😐A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $831 in Três Lagoas, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $1,440 in Três Lagoas, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $2,049 in Três Lagoas, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 102% more than Três Lagoas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Três Lagoas is 39% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Três Lagoas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.0K
$5.87R$30.26
36.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 149.4K
$31.66R$163
51.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 30.8K
$7.34R$37.80
34.74%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,767
$1.91R$9.83
63.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 5,954
$1.31R$6.75
45.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,712
$0.79R$4.05
91.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,747
$1.93R$9.93
61.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 17.9K
$2.91R$15.01
97.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Três Lagoas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,509
$1.44R$7.41
-
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,759
$2.11R$10.89
18.01%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,535
$2.20R$11.35
-19.55%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,235
$3.57R$18.39
-17.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.4K
$5.80R$29.87
73.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.6K
$5.42R$27.93
86.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 44.6K
$6.30R$32.43
126.98%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 12.9K
$1.62R$8.35
155.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,019
$1.39R$7.17
15.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,007
$1.45R$7.47
55.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,028
$2.29R$11.81
-1.75%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,375
$1.72R$8.86
18.60%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,790
$1.10R$5.65
40.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,651
$0.80R$4.10
46.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,077
$0.60R$3.12
118.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$1.93R$9.93
102.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.7K
$7.83R$40.32
78.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,439
$1.01R$5.20
72.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 8,956
$2.06R$10.62
39.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Três Lagoas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,792
$1.06R$5.45
15.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 251.1K
$43.23R$223
86.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,084
$1.22R$6.30
7.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,825
$0.81R$4.15
170.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.2K
$7.89R$40.63
10.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,260
$1.21R$6.25
13.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
$22.9KR$117.8K
21.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
$32.2KR$166.1K
10.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Três Lagoas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 553.2K
$73.1R$376
142.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.3K
$12.06R$62.1
15.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 92.8K
$20.73R$107
43.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Três Lagoas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 140.1K
$25.63R$132
75.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 53.4K
$27.23R$140
-37.13%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.7K
$6.93R$35.72
-4.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Três Lagoas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.5M
$289R$1,491
180.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 28.7M
$6,777R$34.9K
35.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Três Lagoas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 279.3K
$53.1R$273
68.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 184.0K
$49.60R$256
18.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 431.2K
$91.4R$471
51.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 318.7K
$69.9R$360
46.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Três Lagoas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
$382R$1,970
177.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$198R$1,021
234.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 5.9M
$843R$4,342
124.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
$644R$3,317
59.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.1M
$1,621R$8,351
158.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.2M
$1,120R$5,768
49.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Três Lagoas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.1M
$174R$898
288.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
11.06
-1.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Três Lagoas: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $382 in Três Lagoas. 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 289% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $32.00 in Três Lagoas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $198 – making Três Lagoas 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 Três Lagoas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Três Lagoas cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 102%, 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 $2,521 per month in Medellin and $1,247 in Três Lagoas. 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 Três Lagoas, 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 Três Lagoas?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $32.00 in Três Lagoas. 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 Três Lagoas?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,681 in Medellin and $831 in Três Lagoas. 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 Três Lagoas?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Três Lagoas, where all-in costs run around $831, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Três Lagoas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Três Lagoas more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Três Lagoas – 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 Três Lagoas. 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.