Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Soroca Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Soroca

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $680 in Soroca, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,068 in Soroca, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,457 in Soroca, rent included.

Medellin costs about 52% more than Soroca, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Soroca are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Soroca 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$8.67 MDL 151

-28.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

$36.31 MDL 632

-10.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

$7.52 MDL 131

-2.39%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

$1.89 MDL 32.88

-8.99%

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

$0.92 MDL 16.03

14.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$0.65 MDL 11.32

18.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

$1.71 MDL 29.81

-1.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

$2.27 MDL 39.57

39.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$1.29 MDL 22.51

-18.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$0.55 MDL 9.66

136.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$1.50 MDL 26.09

-6.67%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

$2.63 MDL 45.83

-17.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$10.20 MDL 178

-56.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$5.32 MDL 92.7

10.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$9.07 MDL 158

-4.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

$0.86 MDL 14.95

165.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

$1.84 MDL 32.06

-39.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

$1.69 MDL 29.50

-9.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$2.07 MDL 36.03

-34.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$0.76 MDL 13.29

48.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$0.60 MDL 10.36

88.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$1.36 MDL 23.61

-37.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$0.90 MDL 15.62

1.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

$3.30 MDL 57.5

-29.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

$1.21 MDL 21.10

-0.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

$1.99 MDL 34.65

25.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

$0.28 MDL 4.82

200.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

$2.09 MDL 36.34

-32.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

$0.27 MDL 4.75

611.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

$5.16 MDL 89.8

48.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

$1.44 MDL 25.00

-31.25%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

$31.9K MDL 555.1K

-43.45%

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

$31.6K MDL 550.8K

-15.81%

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

$169 MDL 2,951

-52.32%

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

$7.66 MDL 133

29.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$10.94 MDL 191

121.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

$7.62 MDL 133

-47.77%

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

$305 COP 993.4K

$388 MDL 6,758

-21.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

$7,634 MDL 132.9K

-20.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

$66.0 MDL 1,149

-11.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

$53.4 MDL 930

-39.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

$112 MDL 1,958

-10.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

$125 MDL 2,168

-13.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

$507 MDL 8,820

21.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

9.24

45.35%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Soroca: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 22% 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 Soroca. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $182 in Soroca – so Soroca 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 Soroca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 52%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $1,019 in Soroca. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $36.00 in Soroca. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 6% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Soroca, where all-in costs run around $680, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Soroca it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Soroca – 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 Soroca. 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.