Cost of Living Comparison Between Monrovia and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Monrovia and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,300 per month in Monrovia vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,887 per month in Monrovia vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,474 per month in Monrovia vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Monrovia is about 23% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Monrovia sits 5% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.39 LRD 1,273

$8.02 COP 25.4K

-7.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.87 COP 152.0K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.06 LRD 1,907

$9.89 COP 31.4K

11.83%

Cappuccino

$3.04 LRD 524

$3.13 COP 9,937

-2.88%

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

$1.94 LRD 335

$1.91 COP 6,058

1.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 LRD 351

$1.51 COP 4,794

35.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.04 LRD 696

$3.12 COP 9,917

29.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 LRD 521

$5.75 COP 18.3K

-47.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 LRD 370

$1.44 COP 4,587

49.31%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 LRD 313

$2.49 COP 7,894

-27.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.25 LRD 905

$1.77 COP 5,631

196.61%

Eggs

$3.68 LRD 634

$2.96 COP 9,396

24.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.94 LRD 1,368

$10.07 COP 32.0K

-21.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.75 LRD 2,025

$10.12 COP 32.1K

16.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 LRD 2,331

$14.30 COP 45.4K

-5.38%

Apples (1kg)

$1.60 LRD 276

$4.14 COP 13.1K

-61.35%

Banana (1kg)

$8.23 LRD 1,418

$1.61 COP 5,106

411.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$10.28 LRD 1,771

$2.25 COP 7,129

356.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$11.10 LRD 1,913

$2.25 COP 7,150

393.33%

Potato (1kg)

$2.17 LRD 375

$2.04 COP 6,486

6.37%

Onion (1kg)

$10.77 LRD 1,856

$1.54 COP 4,873

599.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.76 LRD 821

$1.17 COP 3,715

306.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 LRD 342

$1.31 COP 4,148

51.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.12 LRD 883

$3.90 COP 12.4K

31.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.02 LRD 1,211

$14.01 COP 44.5K

-49.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 LRD 435

$1.74 COP 5,534

45.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 LRD 608

$2.87 COP 9,112

23.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.09 LRD 532

$1.22 COP 3,858

153.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.12 LRD 3,468

$80.5 COP 255.5K

-75.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.95 LRD 335

$1.31 COP 4,155

48.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 LRD 313

$2.19 COP 6,944

-17.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.79 LRD 4,273

$8.71 COP 27.7K

184.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 LRD 220

$1.37 COP 4,334

-7.30%

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

$19.7K LRD 3.4M

$27.8K COP 88.4M

-29.33%

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

$15.0K LRD 2.6M

$35.8K COP 113.6M

-57.94%

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

$149 LRD 25.8K

$177 COP 562.9K

-15.74%

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

$22.31 LRD 3,846

$13.88 COP 44.1K

60.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$183 LRD 31.5K

$29.72 COP 94.4K

514.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 LRD 10.8K

$44.88 COP 142.5K

40.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.16 LRD 1,751

$17.12 COP 54.4K

-40.65%

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 LRD 838

$6.65 COP 21.1K

-26.92%

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

$101 LRD 17.4K

$813 COP 2.6M

-87.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,018 LRD 175.5K

$9,187 COP 29.2M

-88.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.62 LRD 4,243

$89.5 COP 284.1K

-72.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.27 LRD 5,562

$59.0 COP 187.2K

-45.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.5 LRD 9,393

$138 COP 438.8K

-60.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.8 LRD 16.2K

$102 COP 324.2K

-8.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$255 LRD 43.9K

$1,062 COP 3.4M

-76.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$96.3 LRD 16.6K

$663 COP 2.1M

-85.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$653 LRD 112.5K

$1,888 COP 6.0M

-65.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$269 LRD 46.4K

$1,027 COP 3.3M

-73.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$686 LRD 118.3K

$678 COP 2.2M

1.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

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

Last update for Monrovia: September 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $255 in Monrovia versus $1,062 in Medellin. 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 1% higher in Monrovia, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

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

Monrovia vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 29%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,950 per month in Monrovia and $2,521 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Monrovia, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 300% less in Monrovia. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Interestingly, groceries are about 50% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Monrovia, where all-in costs run around $1,300, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Monrovia it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Monrovia – 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 Monrovia. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.