Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Zlin Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Zlin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,716 per month in Medellin vs $1,930 in Zlin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,527 per month in Medellin vs $2,631 in Zlin, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,338 per month in Medellin vs $3,333 in Zlin, rent included.

Medellin is about 11% cheaper than Zlin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Zlin sit above the global median – Medellin by 25%, Zlin by 40%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Zlin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03 COP 25.2K
$9.77 Kč 203
-17.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.26 COP 151.7K
$36.77 Kč 764
31.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.77 COP 30.7K
$6.85 Kč 142
42.63%
Cappuccino
$2.91 COP 9,149
$3.31 Kč 68.8
-12.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 COP 6,110
$2.15 Kč 44.66
-9.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 COP 4,783
$1.68 Kč 34.99
-9.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 COP 9,721
$2.47 Kč 51.3
25.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74 COP 18.1K
$2.96 Kč 61.6
93.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Zlin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 COP 4,287
$1.07 Kč 22.29
27.10%
White Bread (500g)
$2.39 COP 7,505
$1.25 Kč 26.06
91.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,346
$2.34 Kč 48.73
-27.35%
Eggs
$2.87 COP 9,021
$3.67 Kč 76.3
-21.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.94 COP 31.2K
$13.81 Kč 287
-28.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.78 COP 33.9K
$10.05 Kč 209
7.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.73 COP 46.3K
$14.91 Kč 310
-1.21%
Apples (1kg)
$4.09 COP 12.8K
$1.74 Kč 36.19
135.06%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 COP 4,940
$1.81 Kč 37.66
-13.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 COP 6,682
$2.22 Kč 46.18
-4.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.21 COP 6,959
$3.59 Kč 74.6
-38.44%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 COP 6,435
$1.11 Kč 23.11
84.68%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 COP 4,728
$0.97 Kč 20.15
54.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 COP 3,740
$1.49 Kč 30.98
-20.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 COP 3,640
$0.68 Kč 14.18
70.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.2K
$7.58 Kč 157
-48.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.44 COP 45.4K
$7.00 Kč 145
106.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 COP 4,978
$0.87 Kč 18.16
81.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 COP 8,889
$2.03 Kč 42.22
39.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Zlin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,672
$0.91 Kč 18.94
28.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.7 COP 244.3K
$29.13 Kč 606
166.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 COP 4,038
$2.81 Kč 58.4
-54.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.09 COP 6,576
$1.72 Kč 35.84
21.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.62 COP 27.1K
$16.31 Kč 339
-47.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 COP 4,080
$1.76 Kč 36.59
-26.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K COP 86.9M
$31.9K Kč 662.4K
-13.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5K COP 111.6M
$30.5K Kč 634.4K
16.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Zlin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 COP 553.4K
$437 Kč 9,087
-59.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 COP 42.0K
$20.23 Kč 421
-33.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.89 COP 94.0K
$20.29 Kč 422
47.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Zlin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.76 COP 140.7K
$52.4 Kč 1,088
-14.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06 COP 53.6K
$12.41 Kč 258
37.47%
Cinema Ticket
$6.20 COP 19.5K
$11.15 Kč 232
-44.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Zlin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$793 COP 2.5M
$263 Kč 5,463
201.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,019 COP 28.4M
$5,636 Kč 117.1K
60.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Zlin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6 COP 269.1K
$116 Kč 2,409
-26.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.5 COP 183.8K
$35.64 Kč 741
64.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$136 COP 428.4K
$139 Kč 2,886
-1.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 COP 324.1K
$116 Kč 2,410
-11.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Zlin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,060 COP 3.3M
$819 Kč 17.0K
29.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$680 COP 2.1M
$691 Kč 14.4K
-1.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,012 COP 6.3M
$1,237 Kč 25.7K
62.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,169 COP 3.7M
$934 Kč 19.4K
25.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,111 COP 12.9M
$5,280 Kč 109.7K
-22.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,701 COP 5.3M
$3,656 Kč 76.0K
-53.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Zlin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$665 COP 2.1M
$1,576 Kč 32.8K
-57.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
5.33
105.25%

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

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Last update for Zlin: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,060 in Medellin versus $819 in Zlin. 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 137% higher in Zlin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $37.00 in Zlin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $303 vs $272 – making Zlin 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 – Zlin is pricier by about 12%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $2,574 per month in Medellin and $2,895 in Zlin. 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 Medellin, 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 Zlin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $37.00 in Zlin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Zlin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,716 in Medellin and $1,930 in Zlin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Zlin?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,716, than in Zlin at $1,930. 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 – 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 – 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.

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