Cost of Living Comparison Between New Haven, CT and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between New Haven, CT and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,452 per month in New Haven, CT vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,087 per month in New Haven, CT vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,722 per month in New Haven, CT vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

New Haven, CT costs about 43% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both New Haven, CT and Medellin sit above the global median – New Haven, CT by 78%, Medellin by 25%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New Haven, CT
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.22 $20.22
$8.03 COP 25.1K
151.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.6 $74.6
$48.26 COP 150.8K
54.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.14 $13.14
$9.77 COP 30.5K
34.49%
Cappuccino
$5.08 $5.08
$2.91 COP 9,095
74.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 $2.21
$1.94 COP 6,074
13.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 $1.58
$1.52 COP 4,754
3.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.84 $5.84
$3.09 COP 9,663
89.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.46 $8.46
$5.74 COP 17.9K
47.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New Haven, CT
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.20 $1.20
$1.36 COP 4,262
-11.76%
White Bread (500g)
$3.88 $3.88
$2.39 COP 7,460
62.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.39 $7.39
$1.70 COP 5,314
334.71%
Eggs
$5.58 $5.58
$2.87 COP 8,967
94.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.69 $10.69
$9.94 COP 31.1K
7.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.59 $10.59
$10.78 COP 33.7K
-1.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.05 $17.05
$14.73 COP 46.0K
15.75%
Apples (1kg)
$5.50 $5.50
$4.09 COP 12.8K
34.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.57 COP 4,911
8.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.35 $3.35
$2.13 COP 6,642
57.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.13 $3.13
$2.21 COP 6,917
41.63%
Potato (1kg)
$2.23 $2.23
$2.05 COP 6,396
8.78%
Onion (1kg)
$2.41 $2.41
$1.50 COP 4,700
60.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.78 $2.78
$1.19 COP 3,718
133.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.91 $2.91
$1.16 COP 3,619
150.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.23 $11.23
$3.90 COP 12.2K
187.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.18 $16.18
$14.44 COP 45.1K
12.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.58 COP 4,948
12.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 $2.87
$2.83 COP 8,836
1.41%
🚌 Getting Around
New Haven, CT
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.79 $1.79
$1.17 COP 3,650
52.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$62.5 $62.5
$77.7 COP 242.9K
-19.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 $3.02
$1.28 COP 4,014
135.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.09 COP 6,537
-3.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.26 $24.26
$8.62 COP 26.9K
181.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.96 $0.96
$1.30 COP 4,056
-26.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.9K $35.9K
$27.7K COP 86.4M
29.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K $25.1K
$35.5K COP 110.9M
-29.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New Haven, CT
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$181 $181
$176 COP 550.1K
2.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.26 $37.26
$13.37 COP 41.8K
178.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.1 $53.1
$29.89 COP 93.4K
77.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New Haven, CT
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.73 $31.73
$44.76 COP 139.8K
-29.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.06 COP 53.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.96 $13.96
$6.20 COP 19.4K
125.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New Haven, CT
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,101 $2,101
$793 COP 2.5M
164.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.5K $23.5K
$9,019 COP 28.2M
160.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New Haven, CT
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.46 $38.46
$85.6 COP 267.5K
-55.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.06 $24.06
$58.5 COP 182.7K
-58.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.0 $76.0
$136 COP 425.9K
-44.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$158 $158
$103 COP 322.2K
53.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New Haven, CT
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,849 $1,849
$1,060 COP 3.3M
74.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,180 $1,180
$680 COP 2.1M
73.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,996 $3,996
$2,012 COP 6.3M
98.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,833 $2,833
$1,169 COP 3.7M
142.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,865 $2,865
$4,111 COP 12.8M
-30.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,871 $2,871
$1,701 COP 5.3M
68.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New Haven, CT
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,922 $3,922
$665 COP 2.1M
489.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.04
10.94
-44.79%

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

Last update for New Haven, CT: August 31, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,849 in New Haven, CT versus $1,060 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 489% higher in New Haven, CT, 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 $75.0 in New Haven, CT versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $410 vs $303 – 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
New Haven, CT vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than New Haven, CT?
Yes – New Haven, CT is pricier by about 43%, 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 $3,678 per month in New Haven, CT and $2,574 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 New Haven, CT or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in New Haven, CT and $48.00 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 New Haven, CT and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,452 in New Haven, CT and $1,716 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in New Haven, CT or in Medellin?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,716, than in New Haven, CT at $2,452. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in New Haven, CT it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is New Haven, CT 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 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, New Haven, CT makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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