Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and ZlinCost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Zlin
Monthly Cost of Living
πA single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $1,640 in Zlin, rent included.
πA couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $2,261 in Zlin, rent included.
πA family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $2,881 in Zlin, rent included.
πMedellin is about 38% cheaper than Zlin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πMedellin sits 24% below the global median, while Zlin is 22% above β they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Zlin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99COPΒ 21.4K
$9.17KΔΒ 191
-34.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86COPΒ 117.2K
$36.92KΔΒ 770
-11.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09COPΒ 25.3K
$6.12KΔΒ 128
15.85%
Cappuccino
$1.71COPΒ 6,105
$2.95KΔΒ 61.4
-42.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,918
$1.84KΔΒ 38.31
-40.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COPΒ 2,776
$1.49KΔΒ 31.16
-47.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68COPΒ 5,987
$2.28KΔΒ 47.47
-26.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07COPΒ 10.9K
$2.74KΔΒ 57.1
12.04%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Zlin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09COPΒ 3,899
$1.03KΔΒ 21.40
5.83%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COPΒ 4,500
$1.33KΔΒ 27.77
-5.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,914
$2.42KΔΒ 50.4
-42.98%
Eggs
$2.19COPΒ 7,813
$3.50KΔΒ 73.0
-37.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.40COPΒ 15.7K
$12.87KΔΒ 268
-65.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63COPΒ 20.1K
$9.24KΔΒ 193
-39.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89COPΒ 31.7K
$13.32KΔΒ 278
-33.26%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COPΒ 8,334
$1.84KΔΒ 38.29
27.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COPΒ 3,771
$1.56KΔΒ 32.48
-32.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50COPΒ 5,365
$2.27KΔΒ 47.41
-33.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,915
$3.15KΔΒ 65.7
-56.19%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COPΒ 4,104
$1.14KΔΒ 23.67
0.88%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COPΒ 4,148
$1.02KΔΒ 21.31
13.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,176
$1.49KΔΒ 31.10
-40.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COPΒ 2,992
$0.65KΔΒ 13.50
29.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28COPΒ 8,131
$7.43KΔΒ 155
-69.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.64COPΒ 37.9K
$6.97KΔΒ 145
52.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COPΒ 4,276
$0.75KΔΒ 15.56
60.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COPΒ 8,809
$2.16KΔΒ 45.03
14.35%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Zlin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86COPΒ 3,051
$1.15KΔΒ 23.98
-25.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.40COPΒ 147.6K
$28.44KΔΒ 593
45.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COPΒ 5,255
$2.28KΔΒ 47.58
-35.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96COPΒ 6,997
$1.10KΔΒ 22.84
78.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.74COPΒ 27.6K
$13.91KΔΒ 290
-44.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95COPΒ 3,403
$1.70KΔΒ 35.41
-44.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOPΒ 64.6M
$23.3KKΔΒ 485.5K
-22.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 94.4M
$25.3KKΔΒ 528.3K
4.52%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Zlin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.3COPΒ 293.2K
$312KΔΒ 6,503
-73.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50COPΒ 33.9K
$26.51KΔΒ 553
-64.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23COPΒ 86.4K
$20.13KΔΒ 420
20.37%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Zlin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.89COPΒ 92.3K
$47.23KΔΒ 985
-45.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00COPΒ 67.7K
$9.24KΔΒ 193
105.63%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93COPΒ 14.0K
$9.77KΔΒ 204
-59.77%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Zlin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309COPΒ 1.1M
$897KΔΒ 18.7K
-65.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,965COPΒ 21.3M
$14.4KKΔΒ 300.5K
-58.61%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Zlin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COPΒ 209.1K
$85.7KΔΒ 1,788
-31.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35COPΒ 115.3K
$34.21KΔΒ 713
-5.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103COPΒ 365.7K
$96.1KΔΒ 2,004
6.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COPΒ 386.5K
$125KΔΒ 2,600
-13.05%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Zlin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COPΒ 1.7M
$716KΔΒ 14.9K
-33.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.4M
$594KΔΒ 12.4K
-36.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COPΒ 3.0M
$1,145KΔΒ 23.9K
-26.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$724COPΒ 2.6M
$845KΔΒ 17.6K
-14.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,791COPΒ 9.9M
$5,269KΔΒ 109.8K
-47.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,211COPΒ 4.3M
$3,677KΔΒ 76.7K
-67.06%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Zlin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$512COPΒ 1.8M
$1,544KΔΒ 32.2K
-66.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
4.84
177.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Last update for Zlin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $716 in Zlin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
π°Salaries run about 202% higher in Zlin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $37.00 in Zlin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $257 β making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Zlin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zlin cheaper than Medellin?
Yes β Zlin is pricier by about 62%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,519 per month in Medellin and $2,461 in Zlin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Zlin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $1,640 in Zlin. The difference isn't just one category β it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Zlin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Zlin at $1,640. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Zlin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Zlin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin β 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 Zlin?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison β central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Zlin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.