Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Sucre Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Sucre

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $798 in Sucre, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,224 in Sucre, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,651 in Sucre, rent included.

Medellin costs about 26% more than Sucre, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Sucre are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Sucre 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$1.80 BOB 21.74

228.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$14.23 BOB 172

131.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$5.92 BOB 71.6

25.51%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$2.47 BOB 29.85

-33.20%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$0.66 BOB 7.93

66.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.55 BOB 6.68

41.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$1.46 BOB 17.68

17.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$2.14 BOB 25.92

48.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$0.85 BOB 10.25

29.41%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$1.43 BOB 17.36

-11.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$1.24 BOB 15.06

11.29%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$1.71 BOB 20.74

27.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$4.54 BOB 54.9

-1.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$2.96 BOB 35.82

95.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$4.32 BOB 52.3

107.64%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$1.79 BOB 21.61

29.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$0.89 BOB 10.80

19.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$0.75 BOB 9.08

102.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$2.90 BOB 35.07

-53.10%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$0.41 BOB 5.00

175.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$0.74 BOB 9.00

58.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$0.28 BOB 3.35

221.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$1.02 BOB 12.38

-11.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$1.93 BOB 23.29

15.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$6.40 BOB 77.5

89.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$1.76 BOB 21.28

-32.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$0.28 BOB 3.37

203.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$23.16 BOB 280

79.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$0.73 BOB 8.85

94.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.02 BOB 12.33

-2.94%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$14.3K BOB 173.0K

23.10%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$17.4K BOB 210.1K

54.31%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$14.24 BOB 172

482.94%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$20.88 BOB 253

-53.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$26.14 BOB 316

-10.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$23.37 BOB 283

8.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$11.73 BOB 142

62.83%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$6.37 BOB 77.1

-37.99%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$35.77 BOB 433

67.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$71.7 BOB 867

41.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$65.6 BOB 794

63.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$634 BOB 7,670

-25.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$378 BOB 4,573

-1.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$1,041 BOB 12.6K

-18.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$691 BOB 8,360

4.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$536 BOB 6,486

509.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

$357 BOB 4,317

303.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$202 BOB 2,444

209.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Sucre: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $634 in Sucre. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 209% 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 $14.00 in Sucre. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $146 – making Sucre 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 Sucre: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 26%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,197 in Sucre. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sucre, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 80% less in Sucre. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 33% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sucre, where all-in costs run around $798, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Sucre it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sucre – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Sucre. 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.