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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $321 in Yona, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $687 in Yona, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $1,053 in Yona, rent included.

Medellin costs about 215% 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

$5.99 COP 21.5K

$20.17 $20.17

-70.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 118.1K

$80.6 $80.6

-59.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.5K

$11.97 $11.97

-40.77%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,154

$6.06 $6.06

-71.78%

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

$1.10 COP 3,949

$2.04 $2.04

-46.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,798

$1.54 $1.54

-49.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 6,035

$4.90 $4.90

-65.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

$6.80 $6.80

-54.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,930

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,536

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,953

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,876

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.8K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.2K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 32.0K

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,401

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,801

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,408

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,955

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,137

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,181

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,202

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 3,016

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,196

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,311

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,880

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,075

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 148.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,297

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,053

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,430

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

$18.1K COP 65.2M

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

$26.5K COP 95.2M

$23.9K $23.9K

10.82%

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

$82.3 COP 295.6K

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

$9.50 COP 34.1K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 87.1K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 93.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 68.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.1K

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

$309 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 210.8K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 116.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 368.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 389.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$3,206 $3,206

-84.04%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Yona: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 526% 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 $81.0 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 215%, 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 $1,519 per month in Medellin and $482 in Yona. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $321 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 $81.0 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 $321, than in Medellin at $1,013. 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.