😐A single person spends $1,890 per month in Merignac vs $1,555 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,882 per month in Merignac vs $2,314 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,874 per month in Merignac vs $3,072 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Merignac costs about 21% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Merignac and Medellin sit above the global median – Merignac by 40%, Medellin by 15%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Merignac
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.29€15.36
$7.59COP 24.7K
127.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.8€70.9
$44.78COP 145.7K
78.16%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75€12.22
$9.24COP 30.1K
48.81%
Cappuccino
$4.05€3.60
$2.95COP 9,591
37.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91€2.58
$1.80COP 5,861
61.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46€1.30
$1.35COP 4,391
8.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.57€6.73
$2.93COP 9,544
158.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.95€6.17
$5.46COP 17.8K
27.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Merignac
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.20€1.07
$1.43COP 4,663
-16.08%
White Bread(500g)
$2.01€1.79
$2.39COP 7,785
-15.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.60€2.31
$1.60COP 5,209
62.50%
Eggs
$3.62€3.21
$2.88COP 9,364
25.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.86€12.31
$9.71COP 31.6K
42.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.09€12.51
$9.44COP 30.7K
49.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.43€18.15
$13.24COP 43.1K
54.31%
Apples(1kg)
$3.32€2.95
$3.75COP 12.2K
-11.47%
Banana(1kg)
$2.33€2.07
$1.45COP 4,703
60.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.34€2.96
$2.10COP 6,829
59.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.44€3.05
$2.13COP 6,930
61.50%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21€1.96
$1.92COP 6,259
15.10%
Onion(1kg)
$2.84€2.52
$1.53COP 4,984
85.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.32€1.17
$1.09COP 3,549
21.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53€0.47
$1.18COP 3,843
-55.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.35€11.86
$3.79COP 12.3K
252.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.00€7.99
$13.16COP 42.8K
-31.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.51€3.11
$1.64COP 5,337
114.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48€3.09
$2.28COP 7,410
52.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Merignac
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.16€1.92
$1.18COP 3,825
83.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$42.98€38.18
$73.6COP 239.5K
-41.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.30€2.04
$1.28COP 4,157
79.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91€1.69
$1.98COP 6,434
-3.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$38.31€34.03
$7.89COP 25.7K
385.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.84
$1.29COP 4,211
61.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.2K€31.2K
$26.8KCOP 87.2M
31.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3K€29.6K
$34.7KCOP 112.9M
-4.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Merignac
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$223€199
$158COP 513.6K
41.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.77€13.12
$13.39COP 43.6K
10.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.39€27.89
$27.28COP 88.8K
15.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Merignac
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.70€31.71
$44.15COP 143.7K
-19.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$15.99COP 52.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.11€10.76
$6.39COP 20.8K
89.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Merignac
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$792€703
$777COP 2.5M
1.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.3K€9,112
$8,800COP 28.6M
16.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Merignac
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$117€104
$82.7COP 269.2K
41.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.35€40.28
$56.1COP 182.6K
-19.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$110€98.0
$131COP 425.7K
-15.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$141€125
$95.9COP 312.1K
46.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Merignac
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$713€633
$1,006COP 3.3M
-29.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631€560
$627COP 2.0M
0.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,272€1,130
$1,826COP 5.9M
-30.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,120€995
$969COP 3.2M
15.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,806€3,381
$3,907COP 12.7M
-2.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,036€2,697
$1,576COP 5.1M
92.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Merignac
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$620COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.79
10.94
-65.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Merignac: September 29, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $713 in Merignac versus $1,006 in Medellin. 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 $80.0 in Merignac versus $45.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $358 vs $285 – 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
Merignac vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Merignac?
Yes – Merignac is pricier by about 21%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $2,834 per month in Merignac and $2,333 in Medellin. 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 Merignac or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Merignac and $45.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Merignac and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,890 in Merignac and $1,555 in Medellin. 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 Merignac or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,555, than in Merignac at $1,890. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Merignac it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Merignac or Medellin 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, Merignac or Medellin?
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, Merignac makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.