Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Union, SC Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Union, SC

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,028 per month in Medellin vs $2,358 in Union, SC, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,586 per month in Medellin vs $3,424 in Union, SC, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,144 per month in Medellin vs $4,491 in Union, SC, rent included.

Medellin is about 56% cheaper than Union, SC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Union, SC is 77% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.00 COP 20.6K

$9.08 $9.08

-33.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.84 COP 112.5K

$101 $101

-67.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.42 COP 25.4K

$8.52 $8.52

-12.91%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,659

$5.79 $5.79

-71.50%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.07 COP 3,663

$2.32 $2.32

-53.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 COP 2,607

$1.84 $1.84

-58.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,908

$2.72 $2.72

-36.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 COP 11.0K

$3.59 $3.59

-10.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,597

$1.03 $1.03

1.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 COP 4,479

$2.51 $2.51

-47.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 COP 4,591

$2.45 $2.45

-45.31%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,521

$3.05 $3.05

-28.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.41 COP 15.1K

$9.03 $9.03

-51.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.69 COP 19.5K

$8.86 $8.86

-35.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.52 COP 29.2K

$9.70 $9.70

-12.16%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,023

$2.79 $2.79

-16.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,804

$1.29 $1.29

-13.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,210

$3.34 $3.34

-54.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,680

$4.29 $4.29

-68.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 3,950

$2.64 $2.64

-56.44%

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 COP 4,043

$2.11 $2.11

-44.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.84 COP 2,885

$1.69 $1.69

-50.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 COP 2,931

$1.24 $1.24

-30.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.26 COP 7,753

$7.33 $7.33

-69.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.60 COP 39.8K

$8.85 $8.85

31.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,109

$1.73 $1.73

-30.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 8,484

$4.80 $4.80

-48.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,721

$1.95 $1.95

-59.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.83 COP 139.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,023

$4.54 $4.54

-67.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,568

$2.26 $2.26

-15.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.77 COP 26.6K

$42.97 $42.97

-81.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,464

$0.81 $0.81

24.69%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.7K COP 60.5M

$34.0K $34.0K

-48.07%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.5K COP 90.7M

$24.0K $24.0K

10.20%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$81.1 COP 277.9K

$174 $174

-53.41%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.43 COP 32.3K

$66.7 $66.7

-85.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.86 COP 81.8K

$44.24 $44.24

-46.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.99 COP 89.1K

$42.43 $42.43

-38.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.71 COP 64.1K

Cinema Ticket

$4.09 COP 14.0K

$12.86 $12.86

-68.20%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$315 COP 1.1M

$2,619 $2,619

-87.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,022 COP 20.6M

$26.5K $26.5K

-77.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 COP 204.6K

$48.38 $48.38

23.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.97 COP 109.6K

$20.82 $20.82

53.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 346.9K

$83.6 $83.6

21.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 COP 360.3K

$101 $101

3.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$485 COP 1.7M

$1,604 $1,604

-69.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$365 COP 1.3M

$1,363 $1,363

-73.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$827 COP 2.8M

$2,587 $2,587

-68.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.5M

$2,200 $2,200

-66.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,992 COP 10.3M

$2,577 $2,577

16.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,314 COP 4.5M

$2,274 $2,274

-42.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$551 COP 1.9M

$2,494 $2,494

-77.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

235.75%

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

Last update for Medellin: June 15, 2026

Last update for Union, SC: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $485 in Medellin versus $1,604 in Union, SC. 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 353% higher in Union, SC, 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $101 in Union, SC. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $284 – 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 Union, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Union, SC is pricier by about 129%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,542 per month in Medellin and $3,537 in Union, SC. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $101 in Union, SC. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 50% more in Union, SC, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,028, than in Union, SC at $2,358. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Union, SC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Union, SC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.