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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $832 in Torreon, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,376 in Torreon, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $1,920 in Torreon, rent included.

Medellin costs about 22% more than Torreon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Torreon are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Torreon 38% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Torreon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99 COPΒ 21.5K
$8.99 MX$157
-33.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86 COPΒ 118.1K
$42.55 MX$743
-22.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.09 COPΒ 25.5K
$7.73 MX$135
-8.28%
Cappuccino
$1.71 COPΒ 6,154
$2.36 MX$41.23
-27.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COPΒ 3,949
$1.15 MX$20.16
-4.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COPΒ 2,798
$0.81 MX$14.21
-3.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.68 COPΒ 6,035
$1.62 MX$28.36
3.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 COPΒ 11.0K
$3.24 MX$56.5
-5.25%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Torreon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COPΒ 3,930
$1.45 MX$25.28
-24.83%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COPΒ 4,536
$2.99 MX$52.2
-57.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COPΒ 4,953
$1.72 MX$30.05
-19.77%
Eggs
$2.19 COPΒ 7,876
$2.22 MX$38.69
-1.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.40 COPΒ 15.8K
$8.97 MX$157
-50.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.63 COPΒ 20.2K
$6.40 MX$112
-12.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.89 COPΒ 32.0K
$12.32 MX$215
-27.84%
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 COPΒ 8,401
$2.49 MX$43.42
-6.02%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COPΒ 3,801
$1.20 MX$20.97
-11.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.50 COPΒ 5,408
$1.74 MX$30.41
-13.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.38 COPΒ 4,955
$1.22 MX$21.34
13.11%
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 COPΒ 4,137
$1.64 MX$28.60
-29.88%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 COPΒ 4,181
$1.55 MX$27.00
-25.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COPΒ 3,202
$1.11 MX$19.44
-19.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COPΒ 3,016
$1.06 MX$18.56
-20.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28 COPΒ 8,196
$3.94 MX$68.7
-42.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.64 COPΒ 38.2K
$10.29 MX$180
3.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COPΒ 4,311
$1.23 MX$21.46
-2.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 COPΒ 8,880
$2.01 MX$35.15
22.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Torreon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COPΒ 3,075
$0.68 MX$11.84
26.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.40 COPΒ 148.8K
$11.84 MX$207
249.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COPΒ 5,297
$1.82 MX$31.77
-19.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COPΒ 7,053
$0.75 MX$13.14
161.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.74 COPΒ 27.8K
$9.06 MX$158
-14.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 COPΒ 3,430
$1.26 MX$21.94
-24.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K COPΒ 65.2M
$19.5K MX$340.0K
-6.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K COPΒ 95.2M
$20.0K MX$349.4K
32.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Torreon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.3 COPΒ 295.6K
$57.0 MX$995
44.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50 COPΒ 34.1K
$22.50 MX$393
-57.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23 COPΒ 87.1K
$23.10 MX$403
4.89%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Torreon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.89 COPΒ 93.0K
$39.29 MX$686
-34.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00 COPΒ 68.3K
$9.44 MX$165
101.27%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93 COPΒ 14.1K
$3.88 MX$67.7
1.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Torreon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$309 COPΒ 1.1M
$203 MX$3,550
52.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,965 COPΒ 21.4M
$4,406 MX$77.0K
35.38%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Torreon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 COPΒ 210.8K
$48.40 MX$845
21.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35 COPΒ 116.2K
$35.05 MX$612
-7.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COPΒ 368.7K
$87.5 MX$1,528
17.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COPΒ 389.6K
$77.6 MX$1,356
39.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Torreon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$476 COPΒ 1.7M
$265 MX$4,623
79.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COPΒ 1.4M
$169 MX$2,947
124.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$838 COPΒ 3.0M
$483 MX$8,432
73.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$724 COPΒ 2.6M
$355 MX$6,208
103.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,791 COPΒ 10.0M
$1,713 MX$29.9K
62.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,211 COPΒ 4.4M
$1,368 MX$23.9K
-11.48%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Torreon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$512 COPΒ 1.8M
$810 MX$14.2K
-36.85%
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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Torreon: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $265 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 58% 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 $43.00 in Torreon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $245 – 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 22%, 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 $1,519 per month in Medellin and $1,247 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 Torreon?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $43.00 in Torreon. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafΓ© pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Torreon?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $832 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 Medellin or Torreon?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Torreon, where all-in costs run around $832, than in Medellin at $1,013. 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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