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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $816 in Sucre, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $1,232 in Sucre, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $1,649 in Sucre, rent included.

Medellin costs about 27% more than Sucre, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Sucre are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Sucre 39% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Sucre
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92 COP 21.4K
$1.78 BOB 12.35
232.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75 COP 118.2K
$14.44 BOB 99.9
126.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.20 COP 26.0K
$5.86 BOB 40.56
22.87%
Cappuccino
$1.70 COP 6,140
$2.40 BOB 16.62
-29.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,966
$0.61 BOB 4.25
80.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 COP 2,605
$0.56 BOB 3.89
28.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.67 COP 6,022
$1.38 BOB 9.54
21.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 COP 11.2K
$2.15 BOB 14.90
44.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Sucre
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 COP 3,809
$0.90 BOB 6.20
17.78%
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 COP 4,497
$1.43 BOB 9.91
-12.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 COP 5,022
$1.20 BOB 8.32
15.83%
Eggs
$2.26 COP 8,168
$1.68 BOB 11.64
34.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.33 COP 15.6K
$4.48 BOB 30.99
-3.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.84 COP 21.1K
$3.04 BOB 21.06
92.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.83 COP 31.9K
$4.22 BOB 29.22
109.24%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COP 8,099
$1.82 BOB 12.56
23.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 COP 3,882
$0.89 BOB 6.16
21.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 5,522
$0.70 BOB 4.87
118.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,950
$2.89 BOB 20.02
-52.60%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 4,078
$0.45 BOB 3.10
151.11%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,036
$0.74 BOB 5.13
51.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 3,057
$0.30 BOB 2.11
183.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 3,281
$0.99 BOB 6.86
-8.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33 COP 8,414
$1.92 BOB 13.28
21.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.13 COP 40.2K
$10.32 BOB 71.4
7.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 4,309
$1.75 BOB 12.08
-32.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 8,553
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Sucre
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,838
$0.28 BOB 1.91
182.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.13 COP 148.5K
$22.93 BOB 159
79.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 COP 5,184
$0.70 BOB 4.86
105.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,901
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.02 COP 28.9K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 COP 3,385
$1.01 BOB 7.01
-6.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COP 64.7M
$14.7K BOB 101.4K
22.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 96.7M
$17.7K BOB 122.1K
51.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Sucre
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.0 COP 303.1K
$14.40 BOB 99.7
483.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60 COP 34.7K
$20.91 BOB 145
-54.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16 COP 87.2K
$25.67 BOB 178
-5.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Sucre
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.88 COP 93.4K
$22.81 BOB 158
13.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04 COP 68.7K
$11.45 BOB 79.3
66.29%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92 COP 14.1K
$6.37 BOB 44.09
-38.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Sucre
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COP 1.1M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,919 COP 21.4M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Sucre
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 209.1K
$36.08 BOB 250
60.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 114.9K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.9 COP 360.6K
$70.8 BOB 490
41.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 386.8K
$65.4 BOB 452
63.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Sucre
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$487 COP 1.8M
$638 BOB 4,413
-23.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$368 COP 1.3M
$379 BOB 2,625
-2.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$826 COP 3.0M
$1,066 BOB 7,375
-22.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 COP 2.6M
$679 BOB 4,695
5.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,925 COP 10.6M
$876 BOB 6,062
233.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,407 COP 5.1M
$588 BOB 4,066
139.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Sucre
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$546 COP 2.0M
$365 BOB 2,528
49.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
0
-

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

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Last update for Sucre: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $638 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 49% 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: $190 vs $153 – 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
Is Sucre cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 27%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,550 per month in Medellin and $1,224 in Sucre. 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 Sucre, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 79% less in Sucre. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and Sucre?
Groceries cost about 24% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Medellin or Sucre?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sucre, where all-in costs run around $816, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Sucre it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Sucre more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Sucre?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
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.

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