Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
77
Cost of Living Index in Mexico City
Learn more Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and the United States
For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,589 a month against $2,785 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $14,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
-
-
🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 30.5% cheaper than the United States without rent, and 42.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 32.3% cheaper than the United States without rent, and 39.4% cheaper with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.01 COP 25.5K
$20.22 $20.22
-60.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.55 COP 148.3K
$81.1 $81.1
-42.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.43 COP 30.1K
$12.12 $12.12
-22.19%
Cappuccino
$2.91 COP 9,277
$5.36 $5.36
-45.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 COP 5,585
$2.77 $2.77
-36.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 COP 4,218
$2.09 $2.09
-36.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.13 COP 9,969
$5.84 $5.84
-46.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.55 COP 17.7K
$7.92 $7.92
-29.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
United States
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 COP 4,495
$1.04 $1.04
35.58%
White Bread (500g)
$2.44 COP 7,777
$3.56 $3.56
-31.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 COP 5,191
$4.69 $4.69
-65.25%
Eggs
$2.82 COP 8,990
$4.43 $4.43
-36.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.69 COP 30.9K
$12.91 $12.91
-24.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.32 COP 29.7K
$12.20 $12.20
-23.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.46 COP 42.9K
$17.00 $17.00
-20.82%
Apples (1kg)
$4.00 COP 12.8K
$5.31 $5.31
-24.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.48 COP 4,719
$1.67 $1.67
-11.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.12 COP 6,768
$4.49 $4.49
-52.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,178
$5.05 $5.05
-55.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 COP 6,092
$2.83 $2.83
-32.51%
Onion (1kg)
$1.62 COP 5,160
$3.00 $3.00
-46.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,658
$2.28 $2.28
-49.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.26 COP 4,021
$2.27 $2.27
-44.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.82 COP 12.2K
$10.33 $10.33
-63.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.11 COP 41.8K
$14.72 $14.72
-10.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 COP 5,083
$2.05 $2.05
-21.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,188
$3.66 $3.66
-38.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,731
$2.33 $2.33
-49.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$75.0 COP 239.0K
$65.1 $65.1
15.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,056
$3.60 $3.60
-64.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,531
$1.90 $1.90
7.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.20 COP 26.1K
$29.81 $29.81
-72.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 COP 4,046
$1.03 $1.03
23.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K COP 85.3M
$35.1K $35.1K
-23.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4K COP 109.6M
$26.3K $26.3K
30.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$162 COP 516.9K
$216 $216
-24.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.12 COP 41.8K
$62.3 $62.3
-78.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.09 COP 89.5K
$74.6 $74.6
-62.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
United States
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.33 COP 141.2K
$44.70 $44.70
-0.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33 COP 52.0K
$22.55 $22.55
-27.58%
Cinema Ticket
$6.09 COP 19.4K
$15.19 $15.19
-59.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$764 COP 2.4M
$1,440 $1,440
-46.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,904 COP 28.4M
$25.2K $25.2K
-64.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
United States
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.0 COP 270.8K
$53.7 $53.7
58.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.5 COP 183.2K
$42.44 $42.44
35.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$132 COP 419.8K
$93.4 $93.4
41.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.8 COP 305.1K
$115 $115
-16.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,028 COP 3.3M
$1,622 $1,622
-36.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$604 COP 1.9M
$1,357 $1,357
-55.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,802 COP 5.7M
$2,681 $2,681
-32.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$993 COP 3.2M
$2,170 $2,170
-54.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,921 COP 12.5M
$3,294 $3,294
19.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,639 COP 5.2M
$2,674 $2,674
-38.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$626 COP 2.0M
$4,242 $4,242
-85.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
6.55
67.02%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: October 6, 2026
Last update for the United States: October 6, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin $604 38.3%
United States $1.4K 49.4% 124% $752
Groceries & Markets
Medellin $288 18.3%
United States $411 15% 42.4% $122
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin $203 12.9%
United States $353 12.9% 73.5% $150
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin $166 10.6%
United States $137 5% 17.7% $29
Eating Out
Medellin $166 10.6%
United States $327 11.9% 96.6% $161
Getting Around
Medellin $91 5.8%
United States $87 3.2% 4.1% $3.7
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin $57 3.6%
United States $75 2.7% 32.9% $19
Accommodation & Living
Medellin $993 31.9%
United States $2.2K 41.3% 119% $1.2K
Groceries & Markets
Medellin $664 21.3%
United States $942 17.9% 41.9% $278
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin $217 7%
United States $415 7.9% 91.8% $199
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin $370 11.9%
United States $304 5.8% 17.7% $65
Eating Out
Medellin $560 18%
United States $1.1K 20.3% 90.6% $507
Getting Around
Medellin $185 5.9%
United States $180 3.4% 2.8% $5.1
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin $129 4.2%
United States $173 3.3% 33.5% $43
Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇺🇸 United States
Weather
Population
2,486,723
340,110,988
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Medellin United States 3,470 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
- Medellin
- United States
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 other spots: cost of living compared
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,589
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,203
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,589
/mo nomad
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,561
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,589
/mo nomad
Johannesburg
🇿🇦 South Africa
$1,406
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,589
/mo nomad
Bogota
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,310
/mo nomad
Similar cities
Budapest
🇭🇺 Hungary
79
Cost of Living Index in Budapest
Learn more 
Buenos Aires
🇦🇷 Argentina
81
Cost of Living Index in Buenos Aires
Learn more 
Cape Town
🇿🇦 South Africa
76
Cost of Living Index in Cape Town
Learn more 
Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
74
Cost of Living Index in Istanbul
Learn more 
Sofia
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
78
Cost of Living Index in Sofia
Learn more 
Belgrade
🇷🇸 Serbia
76
Cost of Living Index in Belgrade
Learn more 
Seminyak, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
78
Cost of Living Index in Seminyak, Bali
Learn more 
