Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Sterling Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Sterling

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 42.2% cheaper than Sterling without rent, and 62.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 49.5% cheaper than Sterling without rent, and 59.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Sterling
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$20.2 $20.2
-69.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$85.9 $85.9
-62.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
$13.33 $13.33
-44.56%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$5.32 $5.32
-67.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$2.81 $2.81
-60.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
$2.33 $2.33
-68.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$5.93 $5.93
-72.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$7.94 $7.94
-59.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Sterling
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$0.98 $0.98
11.22%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$3.44 $3.44
-63.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$2.13 $2.13
-37.56%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$4.94 $4.94
-55.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$19.1 $19.1
-76.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$12.15 $12.15
-53.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$18.33 $18.33
-53.14%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$4.8 $4.8
-52.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$1.33 $1.33
-19.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$6.99 $6.99
-78.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$6.58 $6.58
-78.42%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$3.45 $3.45
-67.83%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$2.69 $2.69
-56.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
$2.21 $2.21
-59.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$2.47 $2.47
-65.99%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$8.77 $8.77
-73.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$13.76 $13.76
-32.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$1.68 $1.68
-29.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$5.1 $5.1
-51.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Sterling
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
$2.04 $2.04
-59.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
$4.43 $4.43
-68.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
$1.39 $1.39
41.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$28.94 $28.94
-72.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 4,265
$0.81 $0.81
25.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 73.4M
$26K $26K
-32.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
$24.6K $24.6K
6.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Sterling
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COP 344.1K
$209 $209
-60.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$52.6 $52.6
-82.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
$73.6 $73.6
-68.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Sterling
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
$28.88 $28.88
-11.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
$14.73 $14.73
-73.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Sterling
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
$1,721 $1,721
-82.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
$23.8K $23.8K
-75.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Sterling
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
$48.23 $48.23
20.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
$45.88 $45.88
-31.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
$97.4 $97.4
5.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
$119 $119
-11.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Sterling
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
$1,287 $1,287
-61.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
$1,377 $1,377
-72.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
$2,007 $2,007
-58.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
$2,249 $2,249
-67.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
$2,820 $2,820
-22.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
$2,428 $2,428
-36.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Sterling
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
$3,806 $3,806
-85.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
6.57
104.41%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

Last update for Sterling: October 27, 2025

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