😐A single person spends $1,589 per month in Medellin vs $1,142 in Uruapan del Progreso, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,364 per month in Medellin vs $1,865 in Uruapan del Progreso, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,139 per month in Medellin vs $2,588 in Uruapan del Progreso, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 39% more than Uruapan del Progreso, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Medellin sits 19% above the global median, while Uruapan del Progreso is 15% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Uruapan del Progreso
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.01COP 25.6K
$11.33MX$205
-29.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.55COP 149.1K
$60.8MX$1,099
-23.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.43COP 30.2K
$8.78MX$159
7.40%
Cappuccino
$2.91COP 9,326
$2.44MX$44.10
19.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75COP 5,614
$0.81MX$14.66
116.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32COP 4,241
$0.54MX$9.73
144.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.13COP 10.0K
$2.79MX$50.5
12.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.55COP 17.8K
$1.91MX$34.57
190.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Uruapan del Progreso
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.41COP 4,519
$1.30MX$23.58
8.46%
White Bread(500g)
$2.44COP 7,818
$2.70MX$48.77
-9.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63COP 5,218
$1.37MX$24.75
18.98%
Eggs
$2.82COP 9,038
$2.72MX$49.16
3.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.69COP 31.1K
$7.85MX$142
23.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.32COP 29.8K
$9.13MX$165
2.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.46COP 43.1K
$12.84MX$232
4.83%
Apples(1kg)
$4.00COP 12.8K
$3.07MX$55.5
30.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.48COP 4,744
$1.61MX$29.19
-8.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12COP 6,804
$0.98MX$17.64
116.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,216
$1.08MX$19.60
108.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91COP 6,124
$1.42MX$25.70
34.51%
Onion(1kg)
$1.62COP 5,188
$1.21MX$21.85
33.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.15COP 3,677
$1.42MX$25.67
-19.01%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.26COP 4,043
$0.87MX$15.74
44.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.82COP 12.2K
$4.63MX$83.7
-17.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.11COP 42.0K
$11.71MX$212
11.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60COP 5,110
$2.33MX$42.15
-31.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26COP 7,226
$4.26MX$76.9
-46.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Uruapan del Progreso
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.17COP 3,751
$0.64MX$11.55
82.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$75.0COP 240.3K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.27COP 4,077
$3.42MX$61.8
-62.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05COP 6,566
$2.66MX$48.11
-22.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.20COP 26.3K
$8.21MX$148
-0.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27COP 4,067
$1.23MX$22.26
3.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8KCOP 85.8M
$21.5KMX$389.0K
24.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4KCOP 110.2M
$23.7KMX$429.2K
44.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Uruapan del Progreso
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$162COP 519.6K
$62.3MX$1,127
160.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.12COP 42.0K
$27.60MX$499
-52.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.09COP 90.0K
$25.45MX$460
10.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Uruapan del Progreso
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.33COP 142.0K
$34.12MX$617
29.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33COP 52.3K
$20.05MX$362
-18.55%
Cinema Ticket
$6.09COP 19.5K
$4.84MX$87.6
25.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Uruapan del Progreso
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$764COP 2.4M
$271MX$4,897
182.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,904COP 28.5M
$5,025MX$90.8K
77.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Uruapan del Progreso
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.0COP 272.2K
$53.7MX$971
58.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.5COP 184.1K
$45.94MX$830
25.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$132COP 422.1K
$103MX$1,857
28.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.8COP 306.7K
$99.2MX$1,792
-3.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Uruapan del Progreso
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,028COP 3.3M
$611MX$11.0K
68.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$604COP 1.9M
$399MX$7,210
51.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,802COP 5.8M
$1,038MX$18.8K
73.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$993COP 3.2M
$771MX$13.9K
28.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,921COP 12.6M
$1,883MX$34.0K
108.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,639COP 5.2M
$1,177MX$21.3K
39.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Uruapan del Progreso
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$626COP 2.0M
$438MX$7,918
42.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
11.99
-8.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: October 6, 2026
Last update for Uruapan del Progreso: October 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,028 in Medellin versus $611 in Uruapan del Progreso. 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 43% 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 $47.00 in Medellin versus $61.0 in Uruapan del Progreso. Groceries tell a different story – $288 in Medellin vs $265 in Uruapan del Progreso – so Uruapan del Progreso wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Uruapan del Progreso: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Uruapan del Progreso cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 39%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $2,384 per month in Medellin and $1,713 in Uruapan del Progreso. 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 Uruapan del Progreso, 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 Uruapan del Progreso?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Medellin and $61.0 in Uruapan del Progreso. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Uruapan del Progreso?
Groceries cost about 9% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Uruapan del Progreso?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Uruapan del Progreso, where all-in costs run around $1,142, than in Medellin at $1,589. In Uruapan del Progreso it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Uruapan del Progreso more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Uruapan del Progreso – 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 Uruapan del Progreso. 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.