Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Zouk Mikael Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Zouk Mikael

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $1,108 in Zouk Mikael, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,717 in Zouk Mikael, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $2,326 in Zouk Mikael, rent included.

Medellin is about 8% cheaper than Zouk Mikael, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Zouk Mikael are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Zouk Mikael 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$10.64 LBP 952.5K

-44.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$59.4 LBP 5.3M

-43.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$7.93 LBP 709.9K

-8.83%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$3.31 LBP 295.9K

-50.76%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$1.56 LBP 139.9K

-30.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.88 LBP 79.0K

-17.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$3.41 LBP 304.9K

-48.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$4.86 LBP 435.0K

-33.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.71 LBP 152.6K

-38.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$0.32 LBP 28.8K

303.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$1.81 LBP 162.1K

-27.07%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$3.23 LBP 288.8K

-29.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$5.14 LBP 460.3K

-15.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$9.72 LBP 869.6K

-39.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$11.37 LBP 1.0M

-24.27%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$1.74 LBP 156.0K

29.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$1.46 LBP 130.7K

-26.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$1.15 LBP 103.1K

32.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$1.06 LBP 94.6K

33.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$0.41 LBP 36.7K

185.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$1.00 LBP 89.3K

17.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$0.81 LBP 72.7K

9.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.52 LBP 46.9K

73.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$2.54 LBP 227.8K

-11.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$9.98 LBP 893.5K

10.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$0.85 LBP 76.4K

34.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$2.13 LBP 190.3K

11.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$5.07 LBP 454.1K

-72.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$1.27 LBP 113.3K

49.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$20.02 LBP 1.8M

-61.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$0.95 LBP 84.8K

6.32%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$35.6K LBP 3.2B

-50.60%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$27.6K LBP 2.5B

-4.07%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$167 LBP 15.0M

-49.96%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$37.25 LBP 3.3M

-74.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$37.13 LBP 3.3M

-35.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$7.87 LBP 704.6K

-47.90%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$306 LBP 27.4M

1.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$4,512 LBP 403.8M

32.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$72.2 LBP 6.5M

-19.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$45.72 LBP 4.1M

-28.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$73.7 LBP 6.6M

35.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$95.4 LBP 8.5M

13.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$491 LBP 43.9M

-1.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$305 LBP 27.3M

24.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$1,006 LBP 90.0M

-16.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$501 LBP 44.9M

44.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

4.25

216.00%

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

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for Zouk Mikael: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $491 in Zouk Mikael. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $59.0 in Zouk Mikael. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $207 – 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 Zouk Mikael: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Zouk Mikael is pricier by about 9%, 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 $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,663 in Zouk Mikael. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $59.0 in Zouk Mikael. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 9% more in Zouk Mikael, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Zouk Mikael at $1,108. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Zouk Mikael it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Zouk Mikael makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.