M
$193 ₼328
277.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,215 COP 10.5M
$639 ₼1,086
403.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,372 COP 4.5M
$357 ₼606
284.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Seki
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 COP 2.0M
$253 ₼430
144.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
8.87
51.41%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Seki: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $180 in Seki. 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 144% 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 $36.00 in Seki. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $178 in Seki – so Seki wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Seki: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Seki cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 53%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $1,009 in Seki. 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 Seki, 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 in Seki?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $36.00 in Seki. 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 Seki?
Groceries cost about 8% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Seki?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Seki, where all-in costs run around $673, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Seki it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Seki more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Seki – 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 Seki?
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 Seki. 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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