Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Washington, DC Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Washington, DC

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 62.1% cheaper than Washington, DC without rent, and 73.3% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 63.5% cheaper than Washington, DC without rent, and 74.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Washington, DC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$27.47 $27.47
-77.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$121 $121
-73.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
$12.15 $12.15
-39.18%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$5.83 $5.83
-70.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$3.09 $3.09
-64.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
$2.79 $2.79
-73.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$8.11 $8.11
-79.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$9.9 $9.9
-67.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Washington, DC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$1.19 $1.19
-8.40%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$4.64 $4.64
-73.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$6.93 $6.93
-80.81%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$4.45 $4.45
-50.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$17.73 $17.73
-74.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$15.51 $15.51
-63.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$19.42 $19.42
-55.77%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$6.27 $6.27
-63.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$1.98 $1.98
-45.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$5.31 $5.31
-71.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$6.45 $6.45
-77.98%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$3.6 $3.6
-69.17%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$3.67 $3.67
-67.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
$2.68 $2.68
-66.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$2.54 $2.54
-66.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$12.45 $12.45
-81.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$15.78 $15.78
-40.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$2.85 $2.85
-58.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$4.63 $4.63
-46.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Washington, DC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
$2.69 $2.69
-69.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
$75.8 $75.8
-44.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
$4.02 $4.02
-64.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
$2.47 $2.47
-20.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$30.03 $30.03
-73.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 4,265
$0.93 $0.93
9.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 73.4M
$30.4K $30.4K
-42.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
$25.6K $25.6K
2.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Washington, DC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COP 344.1K
$208 $208
-60.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$59.3 $59.3
-84.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
$69 $69
-65.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Washington, DC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
$112 $112
-77.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
$38.39 $38.39
-50.14%
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
$17.1 $17.1
-76.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Washington, DC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
$2,695 $2,695
-88.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
$40.6K $40.6K
-85.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Washington, DC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
$79.8 $79.8
-27.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
$50.7 $50.7
-37.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
$104 $104
-0.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
$143 $143
-26.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Washington, DC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
$2,593 $2,593
-81.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
$2,124 $2,124
-82.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
$5,850 $5,850
-85.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
$4,275 $4,275
-82.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
$6,356 $6,356
-65.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
$4,963 $4,963
-69.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Washington, DC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
$6,113 $6,113
-91.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
6.48
107.25%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

Last update for Washington, DC: October 29, 2025

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