Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Sin el Fil Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Sin el Fil

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $1,154 in Sin el Fil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $1,766 in Sin el Fil, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $2,379 in Sin el Fil, rent included.

Medellin is about 10% cheaper than Sin el Fil, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Sin el Fil are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Sin el Fil 14% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.4K

$10.76 LBP 962.7K

-44.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 118.2K

$50.2 LBP 4.5M

-34.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.0K

$7.86 LBP 703.6K

-8.40%

Cappuccino

$1.70 COP 6,140

$3.02 LBP 270.4K

-43.71%

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

$1.10 COP 3,966

$1.58 LBP 141.6K

-30.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,605

$0.88 LBP 78.8K

-18.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 COP 6,022

$3.56 LBP 318.5K

-53.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 COP 11.2K

$4.91 LBP 439.8K

-36.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,809

$1.74 LBP 155.7K

-39.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,497

$0.80 LBP 71.8K

56.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,022

$1.82 LBP 162.5K

-23.63%

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,168

$3.22 LBP 287.9K

-29.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.6K

$8.24 LBP 737.2K

-47.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.1K

$9.77 LBP 874.3K

-40.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 31.9K

$11.34 LBP 1.0M

-22.13%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,099

$1.73 LBP 155.1K

29.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,882

$1.48 LBP 132.0K

-27.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,522

$1.09 LBP 97.9K

40.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,950

$1.09 LBP 97.3K

25.69%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,078

$0.95 LBP 85.4K

18.95%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,036

$0.99 LBP 89.0K

13.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,057

$0.81 LBP 72.7K

4.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,281

$0.56 LBP 50.0K

62.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,414

$2.55 LBP 228.5K

-8.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.2K

$9.90 LBP 886.5K

12.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,309

$1.23 LBP 109.9K

-3.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,553

$2.24 LBP 200.3K

5.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,838

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,184

$4.90 LBP 438.6K

-70.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,901

$1.22 LBP 109.1K

56.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 28.9K

$19.86 LBP 1.8M

-59.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,385

$0.89 LBP 79.7K

5.62%

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

$17.9K COP 64.7M

$34.9K LBP 3.1B

-48.67%

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

$26.8K COP 96.7M

$27.9K LBP 2.5B

-3.99%

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

$84.0 COP 303.1K

$218 LBP 19.5M

-61.42%

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

$9.60 COP 34.7K

$38.32 LBP 3.4M

-74.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.2K

$36.54 LBP 3.3M

-33.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 93.4K

$29.79 LBP 2.7M

-13.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 68.7K

$10.16 LBP 909.1K

87.40%

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.1K

$7.77 LBP 695.2K

-49.55%

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

$306 COP 1.1M

$298 LBP 26.7M

2.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.4M

$4,358 LBP 390.0M

35.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 209.1K

$70.0 LBP 6.3M

-17.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 114.9K

$45.40 LBP 4.1M

-29.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 360.6K

$99.5 LBP 8.9M

0.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 386.8K

$68.8 LBP 6.2M

55.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

$302 LBP 27.0M

61.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

$253 LBP 22.6M

45.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

$1,019 LBP 91.2M

-18.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

$509 LBP 45.5M

40.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 COP 2.0M

$246 LBP 22.0M

122.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

11.16

20.34%

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

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Last update for Sin el Fil: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $302 in Sin el Fil. 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 122% higher in Medellin, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $50.0 in Sin el Fil. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $226 – 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 Sin el Fil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Sin el Fil is pricier by about 12%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,550 per month in Medellin and $1,731 in Sin el Fil. 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 $50.0 in Sin el Fil. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 19% more in Sin el Fil, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,034, than in Sin el Fil at $1,154. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sin el Fil 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.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sin el Fil makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.