Cost of Living Comparison Between Monteria and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Monteria and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $752 per month in Monteria vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,162 per month in Monteria vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,572 per month in Monteria vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Monteria is about 26% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Monteria and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Monteria 44% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.95 COP 17.3K

$5.95 COP 20.8K

-16.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.49 COP 109.9K

$33.33 COP 116.3K

-5.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.15 COP 25.0K

$7.23 COP 25.2K

-1.11%

Cappuccino

$1.77 COP 6,175

$1.63 COP 5,687

8.59%

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

$0.87 COP 3,054

$1.09 COP 3,821

-20.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 COP 2,233

$0.73 COP 2,548

-12.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.30 COP 4,533

$1.74 COP 6,065

-25.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 COP 6,879

$3.23 COP 11.3K

-39.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 COP 3,199

$1.05 COP 3,662

-12.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.32 COP 4,601

$1.29 COP 4,515

2.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 COP 3,545

$1.32 COP 4,617

-22.73%

Eggs

$1.49 COP 5,202

$2.27 COP 7,927

-34.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.62 COP 16.1K

$4.35 COP 15.2K

6.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.87 COP 10.0K

$5.88 COP 20.5K

-51.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.83 COP 13.4K

$8.61 COP 30.0K

-55.52%

Apples (1kg)

$1.91 COP 6,657

$2.25 COP 7,844

-15.11%

Banana (1kg)

$0.47 COP 1,637

$1.07 COP 3,733

-56.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.00 COP 3,499

$1.52 COP 5,322

-34.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.78 COP 2,725

$1.42 COP 4,964

-45.07%

Potato (1kg)

$0.89 COP 3,090

$1.17 COP 4,084

-23.93%

Onion (1kg)

$1.00 COP 3,478

$1.17 COP 4,077

-14.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 COP 3,068

$0.89 COP 3,096

-1.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 COP 1,612

$0.90 COP 3,146

-48.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.74 COP 9,576

$2.25 COP 7,837

21.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.05 COP 35.1K

$11.04 COP 38.5K

-8.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,943

$1.14 COP 3,977

-26.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 COP 4,459

$2.38 COP 8,301

-46.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 COP 2,397

$0.84 COP 2,916

-17.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.41 COP 106.1K

$41.95 COP 146.4K

-27.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 COP 6,847

$1.41 COP 4,912

39.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.81 COP 9,821

$1.90 COP 6,634

47.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.31 COP 15.0K

$7.75 COP 27.0K

-44.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 COP 3,260

$1.01 COP 3,509

-7.92%

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

$14.0K COP 49.0M

$17.6K COP 61.4M

-20.11%

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

$22.5K COP 78.5M

$26.5K COP 92.5M

-15.07%

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

$95.7 COP 334.0K

$83.7 COP 292.1K

14.35%

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

$7.43 COP 25.9K

$9.45 COP 33.0K

-21.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.99 COP 66.3K

$24.11 COP 84.1K

-21.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.46 COP 81.9K

$25.31 COP 88.3K

-7.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.72 COP 33.9K

$19.14 COP 66.8K

-49.22%

Cinema Ticket

$3.85 COP 13.4K

$4.10 COP 14.3K

-6.10%

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

$168 COP 587.1K

$312 COP 1.1M

-46.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,852 COP 6.5M

$5,993 COP 20.9M

-69.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 COP 207.8K

$58.0 COP 202.6K

2.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.22 COP 67.1K

$32.56 COP 113.6K

-40.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.2 COP 210.0K

$99.6 COP 347.7K

-39.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.34 COP 126.8K

$109 COP 378.8K

-66.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$286 COP 998.0K

$482 COP 1.7M

-40.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 COP 845.5K

$379 COP 1.3M

-36.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$535 COP 1.9M

$837 COP 2.9M

-36.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 COP 1.5M

$723 COP 2.5M

-40.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,569 COP 5.5M

$2,840 COP 9.9M

-44.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,245 COP 4.3M

$1,223 COP 4.3M

1.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$358 COP 1.2M

$541 COP 1.9M

-33.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

-25.54%

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

Last update for Monteria: June 8, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $286 in Monteria versus $482 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 51% higher in Medellin, 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 $31.00 in Monteria versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $133 vs $190 – making Monteria 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

Monteria vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 35%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,127 per month in Monteria and $1,525 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Monteria, 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 $31.00 in Monteria and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $752 in Monteria and $1,017 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Monteria, where all-in costs run around $752, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Monteria it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Monteria – 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 Monteria. 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.