Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Yona Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Yona

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,018 per month in Medellin vs $318 in Yona, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,609 per month in Medellin vs $683 in Yona, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,200 per month in Medellin vs $1,047 in Yona, rent included.

Medellin costs about 220% more than Yona, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Yona are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Yona 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.93 COP 19.0K

$20.39 $20.39

-70.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.12 COP 106.0K

$78.7 $78.7

-57.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.12 COP 22.8K

$11.82 $11.82

-39.76%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 5,458

$5.90 $5.90

-71.02%

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

$1.05 COP 3,356

$1.94 $1.94

-45.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,311

$1.54 $1.54

-53.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,502

$5.11 $5.11

-66.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.2K

$7.05 $7.05

-55.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,408

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 COP 4,192

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 COP 4,256

Eggs

$2.28 COP 7,298

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.42 COP 14.1K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.92 COP 18.9K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 27.7K

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 7,504

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 COP 3,527

Oranges (1kg)

$1.47 COP 4,698

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,415

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,754

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,744

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,890

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,693

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 7,449

Wine (Bottle)

$11.92 COP 38.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 COP 3,673

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 COP 7,749

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,687

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.83 COP 130.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,517

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,127

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.83 COP 25.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,020

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

$17.8K COP 57.0M

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

$27.1K COP 86.7M

$24.4K $24.4K

10.93%

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

$83.3 COP 266.5K

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

$9.66 COP 30.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.22 COP 77.5K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.22 COP 80.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.33 COP 61.9K

Cinema Ticket

$4.07 COP 13.0K

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

$307 COP 981.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,981 COP 19.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 191.9K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.65 COP 104.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 323.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 345.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$816 COP 2.6M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$707 COP 2.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,190 COP 10.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,446 COP 4.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$622 COP 2.0M

$3,248 $3,248

-80.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

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

Last update for Medellin: July 20, 2026

Last update for Yona: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 422% higher in Yona, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $79.0 in Yona. Use this as a proxy for overall food spending across the two cities.

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 Yona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 220%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,527 per month in Medellin and $477 in Yona. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,018 in Medellin and $318 in Yona. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $79.0 in Yona. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Yona, where all-in costs run around $318, than in Medellin at $1,018. In Yona it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Yona – 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 Yona. 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.