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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $814 in Sucre, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,219 in Sucre, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,623 in Sucre, rent included.

Medellin costs about 25% more than Sucre, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Sucre are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Sucre 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$1.77 BOB 12.16

236.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$14.62 BOB 100

127.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$5.95 BOB 40.78

21.51%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$2.40 BOB 16.41

-32.08%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.62 BOB 4.23

75.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.60 BOB 4.14

21.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$1.44 BOB 9.89

20.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$2.24 BOB 15.32

44.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$0.84 BOB 5.76

25.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$1.41 BOB 9.64

-8.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$1.25 BOB 8.55

5.60%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$1.76 BOB 12.07

28.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$4.43 BOB 30.32

-1.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$3.04 BOB 20.82

93.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$4.32 BOB 29.56

99.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$1.82 BOB 12.44

23.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$0.82 BOB 5.63

30.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$0.71 BOB 4.86

114.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$2.94 BOB 20.16

-51.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$0.41 BOB 2.81

185.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$0.69 BOB 4.71

69.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$0.30 BOB 2.06

196.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$1.00 BOB 6.82

-10.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$1.92 BOB 13.15

17.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$10.12 BOB 69.3

9.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$1.71 BOB 11.74

-33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$0.30 BOB 2.07

180.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

$23.36 BOB 160

79.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$0.69 BOB 4.70

104.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$1.01 BOB 6.95

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$14.5K BOB 99.3K

21.24%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$17.3K BOB 118.2K

53.54%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$13.91 BOB 95.3

501.58%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$20.82 BOB 143

-54.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$26.04 BOB 178

-7.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$22.96 BOB 157

10.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

$11.57 BOB 79.3

65.43%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$6.59 BOB 45.17

-37.78%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$35.50 BOB 243

63.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$71.9 BOB 493

38.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$65.6 BOB 450

65.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$650 BOB 4,451

-25.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$380 BOB 2,603

-0.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$1,039 BOB 7,117

-19.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$687 BOB 4,705

5.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

$882 BOB 6,045

221.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

$567 BOB 3,881

115.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$317 BOB 2,174

70.43%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Sucre: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $650 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 70% 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 $15.00 in Sucre. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $152 – 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 25%, 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 $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,221 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 25% 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 $814, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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.