Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Stanley

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,692 a month against $2,960 in Stanley, rent and utilities included – about $15,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Stanley, Falkland Islands
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,692
/mo nomad
Stanley
🇫🇰 Falkland Islands
$2,960
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Stanley

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 Stanley actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,692 per month in Medellin vs $2,960 in Stanley, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,692
  • Stanley $2,960

A couple spends around $2,471 per month in Medellin vs $4,478 in Stanley, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,471
  • Stanley $4,478

A family of three spends $3,249 per month in Medellin vs $5,996 in Stanley, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,249
  • Stanley $5,996

Medellin is about 43% cheaper than Stanley, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both Medellin and Stanley sit above the global median – Medellin by 25%, Stanley by 119%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Stanley
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.34 COP 27.0K
$26.42 FKP 19.63
-68.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.53 COP 150.9K
$79.4 FKP 59.0
-41.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.47 COP 30.7K
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 10.2K
$4.37 FKP 3.24
-28.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 COP 5,727
$2.24 FKP 1.66
-20.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 COP 4,619
$1.43 FKP 1.06
-0.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.15 COP 10.2K
$4.26 FKP 3.17
-26.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.70 COP 18.5K
$2.58 FKP 1.92
120.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Stanley
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 COP 4,969
$2.21 FKP 1.64
-30.77%
White Bread (500g)
$2.29 COP 7,429
$3.13 FKP 2.33
-26.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.94 COP 6,306
$0.91 FKP 0.68
113.19%
Eggs
$3.07 COP 9,942
$7.10 FKP 5.27
-56.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.99 COP 32.4K
$3.04 FKP 2.26
228.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.45 COP 33.9K
$9.91 FKP 7.36
5.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.96 COP 45.3K
$12.03 FKP 8.94
16.04%
Apples (1kg)
$4.05 COP 13.1K
$9.34 FKP 6.94
-56.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,956
$5.40 FKP 4.01
-71.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.10 COP 6,823
$10.64 FKP 7.91
-80.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.29 COP 7,437
$8.37 FKP 6.22
-72.64%
Potato (1kg)
$2.11 COP 6,839
$3.24 FKP 2.41
-34.88%
Onion (1kg)
$1.71 COP 5,542
$0.72 FKP 0.53
137.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,794
$4.29 FKP 3.19
-72.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 COP 5,123
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.91 COP 12.7K
$16.37 FKP 12.16
-76.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.04 COP 45.5K
$12.00 FKP 8.91
17.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 COP 5,712
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 COP 8,793
$2.48 FKP 1.84
9.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Stanley
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.18 COP 3,825
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.3 COP 247.4K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 COP 5,859
$6.55 FKP 4.87
-72.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.13 COP 6,904
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.13 COP 26.4K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 COP 4,135
$1.94 FKP 1.44
-34.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K COP 111.7M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K COP 110.7M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Stanley
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$178 COP 576.3K
$392 FKP 291
-54.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.89 COP 45.0K
$76.7 FKP 57.0
-81.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.74 COP 99.7K
$453 FKP 337
-93.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Stanley
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.94 COP 136.0K
$22.12 FKP 16.44
89.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80 COP 54.5K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.47 COP 24.2K
$12.39 FKP 9.21
-39.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Stanley
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$790 COP 2.6M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.3K COP 39.9M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Stanley
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.3 COP 279.9K
$112 FKP 83.2
-22.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.3 COP 192.2K
$93.4 FKP 69.4
-36.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 448.6K
$160 FKP 118
-13.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.8 COP 320.4K
$106 FKP 78.6
-6.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Stanley
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,341 COP 4.3M
$1,464 FKP 1,087
-8.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$667 COP 2.2M
$1,067 FKP 792
-37.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,976 COP 6.4M
$2,663 FKP 1,978
-25.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,033 COP 3.3M
$2,406 FKP 1,787
-57.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,098 COP 13.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,940 COP 6.3M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Stanley
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$646 COP 2.1M
$3,966 FKP 2,946
-83.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
7.75
41.16%

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

Last update for Medellin: November 2, 2026

Last update for Stanley: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$667
Stanley
–
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$307
Stanley
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$222
Stanley
–
Eating Out
Medellin
$173
Stanley
–
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$172
Stanley
–
Getting Around
Medellin
$93
Stanley
–
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$57
Stanley
–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,341 in Medellin versus $1,464 in Stanley. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Stanley are about 6.1 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin versus $79 in Stanley. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $307 vs $401 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇫🇰 Stanley
🕒 Local time
13:02 1:02 PM
15:02 3:02 PM
2 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
2,500 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter

FKP, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 3,242 COP (10,000 COP = 3.08 USD). 1 EUR = 3,635 COP (10,000 COP = 2.75 EUR).

Falkland Islands Pound exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 0.743 FKP (1 FKP = 1.35 USD). 1 EUR = 0.833 FKP (1 FKP = 1.2 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Stanley 6,660 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Stanley

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 Stanley: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Stanley?
Yes – Stanley is pricier by about 75%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in utilities.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,538 per month in Medellin and $4,439 in Stanley. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Stanley?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $1,341 in Medellin and $1,464 in Stanley. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Stanley?
Groceries cost about 30% more in Stanley, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Stanley?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin and $79 in Stanley. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Stanley?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,692, than in Stanley at $2,960. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Stanley it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is it better to live in Medellin or in Stanley?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,692 in Medellin to $2,960 in Stanley. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Stanley makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Medellin vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?