Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Varadero Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Varadero

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 17.2% cheaper than Varadero without rent, and 37.2% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 16.3% cheaper than Varadero without rent, and 10.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Varadero
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$5.68 CUP 136
9.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$47.31 CUP 1,136
-31.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
$9.14 CUP 219
-19.15%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$1.02 CUP 24.56
68.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$1.91 CUP 45.77
-42.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
$1 CUP 23.98
-27.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$3.65 CUP 87.7
-54.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$2.56 CUP 61.4
25.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Varadero
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$2.96 CUP 71.2
-63.18%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$1.25 CUP 29.98
-0.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$1.5 CUP 36.09
-11.33%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$2.39 CUP 57.3
-7.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$5.84 CUP 140
-22.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$5.1 CUP 122
11.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$12.21 CUP 293
-29.65%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$5.12 CUP 123
-55.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$0.58 CUP 13.92
84.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$1.01 CUP 24.31
49.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$1.14 CUP 27.25
24.56%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$0.95 CUP 22.9
16.84%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$5.57 CUP 134
-78.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
$0.38 CUP 9.19
134.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$0.54 CUP 12.94
55.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$3.72 CUP 89.2
-36.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$5.34 CUP 128
74.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$0.8 CUP 19.25
47.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$0.71 CUP 16.99
250.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Varadero
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
$19.88 CUP 477
110.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
$2.01 CUP 48.35
-29.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
$1.01 CUP 24.34
94.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$20.32 CUP 488
-61.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 4,265
$1.26 CUP 30.28
-19.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 73.4M
$70.1K CUP 1.7M
-74.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
$81.5K CUP 2M
-67.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Varadero
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COP 344.1K
$40.33 CUP 968
104.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$39.96 CUP 959
-76.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
$217 CUP 5,202
-89.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Varadero
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
$39.84 CUP 956
-35.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
$14.96 CUP 359
27.94%
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
$0.97 CUP 23.39
308.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Varadero
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
$88.5 CUP 2,124
244.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
$14.8K CUP 355.2K
-59.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Varadero
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
$40.03 CUP 961
44.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
$30.36 CUP 729
4.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
$76.3 CUP 1,830
35.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
$83.3 CUP 2,000
26.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Varadero
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
$396 CUP 9,512
23.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
$806 CUP 19.4K
-53.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
$1,213 CUP 29.1K
-31.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
$646 CUP 15.5K
12.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
$394 CUP 9,465
455.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
$356 CUP 8,548
330.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Varadero
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
$19.57 CUP 470
2710.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
15
-10.47%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

Last update for Varadero: October 28, 2025

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