😐A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $1,396 in Xilitla, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $2,231 in Xilitla, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $3,067 in Xilitla, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 20% more than Xilitla, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Medellin and Xilitla sit above the global median – Medellin by 23%, Xilitla by 2%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Xilitla
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.3K
$16.36MX$281
-50.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 151.0K
$45.78MX$786
4.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 31.2K
$11.24MX$193
-12.01%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,873
$4.10MX$70.3
-23.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 6,019
$1.73MX$29.63
10.40%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,763
$1.09MX$18.65
38.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,853
$3.83MX$65.7
-18.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 18.1K
$6.35MX$109
-9.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Xilitla
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,558
$1.60MX$27.49
-10.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,843
$3.40MX$58.4
-26.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,595
$1.96MX$33.69
-9.69%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,336
$3.16MX$54.3
-6.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.8K
$9.12MX$156
10.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.9K
$12.88MX$221
-21.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 45.1K
$19.73MX$339
-27.52%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 13.0K
$4.29MX$73.6
-3.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,073
$1.75MX$29.96
-8.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,083
$3.11MX$53.5
-27.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,104
$2.95MX$50.7
-23.73%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,444
$2.15MX$36.86
-5.12%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,842
$3.40MX$58.3
-54.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,691
$1.16MX$19.85
0.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,121
$1.46MX$25.00
-10.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.3K
$4.55MX$78.1
-14.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 44.2K
$17.69MX$304
-20.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,498
$2.65MX$45.45
-34.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 9,053
$3.98MX$68.4
-27.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Xilitla
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,834
$0.76MX$13.05
60.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 253.9K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,129
$4.76MX$81.8
-72.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,899
$4.60MX$79.0
-52.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.5K
$11.88MX$204
-26.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,306
$1.60MX$27.46
-14.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 87.8M
$22.5KMX$386.5K
23.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 112.8M
$25.3KMX$434.8K
41.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Xilitla
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 559.3K
$44.23MX$759
300.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.8K
$16.81MX$289
-17.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 93.8K
$43.70MX$750
-31.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Xilitla
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 141.6K
$38.63MX$663
16.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 54.0K
$22.19MX$381
-22.85%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 21.0K
$6.97MX$120
-4.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Xilitla
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.6M
$378MX$6,481
115.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 29.0M
$5,338MX$91.6K
72.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Xilitla
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 282.3K
$69.0MX$1,184
29.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 186.0K
$63.8MX$1,095
-7.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 435.9K
$119MX$2,034
16.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 322.1K
$154MX$2,643
-33.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Xilitla
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
$739MX$12.7K
43.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$449MX$7,709
47.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 6.0M
$1,020MX$17.5K
85.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
$725MX$12.4K
41.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.2M
$2,195MX$37.7K
90.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.3M
$1,209MX$20.7K
38.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Xilitla
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
12.05
-9.21%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Xilitla: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $739 in Xilitla. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $46.00 in Xilitla. Groceries tell a different story – $305 in Medellin vs $373 in Xilitla – so Medellin 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 Xilitla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Xilitla cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 20%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $2,093 in Xilitla. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Xilitla, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Xilitla?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $46.00 in Xilitla. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Xilitla?
Interestingly, groceries are about 22% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Xilitla?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Xilitla, where all-in costs run around $1,396, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Xilitla it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Xilitla more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Xilitla – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Xilitla?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Xilitla. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.