🙂A single person spends $1,716 per month in Medellin vs $2,296 in Stephenville, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,527 per month in Medellin vs $3,360 in Stephenville, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,338 per month in Medellin vs $4,425 in Stephenville, rent included.
🙂Medellin is about 25% cheaper than Stephenville, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Medellin and Stephenville sit above the global median – Medellin by 25%, Stephenville by 67%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Stephenville
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03COP 25.1K
$18.15CA$25.12
-55.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.26COP 150.8K
$67.4CA$93.3
-28.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.77COP 30.5K
$10.63CA$14.71
-8.09%
Cappuccino
$2.91COP 9,095
$3.73CA$5.16
-21.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94COP 6,074
$1.88CA$2.60
3.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52COP 4,754
$1.68CA$2.32
-9.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09COP 9,663
$4.82CA$6.67
-35.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74COP 17.9K
$5.35CA$7.41
7.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Stephenville
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,262
$2.58CA$3.57
-47.29%
White Bread(500g)
$2.39COP 7,460
$2.66CA$3.68
-10.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,314
$3.27CA$4.52
-48.01%
Eggs
$2.87COP 8,967
$3.40CA$4.70
-15.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.94COP 31.1K
$10.01CA$13.85
-0.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.78COP 33.7K
$11.53CA$15.96
-6.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.73COP 46.0K
$14.92CA$20.65
-1.27%
Apples(1kg)
$4.09COP 12.8K
$3.89CA$5.39
5.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57COP 4,911
$1.38CA$1.91
13.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13COP 6,642
$3.65CA$5.05
-41.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.21COP 6,917
$3.86CA$5.34
-42.75%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05COP 6,396
$2.56CA$3.54
-19.92%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50COP 4,700
$2.26CA$3.13
-33.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19COP 3,718
$4.28CA$5.92
-72.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16COP 3,619
$1.68CA$2.32
-30.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$14.55CA$20.13
-73.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.44COP 45.1K
$11.02CA$15.25
31.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58COP 4,948
$2.65CA$3.67
-40.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83COP 8,836
$3.18CA$4.40
-11.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Stephenville
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.17COP 3,650
$2.48CA$3.43
-52.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.7COP 242.9K
$59.6CA$82.5
30.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.28COP 4,014
$2.89CA$3.99
-55.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.09COP 6,537
$1.58CA$2.19
32.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.62COP 26.9K
$21.06CA$29.15
-59.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30COP 4,056
$1.13CA$1.57
15.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7KCOP 86.4M
$27.5KCA$38.0K
0.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5KCOP 110.9M
$20.3KCA$28.1K
74.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Stephenville
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$176COP 550.1K
$137CA$189
28.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37COP 41.8K
$38.59CA$53.4
-65.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.89COP 93.4K
$57.3CA$79.3
-47.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Stephenville
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.76COP 139.8K
$41.26CA$57.1
8.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06COP 53.3K
$18.50CA$25.60
-7.78%
Cinema Ticket
$6.20COP 19.4K
$11.66CA$16.13
-46.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Stephenville
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$793COP 2.5M
$776CA$1,074
2.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,019COP 28.2M
$12.0KCA$16.6K
-24.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Stephenville
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6COP 267.5K
$53.8CA$74.4
59.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.5COP 182.7K
$39.51CA$54.7
47.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$136COP 425.9K
$85.0CA$118
60.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103COP 322.2K
$102CA$141
0.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Stephenville
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,060COP 3.3M
$1,279CA$1,770
-17.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$680COP 2.1M
$1,001CA$1,386
-32.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,012COP 6.3M
$1,964CA$2,717
2.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,169COP 3.7M
$1,772CA$2,452
-34.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,111COP 12.8M
$4,933CA$6,826
-16.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,701COP 5.3M
$3,217CA$4,451
-47.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Stephenville
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$665COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
4.68
133.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Last update for Stephenville: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,060 in Medellin versus $1,279 in Stephenville. 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $67.0 in Stephenville. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $303 vs $364 – 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 Stephenville: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stephenville cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Stephenville is pricier by about 34%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $2,574 per month in Medellin and $3,443 in Stephenville. 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Stephenville?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $67.0 in Stephenville. 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 Stephenville?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,716 in Medellin and $2,296 in Stephenville. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Stephenville?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,716, than in Stephenville at $2,296. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Stephenville it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Stephenville 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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Stephenville makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.