😐A single person spends $1,687 per month in Medellin vs $1,199 in Uruapan del Progreso, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,535 per month in Medellin vs $1,995 in Uruapan del Progreso, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,383 per month in Medellin vs $2,791 in Uruapan del Progreso, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 41% more than Uruapan del Progreso, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Uruapan del Progreso is 12% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Uruapan del Progreso
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.89COP 24.2K
$10.22MX$173
-22.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.53COP 136.5K
$65.3MX$1,106
-31.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.29COP 28.5K
$9.13MX$155
1.75%
Cappuccino
$2.90COP 8,874
$2.61MX$44.26
11.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81COP 5,541
$0.85MX$14.47
112.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55COP 4,741
$0.61MX$10.31
154.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25COP 9,962
$2.97MX$50.3
9.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88COP 18.0K
$2.03MX$34.39
189.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Uruapan del Progreso
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38COP 4,230
$1.43MX$24.18
-3.50%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45COP 7,517
$2.93MX$49.65
-16.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,617
$1.45MX$24.61
4.14%
Eggs
$2.78COP 8,516
$2.87MX$48.68
-3.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.05COP 27.7K
$8.60MX$146
5.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.65COP 32.6K
$9.79MX$166
8.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.63COP 44.8K
$13.66MX$231
7.10%
Apples(1kg)
$3.97COP 12.2K
$3.26MX$55.3
21.78%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,219
$1.70MX$28.86
-18.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,056
$1.08MX$18.37
112.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.02COP 6,185
$1.15MX$19.43
75.65%
Potato(1kg)
$2.09COP 6,390
$1.49MX$25.19
40.27%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63COP 4,996
$1.27MX$21.50
28.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08COP 3,313
$1.48MX$25.09
-27.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25COP 3,843
$0.92MX$15.55
35.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03COP 12.4K
$4.85MX$82.2
-16.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.47COP 41.3K
$12.49MX$212
7.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60COP 4,904
$2.42MX$40.95
-33.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00COP 9,189
$4.36MX$73.8
-31.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Uruapan del Progreso
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.18COP 3,611
$0.65MX$11.07
81.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.9COP 244.9K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.61COP 4,920
$3.48MX$59.0
-53.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13COP 6,533
$2.87MX$48.66
-25.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.52COP 26.1K
$8.70MX$147
-2.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35COP 4,142
$1.29MX$21.93
4.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KCOP 86.8M
$22.9KMX$387.6K
23.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KCOP 109.4M
$25.6KMX$433.4K
39.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Uruapan del Progreso
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151COP 463.8K
$65.2MX$1,104
132.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.10COP 40.1K
$28.75MX$487
-54.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.30COP 99.0K
$27.27MX$462
18.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Uruapan del Progreso
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.33COP 141.9K
$37.40MX$634
23.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.26COP 52.9K
$20.66MX$350
-16.46%
Cinema Ticket
$6.43COP 19.7K
$5.07MX$85.9
26.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Uruapan del Progreso
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$835COP 2.6M
$283MX$4,788
195.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,887COP 27.2M
$5,324MX$90.2K
66.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Uruapan del Progreso
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3COP 273.7K
$55.9MX$947
59.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3COP 169.5K
$47.79MX$810
15.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$137COP 418.5K
$105MX$1,782
29.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COP 335.1K
$106MX$1,801
2.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Uruapan del Progreso
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$952COP 2.9M
$701MX$11.9K
35.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$668COP 2.0M
$407MX$6,890
64.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,020COP 6.2M
$1,162MX$19.7K
73.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,148COP 3.5M
$849MX$14.4K
35.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,696COP 11.3M
$2,203MX$37.3K
67.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,586COP 4.9M
$1,210MX$20.5K
31.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Uruapan del Progreso
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$625COP 1.9M
$468MX$7,932
33.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.43
11.99
-13.01%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026
Last update for Uruapan del Progreso: August 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $952 in Medellin versus $701 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 34% 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 $45.00 in Medellin versus $65.0 in Uruapan del Progreso. Groceries tell a different story – $297 in Medellin vs $283 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 41%, 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 $2,530 per month in Medellin and $1,799 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 $45.00 in Medellin and $65.0 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 5% 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 $1,199, than in Medellin at $1,687. 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.