Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Waterloo, IA Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Waterloo, IA

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 41.4% cheaper than Waterloo, IA without rent, and 46% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 45.6% cheaper than Waterloo, IA without rent, and 34% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Waterloo, IA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$18.28 $18.28
-65.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$66.4 $66.4
-51.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
$9.89 $9.89
-25.28%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$5.24 $5.24
-67.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$2.78 $2.78
-60.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
$2.39 $2.39
-69.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$6.13 $6.13
-72.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$6.83 $6.83
-53.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Waterloo, IA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$1.01 $1.01
7.92%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$1.94 $1.94
-36.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$1.72 $1.72
-22.67%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$2.86 $2.86
-22.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$9.28 $9.28
-50.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$6.7 $6.7
-14.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$12.74 $12.74
-32.57%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$3.85 $3.85
-41.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$1.2 $1.2
-10.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$3.32 $3.32
-54.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$4.46 $4.46
-68.16%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$1.12 $1.12
-0.89%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$2.12 $2.12
-44.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
$1.85 $1.85
-51.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$1.53 $1.53
-45.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$7.92 $7.92
-70.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$12.01 $12.01
-22.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$1.69 $1.69
-30.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$1.79 $1.79
39.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Waterloo, IA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
$1.97 $1.97
-57.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
$4.89 $4.89
-71.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
$1.43 $1.43
37.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$29.73 $29.73
-73.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 4,265
$0.77 $0.77
32.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 73.4M
$35.3K $35.3K
-50.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
$25.9K $25.9K
1.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Waterloo, IA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COP 344.1K
$197 $197
-58.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$48.84 $48.84
-80.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
$59.4 $59.4
-60.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Waterloo, IA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
$42.83 $42.83
-40.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
$13.8 $13.8
-71.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Waterloo, IA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
$1,454 $1,454
-79.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
$30.5K $30.5K
-80.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Waterloo, IA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
$38.76 $38.76
49.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
$42.15 $42.15
-25.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
$58.6 $58.6
75.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
$129 $129
-18.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Waterloo, IA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
$842 $842
-41.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
$747 $747
-49.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
$1,974 $1,974
-58.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
$863 $863
-15.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
$1,457 $1,457
50.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
$1,429 $1,429
7.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Waterloo, IA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
$3,529 $3,529
-84.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
6.43
108.86%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

Last update for Waterloo, IA: October 28, 2025

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