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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $1,817 in Waterloo, IA, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $2,525 in Waterloo, IA, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $3,232 in Waterloo, IA, rent included.

Medellin is about 7% cheaper than Waterloo, IA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Waterloo, IA sit above the global median – Medellin by 23%, Waterloo, IA by 33%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.02 COP 25.0K

$11.89 $11.89

-32.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.87 COP 149.4K

$55.5 $55.5

-13.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 COP 30.8K

$12.78 $12.78

-22.61%

Cappuccino

$3.13 COP 9,767

$5.55 $5.55

-43.60%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 COP 5,954

$2.31 $2.31

-17.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 COP 4,712

$2.48 $2.48

-39.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 COP 9,747

$4.06 $4.06

-23.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 COP 17.9K

$7.44 $7.44

-22.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,509

$1.02 $1.02

41.18%

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 COP 7,759

$1.93 $1.93

29.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 COP 5,535

$1.66 $1.66

6.63%

Eggs

$2.96 COP 9,235

$2.95 $2.95

0.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 COP 31.4K

$13.09 $13.09

-23.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.12 COP 31.6K

$6.64 $6.64

52.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 COP 44.6K

$13.10 $13.10

9.16%

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 COP 12.9K

$3.85 $3.85

7.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 COP 5,019

$1.28 $1.28

25.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,007

$3.31 $3.31

-32.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,028

$4.40 $4.40

-48.86%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 COP 6,375

$1.13 $1.13

80.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,790

$2.21 $2.21

-30.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 COP 3,651

$1.92 $1.92

-39.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 COP 4,077

$1.53 $1.53

-14.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.2K

$8.26 $8.26

-52.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 43.7K

$12.94 $12.94

8.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 COP 5,439

$2.69 $2.69

-35.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 COP 8,956

$1.78 $1.78

61.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 COP 3,792

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 251.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,084

$3.95 $3.95

-66.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 COP 6,825

$1.95 $1.95

12.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.2K

$43.29 $43.29

-79.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 COP 4,260

$0.91 $0.91

50.55%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.8K COP 86.9M

$35.7K $35.7K

-21.98%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$35.8K COP 111.6M

$25.3K $25.3K

41.48%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$177 COP 553.2K

$199 $199

-10.92%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.88 COP 43.3K

$51.6 $51.6

-73.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.72 COP 92.8K

$59.1 $59.1

-49.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.88 COP 140.1K

$38.63 $38.63

16.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 53.4K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 20.7K

$15.12 $15.12

-56.02%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$813 COP 2.5M

$1,700 $1,700

-52.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 28.7M

$23.3K $23.3K

-60.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.5 COP 279.3K

$65.3 $65.3

37.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 COP 184.0K

$50.4 $50.4

17.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 COP 431.2K

$57.9 $57.9

138.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 318.7K

$122 $122

-16.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 COP 3.3M

$859 $859

23.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 COP 2.1M

$735 $735

-9.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,888 COP 5.9M

$1,353 $1,353

39.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 COP 3.2M

$970 $970

5.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.1M

$1,552 $1,552

169.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.2M

$1,471 $1,471

13.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$678 COP 2.1M

$3,912 $3,912

-82.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

6.26

74.76%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Waterloo, IA: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $859 in Waterloo, IA. 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 477% higher in Waterloo, IA, 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $55.0 in Waterloo, IA. Groceries tell a different story – $305 in Medellin vs $299 in Waterloo, IA – so Waterloo, IA 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 Waterloo, IA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Waterloo, IA is pricier by about 8%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $2,725 in Waterloo, IA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $55.0 in Waterloo, IA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in Waterloo, IA – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,681, than in Waterloo, IA at $1,817. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Waterloo, IA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Waterloo, IA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.