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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $1,587 in Zlin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $2,218 in Zlin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $2,849 in Zlin, rent included.

Medellin is about 35% cheaper than Zlin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Zlin is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Zlin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16 COP 20.1K
$9.13 Kč 194
-32.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60 COP 106.1K
$37.06 Kč 785
-12.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.34 COP 23.9K
$6.25 Kč 132
17.44%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 5,599
$2.89 Kč 61.3
-40.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,420
$1.86 Kč 39.41
-43.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,515
$1.43 Kč 30.32
-46.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 COP 5,487
$2.26 Kč 47.96
-25.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.3K
$2.86 Kč 60.5
10.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Zlin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,423
$1.06 Kč 22.52
-0.94%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COP 4,236
$1.29 Kč 27.37
0.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 COP 4,544
$2.38 Kč 50.5
-41.18%
Eggs
$2.16 COP 7,046
$3.50 Kč 74.1
-38.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.39 COP 14.3K
$12.86 Kč 273
-65.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COP 19.1K
$9.49 Kč 201
-38.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 28.1K
$12.88 Kč 273
-32.92%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 COP 7,425
$1.82 Kč 38.56
25.27%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,603
$1.52 Kč 32.19
-26.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,982
$2.23 Kč 47.32
-31.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 COP 4,410
$3.21 Kč 68.0
-57.94%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,674
$1.13 Kč 23.95
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,692
$1.02 Kč 21.59
10.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 2,753
$1.48 Kč 31.41
-42.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 2,975
$0.66 Kč 13.93
37.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 COP 7,629
$7.66 Kč 162
-69.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.37 COP 40.3K
$6.51 Kč 138
90.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 3,909
$0.78 Kč 16.54
53.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 8,104
$2.16 Kč 45.79
15.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Zlin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,727
$1.19 Kč 25.12
-29.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.57 COP 132.1K
$27.61 Kč 585
46.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,623
$2.32 Kč 49.12
-38.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 COP 6,235
$1.06 Kč 22.43
81.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.66 COP 24.9K
$14.26 Kč 302
-46.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,223
$1.74 Kč 36.82
-43.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K COP 58.7M
$23.3K Kč 494.8K
-22.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K COP 86.7M
$25.7K Kč 543.5K
3.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Zlin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 COP 263.1K
$308 Kč 6,526
-73.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95 COP 32.4K
$26.41 Kč 560
-62.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18 COP 78.7K
$19.61 Kč 416
23.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Zlin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.08 COP 81.6K
$45.87 Kč 972
-45.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15 COP 62.3K
$9.40 Kč 199
103.72%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98 COP 13.0K
$9.84 Kč 208
-59.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Zlin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 993.4K
$899 Kč 19.0K
-66.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,059 COP 19.7M
$14.4K Kč 306.0K
-58.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Zlin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 COP 189.2K
$83.1 Kč 1,761
-30.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20 COP 104.8K
$34.32 Kč 727
-6.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 327.9K
$98.3 Kč 2,083
2.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 350.8K
$126 Kč 2,661
-14.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Zlin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 COP 1.6M
$702 Kč 14.9K
-32.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 COP 1.2M
$580 Kč 12.3K
-35.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 COP 2.7M
$1,169 Kč 24.8K
-27.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$730 COP 2.4M
$835 Kč 17.7K
-12.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,215 COP 10.5M
$5,073 Kč 107.5K
-36.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,372 COP 4.5M
$3,541 Kč 75.0K
-61.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Zlin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 COP 2.0M
$1,519 Kč 32.2K
-59.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
4.84
177.48%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Zlin: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $702 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 146% 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $37.00 in Zlin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $255 – 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 – Zlin is pricier by about 54%, 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $2,380 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 $33.00 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 $1,031 in Medellin and $1,587 in Zlin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Zlin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Zlin at $1,587. 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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