Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Somerset, NJ

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,639 a month against $3,962 in Somerset, NJ, rent and utilities included – about $27,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Somerset, NJ, United States
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Somerset, NJ
🇺🇸 United States
$3,962
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Somerset, NJ

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Somerset, NJ actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,639 per month in Medellin vs $3,962 in Somerset, NJ, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • Somerset, NJ $3,962

A couple spends around $2,413 per month in Medellin vs $4,428 in Somerset, NJ, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • Somerset, NJ $4,428

A family of three spends $3,186 per month in Medellin vs $4,895 in Somerset, NJ, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • Somerset, NJ $4,895

Medellin is about 59% cheaper than Somerset, NJ, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Medellin and Somerset, NJ sit above the global median – Medellin by 20%, Somerset, NJ by 191%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Somerset, NJ
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 25.4K
$17.73 $17.73
-54.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 148.0K
$39.35 $39.35
19.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 29.9K
$7.91 $7.91
20.10%
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,485
$5.03 $5.03
-40.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,660
$1.96 $1.96
-8.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,443
$1.54 $1.54
-8.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 9,990
$8.18 $8.18
-61.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.1K
$6.96 $6.96
-17.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Somerset, NJ
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,751
$1.26 $1.26
19.84%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,480
$4.47 $4.47
-46.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,573
$5.95 $5.95
-70.25%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,093
$2.05 $2.05
40.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.1K
$13.03 $13.03
-21.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.1K
$10.40 $10.40
-5.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 44.0K
$20.19 $20.19
-30.71%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.5K
$5.94 $5.94
-33.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 4,883
$3.48 $3.48
-55.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,867
$4.22 $4.22
-48.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,870
$5.43 $5.43
-59.85%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,174
$3.12 $3.12
-37.18%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,000
$3.06 $3.06
-48.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,604
$2.45 $2.45
-53.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 3,911
$3.05 $3.05
-59.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.5K
$15.01 $15.01
-73.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 43.0K
$14.77 $14.77
-7.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,221
$1.85 $1.85
-10.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,103
$3.47 $3.47
-34.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Somerset, NJ
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,674
$2.06 $2.06
-43.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 243.4K
$67.2 $67.2
15.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 3,989
$2.92 $2.92
-56.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,442
$2.21 $2.21
-7.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 26.9K
$41.53 $41.53
-79.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,237
$1.09 $1.09
23.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 107.2M
$27.9K $27.9K
21.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 109.1M
$26.3K $26.3K
31.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Somerset, NJ
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 533.7K
$169 $169
0.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 42.6K
$51.7 $51.7
-73.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 88.3K
$50.5 $50.5
-44.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Somerset, NJ
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 137.5K
$40.94 $40.94
6.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 54.1K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 21.7K
$20.65 $20.65
-66.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Somerset, NJ
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.5M
$2,040 $2,040
-60.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 28.7M
$15.7K $15.7K
-41.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Somerset, NJ
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 266.5K
$49.81 $49.81
70.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 182.3K
$40.80 $40.80
42.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 424.6K
$85.8 $85.8
57.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 307.9K
$104 $104
-6.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Somerset, NJ
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.8M
$1,581 $1,581
-23.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.0M
$2,655 $2,655
-75.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.4M
$2,533 $2,533
-19.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.2M
$2,142 $2,142
-52.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.1M
$2,682 $2,682
55.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.0M
$2,400 $2,400
-20.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Somerset, NJ
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
6.8
60.88%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Last update for Somerset, NJ: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
Somerset, NJ
$2.7K 314% $2K
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
Somerset, NJ
$443 49.2% $146
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
Somerset, NJ
$272 28.6% $60
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
Somerset, NJ
$295 73.8% $125
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
Somerset, NJ
$126 25.2% $43
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
Somerset, NJ
$89 4.5% $4.2
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Somerset, NJ
$82 43% $25

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,208 in Medellin versus $1,581 in Somerset, NJ. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin versus $39 in Somerset, NJ. Groceries tell a different story – $297 in Medellin vs $443 in Somerset, NJ – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇺🇸 Somerset, NJ
🕒 Local time
18:14 6:14 PM
19:14 7:14 PM
1 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
11,924
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 3,146 COP (10,000 COP = 3.18 USD). 1 EUR = 3,502 COP (10,000 COP = 2.86 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Somerset, NJ 3,810 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Somerset, NJ

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Somerset, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Somerset, NJ?
Yes – Somerset, NJ is pricier by about 142%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,459 per month in Medellin and $5,943 in Somerset, NJ. 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 Medellin, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,208 there versus $1,581 in Somerset, NJ.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Somerset, NJ?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin and $39 in Somerset, NJ. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Somerset, NJ?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,639 in Medellin and $3,962 in Somerset, NJ. That makes Medellin about 59% cheaper.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Somerset, NJ?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,639, than in Somerset, NJ at $3,962. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Somerset, NJ it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Somerset, NJ more family-friendly?
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.

Medellin vs other spots: cost of living compared

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