😐A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $1,214 in Toyota, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $1,951 in Toyota, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $2,687 in Toyota, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 38% more than Toyota, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Toyota is 11% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Toyota
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.3K
$6.37¥994
25.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 151.0K
$41.99¥6,557
14.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 31.2K
$5.26¥822
88.02%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,873
$3.50¥547
-10.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 6,019
$1.17¥183
63.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,763
$0.82¥129
84.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,853
$2.55¥398
22.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 18.1K
$3.17¥495
81.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Toyota
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,558
$1.22¥191
18.03%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,843
$0.93¥145
167.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,595
$1.96¥307
-9.69%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,336
$1.90¥296
55.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.8K
$12.20¥1,906
-17.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.9K
$6.31¥986
60.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 45.1K
$14.73¥2,301
-2.92%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 13.0K
$5.76¥900
-28.13%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,073
$2.78¥434
-42.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,083
$3.03¥474
-25.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,104
$4.23¥661
-46.81%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,444
$2.62¥409
-22.14%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,842
$2.69¥420
-42.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,691
$1.28¥199
-8.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,121
$0.73¥113
79.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.3K
$3.95¥617
-1.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 44.2K
$6.46¥1,009
116.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,498
$1.85¥288
-5.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 9,053
$2.15¥335
33.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Toyota
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,834
$1.26¥197
-3.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 253.9K
$66.5¥10.4K
21.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,129
$3.17¥495
-58.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,899
$2.65¥414
-17.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.5K
$20.71¥3,235
-57.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,306
$1.10¥172
24.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 87.8M
$21.9K¥3.4M
27.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 112.8M
$18.7K¥2.9M
90.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Toyota
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 559.3K
$137¥21.3K
29.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.8K
$19.31¥3,016
-28.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 93.8K
$22.93¥3,581
29.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Toyota
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 141.6K
$55.8¥8,710
-19.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 54.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 21.0K
$12.85¥2,007
-48.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Toyota
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.6M
$656¥102.4K
23.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 29.0M
$15.3K¥2.4M
-39.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Toyota
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 282.3K
$63.4¥9,902
41.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 186.0K
$32.73¥5,112
80.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 435.9K
$62.9¥9,828
119.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 322.1K
$103¥16.1K
-1.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Toyota
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
$495¥77.2K
114.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$341¥53.3K
94.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 6.0M
$1,154¥180.2K
63.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
$763¥119.1K
34.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.2M
$3,395¥530.2K
23.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.3M
$1,611¥251.6K
3.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Toyota
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.1M
$1,070¥167.1K
-36.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
2.12
416.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Toyota: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $495 in Toyota. 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 Toyota, 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 $42.00 in Toyota. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $282 – making Toyota 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 Toyota: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Toyota cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 38%, 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 $2,521 per month in Medellin and $1,822 in Toyota. 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 Toyota, 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 Toyota?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $42.00 in Toyota. 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 Toyota?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,681 in Medellin and $1,214 in Toyota. 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 Toyota?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Toyota, where all-in costs run around $1,214, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Toyota it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Toyota more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Toyota – 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 Toyota. 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.