Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Torreon Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Torreon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,018 per month in Medellin vs $842 in Torreon, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,609 per month in Medellin vs $1,408 in Torreon, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,200 per month in Medellin vs $1,973 in Torreon, rent included.

Medellin costs about 21% more than Torreon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Torreon are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Torreon 37% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Torreon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.93 COP 19.0K
$9.29 MX$162
-36.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.12 COP 106.0K
$42.11 MX$733
-21.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.12 COP 22.8K
$7.82 MX$136
-8.95%
Cappuccino
$1.71 COP 5,457
$2.42 MX$42.07
-29.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,356
$1.20 MX$20.91
-12.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 COP 2,311
$0.82 MX$14.32
-12.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 COP 5,502
$1.57 MX$27.25
9.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.2K
$3.14 MX$54.7
0.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Torreon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 COP 3,408
$1.50 MX$26.16
-29.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,192
$3.04 MX$52.9
-56.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 4,256
$1.74 MX$30.21
-23.56%
Eggs
$2.28 COP 7,298
$2.31 MX$40.12
-1.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.42 COP 14.1K
$8.98 MX$156
-50.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.92 COP 18.9K
$6.35 MX$110
-6.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 27.7K
$12.37 MX$215
-30.15%
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 COP 7,504
$2.58 MX$44.87
-9.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.10 COP 3,527
$1.21 MX$21.09
-9.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.47 COP 4,698
$1.75 MX$30.43
-16.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,415
$1.18 MX$20.50
16.95%
Potato (1kg)
$1.17 COP 3,754
$1.70 MX$29.60
-31.18%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 3,744
$1.63 MX$28.35
-28.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 2,890
$1.11 MX$19.35
-18.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 2,693
$1.11 MX$19.29
-24.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33 COP 7,449
$4.07 MX$70.8
-42.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.92 COP 38.1K
$10.12 MX$176
17.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 COP 3,673
$1.24 MX$21.53
-7.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 COP 7,749
$1.92 MX$33.46
26.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Torreon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,687
$0.69 MX$11.95
21.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.83 COP 130.7K
$11.66 MX$203
250.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 4,517
$1.84 MX$31.98
-23.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,127
$0.70 MX$12.14
172.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.83 COP 25.0K
$9.32 MX$162
-15.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 COP 3,020
$1.22 MX$21.23
-22.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.8K COP 57.0M
$19.1K MX$332.0K
-6.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K COP 86.7M
$19.6K MX$341.4K
38.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Torreon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.3 COP 266.4K
$55.7 MX$970
49.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.66 COP 30.9K
$22.69 MX$395
-57.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.22 COP 77.5K
$22.81 MX$397
6.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Torreon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.22 COP 80.7K
$40.05 MX$697
-37.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.33 COP 61.9K
$9.03 MX$157
114.06%
Cinema Ticket
$4.07 COP 13.0K
$3.90 MX$67.9
4.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Torreon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 COP 981.2K
$207 MX$3,603
48.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,981 COP 19.1M
$4,465 MX$77.7K
33.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Torreon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0 COP 191.9K
$48.73 MX$848
23.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.65 COP 104.5K
$34.51 MX$600
-5.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 323.5K
$87.5 MX$1,522
15.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 345.7K
$77.5 MX$1,348
39.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Torreon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$476 COP 1.5M
$269 MX$4,686
76.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.2M
$169 MX$2,936
124.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$816 COP 2.6M
$491 MX$8,541
66.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$707 COP 2.3M
$351 MX$6,105
101.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,190 COP 10.2M
$1,710 MX$29.8K
86.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,446 COP 4.6M
$1,352 MX$23.5K
6.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Torreon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$622 COP 2.0M
$796 MX$13.9K
-21.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
11.5
16.78%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 20, 2026

Last update for Torreon: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $269 in Torreon. 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 28% higher in Torreon, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $42.00 in Torreon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $192 vs $247 – 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 Torreon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Torreon cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 21%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,527 per month in Medellin and $1,264 in Torreon. 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 Torreon, 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 Torreon?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $42.00 in Torreon. 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 Torreon?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,018 in Medellin and $842 in Torreon. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Torreon?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Torreon, where all-in costs run around $842, than in Medellin at $1,018. In Torreon it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Torreon more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Torreon – 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 Torreon. 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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