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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,014 per month in Medellin vs $840 in Torreon, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,596 per month in Medellin vs $1,399 in Torreon, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,178 per month in Medellin vs $1,958 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 โ€“ Medellin 25% lower, Torreon 38% lower.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Medellin
Torreon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.14 COPย 22.2K
$9.17 MX$159
-33.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.05 COPย 119.3K
$42.95 MX$746
-23.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.32 COPย 26.4K
$7.89 MX$137
-7.22%
Cappuccino
$1.66 COPย 5,987
$2.39 MX$41.46
-30.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COPย 3,987
$1.20 MX$20.87
-8.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COPย 2,822
$0.78 MX$13.62
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.71 COPย 6,188
$1.56 MX$27.04
9.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COPย 11.5K
$3.14 MX$54.5
0.96%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Torreon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 COPย 4,012
$1.52 MX$26.47
-26.97%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COPย 4,719
$2.99 MX$51.9
-56.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COPย 4,980
$1.81 MX$31.42
-23.76%
Eggs
$2.22 COPย 8,009
$2.32 MX$40.36
-4.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.34 COPย 15.7K
$9.04 MX$157
-51.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.80 COPย 20.9K
$6.20 MX$108
-6.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.98 COPย 32.4K
$12.00 MX$208
-25.17%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COPย 8,164
$2.47 MX$42.81
-8.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COPย 4,023
$1.26 MX$21.91
-11.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.46 COPย 5,284
$1.76 MX$30.62
-17.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COPย 4,929
$1.24 MX$21.48
10.48%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COPย 4,009
$1.69 MX$29.34
-34.32%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 COPย 4,199
$1.55 MX$26.84
-25.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COPย 3,211
$1.08 MX$18.78
-17.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 COPย 3,124
$1.10 MX$19.14
-20.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COPย 8,495
$4.05 MX$70.2
-41.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.86 COPย 39.2K
$9.99 MX$173
8.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COPย 4,330
$1.23 MX$21.34
-2.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COPย 8,946
$2.00 MX$34.79
24.00%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Medellin
Torreon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COPย 2,842
$0.75 MX$12.94
5.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.77 COPย 147.2K
$11.70 MX$203
248.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COPย 5,137
$1.86 MX$32.32
-23.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COPย 6,900
$0.70 MX$12.16
172.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.65 COPย 27.6K
$9.41 MX$163
-18.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COPย 3,490
$1.22 MX$21.19
-20.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K COPย 65.3M
$18.9K MX$328.0K
-4.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K COPย 95.0M
$20.2K MX$351.1K
30.07%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Torreon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.3 COPย 293.5K
$55.7 MX$967
46.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.63 COPย 34.8K
$23.20 MX$403
-58.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.36 COPย 88.0K
$22.98 MX$399
6.01%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Torreon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.02 COPย 93.9K
$39.51 MX$686
-34.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 COPย 68.3K
$9.18 MX$159
106.10%
Cinema Ticket
$3.89 COPย 14.0K
$3.89 MX$67.6
-
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Torreon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 COPย 1.1M
$207 MX$3,591
47.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,902 COPย 21.3M
$4,490 MX$77.9K
31.45%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Torreon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 COPย 211.8K
$49.52 MX$860
18.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.48 COPย 117.2K
$34.35 MX$596
-5.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 COPย 367.3K
$87.1 MX$1,512
16.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COPย 390.4K
$74.7 MX$1,297
44.81%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Torreon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$474 COPย 1.7M
$260 MX$4,513
82.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$371 COPย 1.3M
$175 MX$3,043
111.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$848 COPย 3.1M
$488 MX$8,467
73.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 COPย 2.6M
$350 MX$6,084
104.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,871 COPย 10.4M
$1,750 MX$30.4K
64.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,375 COPย 5.0M
$1,354 MX$23.5K
1.58%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Torreon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$542 COPย 2.0M
$816 MX$14.2K
-33.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
11.5
16.78%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: April 13, 2026

Last update for Torreon: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $474 in Medellin versus $260 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 51% higher in Torreon, which reinforces the cost advantage โ€“ you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33 in Medellin versus $43 in Torreon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $245 โ€“ 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 โ€“ 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 $1,522 per month in Medellin and $1,260 in Torreon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ€“ 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 cafรฉ pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Torreon?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,014 in Medellin and $840 in Torreon. The difference isn't just one category โ€“ 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 $840, than in Medellin at $1,014. 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 โ€“ 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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