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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,716 per month in Medellin vs $1,300 in Torreon, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,527 per month in Medellin vs $2,057 in Torreon, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,338 per month in Medellin vs $2,814 in Torreon, rent included.

Medellin costs about 32% more than Torreon, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Medellin sits 25% above the global median, while Torreon is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Torreon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03 COP 25.1K
$11.76 MX$198
-31.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.26 COP 150.8K
$46.46 MX$784
3.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.77 COP 30.5K
$10.65 MX$180
-8.26%
Cappuccino
$2.91 COP 9,095
$3.45 MX$58.2
-15.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 COP 6,074
$1.91 MX$32.23
1.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 COP 4,754
$1.36 MX$22.97
11.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 COP 9,663
$2.40 MX$40.44
28.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74 COP 17.9K
$4.74 MX$80.0
21.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Torreon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 COP 4,262
$1.80 MX$30.42
-24.44%
White Bread (500g)
$2.39 COP 7,460
$3.23 MX$54.5
-26.01%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,314
$2.36 MX$39.76
-27.97%
Eggs
$2.87 COP 8,967
$2.98 MX$50.3
-3.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.94 COP 31.1K
$10.65 MX$180
-6.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.78 COP 33.7K
$8.78 MX$148
22.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.73 COP 46.0K
$12.94 MX$218
13.83%
Apples (1kg)
$4.09 COP 12.8K
$3.08 MX$52.0
32.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 COP 4,911
$1.82 MX$30.79
-13.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 COP 6,642
$2.31 MX$38.95
-7.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.21 COP 6,917
$2.73 MX$46.14
-19.05%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 COP 6,396
$2.61 MX$44.02
-21.46%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 COP 4,700
$2.39 MX$40.40
-37.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 COP 3,718
$1.49 MX$25.23
-20.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 COP 3,619
$1.42 MX$23.97
-18.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.2K
$4.30 MX$72.6
-9.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.44 COP 45.1K
$11.70 MX$198
23.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 COP 4,948
$2.21 MX$37.24
-28.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 COP 8,836
$4.28 MX$72.2
-33.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Torreon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,650
$0.90 MX$15.21
30.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.7 COP 242.9K
$35.94 MX$607
116.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 COP 4,014
$2.11 MX$35.64
-39.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.09 COP 6,537
$0.99 MX$16.70
111.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.62 COP 26.9K
$10.55 MX$178
-18.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 COP 4,056
$1.57 MX$26.54
-17.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K COP 86.4M
$26.5K MX$447.9K
4.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5K COP 110.9M
$28.3K MX$477.4K
25.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Torreon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 COP 550.1K
$83.1 MX$1,402
111.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 COP 41.8K
$42.39 MX$715
-68.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.89 COP 93.4K
$31.28 MX$528
-4.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Torreon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.76 COP 139.8K
$69.8 MX$1,178
-35.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06 COP 53.3K
$23.97 MX$405
-28.83%
Cinema Ticket
$6.20 COP 19.4K
$5.18 MX$87.4
19.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Torreon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$793 COP 2.5M
$305 MX$5,148
160.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,019 COP 28.2M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Torreon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6 COP 267.5K
$72.8 MX$1,228
17.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.5 COP 182.7K
$51.0 MX$861
14.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$136 COP 425.9K
$113 MX$1,902
20.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 COP 322.2K
$102 MX$1,724
0.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Torreon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,060 COP 3.3M
$481 MX$8,122
120.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$680 COP 2.1M
$337 MX$5,686
101.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,012 COP 6.3M
$817 MX$13.8K
146.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,169 COP 3.7M
$640 MX$10.8K
82.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,111 COP 12.8M
$1,735 MX$29.3K
136.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,701 COP 5.3M
$1,383 MX$23.3K
23.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Torreon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$665 COP 2.1M
$879 MX$14.8K
-24.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
12.87
-15.00%

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

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Last update for Torreon: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,060 in Medellin versus $481 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 32% 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $46.00 in Torreon. Groceries tell a different story – $303 in Medellin vs $314 in Torreon – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 32%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $2,574 per month in Medellin and $1,950 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 $48.00 in Medellin and $46.00 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 $1,716 in Medellin and $1,300 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 $1,300, than in Medellin at $1,716. 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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