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

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 34.5% cheaper than Varadero without rent, and 37.5% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 25.2% cheaper than Varadero without rent, and 7.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Varadero
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.14 COP 22.1K
$5.87 CUP 141
4.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.05 COP 119.0K
$47.11 CUP 1,131
-29.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.32 COP 26.4K
$8.79 CUP 211
-16.72%
Cappuccino
$1.66 COP 5,971
$0.97 CUP 23.31
71.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,977
$1.91 CUP 45.88
-42.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,815
$0.98 CUP 23.50
-20.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.71 COP 6,172
$3.64 CUP 87.4
-53.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 11.4K
$2.62 CUP 62.9
20.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Varadero
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 COP 4,002
$2.95 CUP 70.7
-62.37%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,707
$1.31 CUP 31.44
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,967
$1.50 CUP 36.06
-8.00%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 7,989
$2.39 CUP 57.4
-7.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.34 COP 15.6K
$5.99 CUP 144
-27.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.80 COP 20.9K
$4.94 CUP 119
17.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.98 COP 32.3K
$12.17 CUP 292
-26.21%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 8,143
$4.95 CUP 119
-54.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,013
$0.58 CUP 13.88
91.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.46 COP 5,271
$1.02 CUP 24.45
43.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,916
$1.13 CUP 27.04
21.24%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,999
$0.95 CUP 22.82
16.84%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 COP 4,188
$5.50 CUP 132
-78.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,202
$0.35 CUP 8.52
154.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 COP 3,116
$0.54 CUP 12.87
61.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 8,473
$3.63 CUP 87.0
-35.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.86 COP 39.1K
$5.73 CUP 138
89.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 4,319
$0.83 CUP 19.89
44.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 8,923
$0.71 CUP 16.94
249.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Varadero
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,835
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.77 COP 146.8K
$20.12 CUP 483
102.63%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 5,124
$1.99 CUP 47.65
-28.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,882
$1.02 CUP 24.41
87.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.65 COP 27.5K
$20.39 CUP 489
-62.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COP 3,481
$1.27 CUP 30.40
-23.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K COP 65.2M
$69.1K CUP 1.7M
-73.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K COP 94.7M
$78.5K CUP 1.9M
-66.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Varadero
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.3 COP 292.8K
$39.55 CUP 949
105.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.63 COP 34.7K
$40.58 CUP 974
-76.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.36 COP 87.7K
$221 CUP 5,300
-88.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Varadero
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.02 COP 93.7K
$39.54 CUP 949
-34.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 COP 68.1K
$15.02 CUP 360
25.97%
Cinema Ticket
$3.89 COP 14.0K
$1.02 CUP 24.40
281.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Varadero
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 COP 1.1M
$88.9 CUP 2,133
242.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,902 COP 21.3M
$14.8K CUP 355.7K
-60.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Varadero
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 COP 211.3K
$39.78 CUP 955
47.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.48 COP 116.9K
$30.32 CUP 728
7.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 COP 366.3K
$75.7 CUP 1,816
34.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 389.4K
$85.2 CUP 2,044
27.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Varadero
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$474 COP 1.7M
$403 CUP 9,679
17.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$371 COP 1.3M
$809 CUP 19.4K
-54.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$848 COP 3.1M
$1,196 CUP 28.7K
-29.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 COP 2.6M
$639 CUP 15.3K
12.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,871 COP 10.3M
$400 CUP 9,598
617.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,375 COP 5.0M
$351 CUP 8,431
291.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Varadero
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$542 COP 1.9M
$18.99 CUP 456
2751.71%
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Varadero: April 11, 2026

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

Similar cities