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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,030 per month in Medellin vs $315 in Yona, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,586 per month in Medellin vs $677 in Yona, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,039 in Yona, rent included.

Medellin costs about 227% more than Yona, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Yona are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Yona 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.2K

$20.11 $20.11

-70.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.17 COP 118.7K

$79.4 $79.4

-58.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.25 COP 25.9K

$11.77 $11.77

-38.40%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,137

$6.09 $6.09

-71.92%

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

$1.09 COP 3,915

$1.96 $1.96

-44.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,743

$1.51 $1.51

-49.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 COP 6,254

$4.90 $4.90

-64.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 11.4K

$7.02 $7.02

-54.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,792

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,657

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,926

Eggs

$2.21 COP 7,908

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.52 COP 16.2K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.80 COP 20.7K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 32.1K

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 COP 8,182

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,791

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 COP 5,411

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,869

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,146

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,174

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 COP 2,960

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 COP 3,043

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.35 COP 8,423

Wine (Bottle)

$11.09 COP 39.7K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 COP 4,133

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,853

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,827

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.85 COP 149.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,140

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,793

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.70 COP 27.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 COP 3,680

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

$17.7K COP 63.3M

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

$27.0K COP 96.7M

$24.1K $24.1K

12.33%

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

$81.4 COP 291.4K

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

$9.42 COP 33.7K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.77 COP 85.1K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.86 COP 92.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.34 COP 69.2K

Cinema Ticket

$4.05 COP 14.5K

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

$312 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,067 COP 21.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 COP 210.7K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.82 COP 117.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 COP 359.6K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 COP 380.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 COP 1.8M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$371 COP 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$715 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,952 COP 10.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,394 COP 5.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$532 COP 1.9M

$3,207 $3,207

-83.41%

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Yona: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Medellin versus $0 in Yona. 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 503% 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 in Medellin versus $79 in Yona. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $0 in Yona – so Yona 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 Yona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 227%, 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 $1,544 per month in Medellin and $473 in Yona. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,030 in Medellin and $315 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 $315, than in Medellin at $1,030. 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.