Cost of Living Comparison Between Monterrey and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Monterrey and Medellin

😐 Solo nomad: Monterrey is 46.9% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 56.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Monterrey is 51.8% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 65.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Monterrey
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.45 MX$254
$6.23 COP 26K
115.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.6 MX$1,013
$32.34 COP 134.8K
65.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.45 MX$198
$7.39 COP 30.8K
41.41%
Cappuccino
$3.69 MX$69.7
$1.72 COP 7,155
114.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 MX$27.29
$1.1 COP 4,575
30.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99 MX$18.72
$0.73 COP 3,060
35.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.62 MX$49.49
$1.66 COP 6,916
57.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.27 MX$80.8
$3.2 COP 13.3K
33.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Monterrey
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 MX$31.24
$1.09 COP 4,552
51.38%
White Bread (500g)
$2.63 MX$49.78
$1.24 COP 5,188
112.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.86 MX$35.1
$1.33 COP 5,544
39.85%
Eggs
$2.72 MX$51.4
$2.22 COP 9,252
22.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.13 MX$191
$4.55 COP 19K
122.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.06 MX$171
$5.71 COP 23.8K
58.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.66 MX$258
$8.59 COP 35.8K
59.02%
Apples (1kg)
$3.04 MX$57.5
$2.26 COP 9,410
34.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 MX$27.52
$1.07 COP 4,461
36.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.03 MX$38.39
$1.51 COP 6,293
34.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$39.26
$1.42 COP 5,911
46.48%
Potato (1kg)
$2.23 MX$42.09
$1.11 COP 4,619
100.90%
Onion (1kg)
$2.53 MX$47.89
$1.18 COP 4,932
114.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.5 MX$28.33
$0.89 COP 3,718
68.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$20.4
$0.84 COP 3,507
28.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 MX$80.8
$2.35 COP 9,809
81.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.62 MX$257
$9.34 COP 38.9K
45.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 MX$32.44
$1.18 COP 4,927
45.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16 MX$59.8
$2.49 COP 10.4K
26.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Monterrey
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 MX$15.62
$0.83 COP 3,464
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.3 MX$762
$41.9 COP 174.7K
-3.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.7 MX$32.18
$1.41 COP 5,899
20.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.01 MX$19.06
$1.96 COP 8,164
-48.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.55 MX$199
$7.85 COP 32.7K
34.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.3 MX$24.5
$1.02 COP 4,265
27.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K MX$502.3K
$17.6K COP 73.4M
50.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K MX$484.3K
$26.2K COP 109.2M
-2.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monterrey
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$121 MX$2,296
$82.5 COP 344.1K
47.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.79 MX$525
$9.44 COP 39.4K
194.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.17 MX$570
$23.51 COP 98K
28.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Monterrey
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.83 MX$715
$25.68 COP 107.1K
47.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.73 MX$411
$19.14 COP 79.8K
13.53%
Cinema Ticket
$5.99 MX$113
$3.96 COP 16.5K
51.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Monterrey
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$346 MX$6,550
$305 COP 1.3M
13.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,005 MX$170.2K
$5,925 COP 24.7M
52.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Monterrey
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 MX$1,099
$57.9 COP 241.4K
0.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.69 MX$788
$31.59 COP 131.7K
31.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 MX$2,030
$103 COP 430.1K
4.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127 MX$2,398
$106 COP 440.5K
20.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Monterrey
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$888 MX$16.8K
$489 COP 2M
81.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$654 MX$12.4K
$379 COP 1.6M
72.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,585 MX$30K
$827 COP 3.4M
91.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,412 MX$26.7K
$729 COP 3M
93.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,043 MX$57.5K
$2,190 COP 9.1M
38.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,611 MX$68.3K
$1,532 COP 6.4M
135.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Monterrey
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,026 MX$19.4K
$550 COP 2.3M
86.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.55
13.43
-14.00%

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

Last update for Monterrey: October 28, 2025

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

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