😐A single person spends $2,555 per month in Monument, CO vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,729 per month in Monument, CO vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,902 per month in Monument, CO vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Monument, CO costs about 151% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Monument, CO sits 90% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Monument, CO
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.31$20.31
$5.95COP 20.8K
241.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.7$72.7
$33.33COP 116.3K
118.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.13$10.13
$7.23COP 25.2K
40.11%
Cappuccino
$4.97$4.97
$1.63COP 5,687
204.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96$1.96
$1.09COP 3,821
79.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40$2.40
$0.73COP 2,548
228.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.40$6.40
$1.74COP 6,065
267.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.39$6.39
$3.23COP 11.3K
97.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Monument, CO
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.03$1.03
$1.05COP 3,662
-1.90%
White Bread(500g)
$3.14$3.14
$1.29COP 4,515
143.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.33$3.33
$1.32COP 4,617
152.27%
Eggs
$4.18$4.18
$2.27COP 7,927
84.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.14$11.14
$4.35COP 15.2K
156.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35$8.35
$5.88COP 20.5K
42.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.29$16.29
$8.61COP 30.0K
89.20%
Apples(1kg)
$3.96$3.96
$2.25COP 7,844
76.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56$1.56
$1.07COP 3,733
45.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.83$3.83
$1.52COP 5,322
151.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.71$4.71
$1.42COP 4,964
231.69%
Potato(1kg)
$2.27$2.27
$1.17COP 4,084
94.02%
Onion(1kg)
$1.94$1.94
$1.17COP 4,077
65.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.35$2.35
$0.89COP 3,096
164.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.04$2.04
$0.90COP 3,146
126.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.72$9.72
$2.25COP 7,837
332.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.83$18.83
$11.04COP 38.5K
70.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.31$2.31
$1.14COP 3,977
102.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78$2.78
$2.38COP 8,301
16.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Monument, CO
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.98$1.98
$0.84COP 2,916
135.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.95COP 146.4K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.44$2.44
$1.41COP 4,912
73.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.36$1.36
$1.90COP 6,634
-28.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.53$24.53
$7.75COP 27.0K
216.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85$0.85
$1.01COP 3,509
-15.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K$26.8K
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
52.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K$25.4K
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
-4.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monument, CO
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$166$166
$83.7COP 292.1K
97.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.32$43.32
$9.45COP 33.0K
358.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$77.7$77.7
$24.11COP 84.1K
222.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Monument, CO
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.08$43.08
$25.31COP 88.3K
70.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.14COP 66.8K
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.16$12.16
$4.10COP 14.3K
196.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Monument, CO
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,508$1,508
$312COP 1.1M
383.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.4K$12.4K
$5,993COP 20.9M
106.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Monument, CO
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8$58.8
$58.0COP 202.6K
1.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.88$36.88
$32.56COP 113.6K
13.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$81.3$81.3
$99.6COP 347.7K
-18.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102$102
$109COP 378.8K
-5.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Monument, CO
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628$1,628
$482COP 1.7M
237.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,337$1,337
$379COP 1.3M
252.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,588$2,588
$837COP 2.9M
208.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,198$2,198
$723COP 2.5M
203.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,639$2,639
$2,840COP 9.9M
-7.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,325$2,325
$1,223COP 4.3M
90.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Monument, CO
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$541COP 1.9M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.59
13.43
-50.93%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Monument, CO: June 8, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,628 in Monument, CO 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $73.0 in Monument, CO versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $363 vs $190 – 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
Monument, CO vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Monument, CO?
Yes – Monument, CO is pricier by about 151%, 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 $3,833 per month in Monument, CO and $1,525 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 Monument, CO or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $73.0 in Monument, CO and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Monument, CO and Medellin?
Groceries cost about 91% more in Monument, CO, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Monument, CO or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Monument, CO at $2,555. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Monument, CO it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Monument, CO 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, Monument, CO 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, Monument, CO makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Monument, CO vs other spots: cost of living compared