Cost of Living Comparison Between Merced, CA and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Merced, CA and Medellin

😐 Solo nomad: Merced, CA is 79.5% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 143.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Merced, CA is 69.9% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 121.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Merced, CA
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.79 $19.79
$6.03 COP 22.7K
228.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.33 $39.33
$33.17 COP 124.8K
18.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.36 $11.36
$7.29 COP 27.4K
55.83%
Cappuccino
$5.76 $5.76
$1.63 COP 6,133
253.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04 $3.04
$1.05 COP 3,947
189.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 $2.04
$0.77 COP 2,899
164.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.79 $8.79
$1.73 COP 6,510
408.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.91 $9.91
$3.18 COP 12.0K
211.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Merced, CA
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.19 $1.19
$1.07 COP 4,015
11.21%
White Bread (500g)
$2.81 $2.81
$1.31 COP 4,935
114.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.29 $3.29
$1.38 COP 5,195
138.41%
Eggs
$4.88 $4.88
$2.25 COP 8,457
116.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.82 $10.82
$4.48 COP 16.9K
141.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.26 $15.26
$5.74 COP 21.6K
165.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.83 $17.83
$8.86 COP 33.3K
101.24%
Apples (1kg)
$5.84 $5.84
$2.24 COP 8,438
160.71%
Banana (1kg)
$2.45 $2.45
$1.06 COP 3,988
131.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.51 COP 5,697
0.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.50 $4.50
$1.36 COP 5,119
230.88%
Potato (1kg)
$2.11 $2.11
$1.12 COP 4,218
88.39%
Onion (1kg)
$3.40 $3.40
$1.17 COP 4,400
190.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 $1.01
$0.90 COP 3,395
12.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.88 $2.88
$0.84 COP 3,150
242.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.92 $9.92
$2.26 COP 8,501
338.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.97 $14.97
$9.97 COP 37.5K
50.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 $2.26
$1.18 COP 4,451
91.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.39 COP 8,993
39.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Merced, CA
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.47 $1.47
$0.86 COP 3,233
70.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$60.8 $60.8
$41.45 COP 156.0K
46.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.94 $2.94
$1.47 COP 5,521
100.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$1.95 COP 7,323
-14.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.32 $27.32
$7.76 COP 29.2K
252.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 $1.24
$0.97 COP 3,640
27.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.0K $30.0K
$17.9K COP 67.5M
66.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K $26.6K
$26.7K COP 100.6M
-0.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Merced, CA
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$273 $273
$81.1 COP 305.2K
236.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.81 $34.81
$9.40 COP 35.4K
270.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.0 $69.0
$23.61 COP 88.8K
192.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Merced, CA
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.92 $33.92
$25.55 COP 96.1K
32.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.81 $13.81
$19.29 COP 72.6K
-28.41%
Cinema Ticket
$15.41 $15.41
$4.10 COP 15.4K
275.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Merced, CA
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,931 $1,931
$306 COP 1.2M
530.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.7K $25.7K
$5,899 COP 22.2M
336.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Merced, CA
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.3 $53.3
$59.8 COP 225.1K
-10.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.62 $43.62
$31.96 COP 120.3K
36.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.3 $89.3
$103 COP 386.5K
-13.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$137 $137
$108 COP 405.9K
26.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Merced, CA
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,597 $1,597
$483 COP 1.8M
230.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,100 $1,100
$377 COP 1.4M
191.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,033 $2,033
$822 COP 3.1M
147.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,919 $1,919
$721 COP 2.7M
166.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,842 $2,842
$2,784 COP 10.5M
2.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,936 $2,936
$1,320 COP 5.0M
122.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Merced, CA
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,311 $3,311
$538 COP 2.0M
515.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.36
13.43
-52.64%

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

Last update for Merced, CA: March 2, 2026

Last update for Medellin: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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