Cost of Living Comparison Between Newark, NJ and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Newark, NJ and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,062 per month in Newark, NJ vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,554 per month in Newark, NJ vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,046 per month in Newark, NJ vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Newark, NJ costs about 82% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Newark, NJ and Medellin sit above the global median – Newark, NJ by 124%, Medellin by 23%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$8.02 COP 25.5K

154.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.4 $99.4

$47.87 COP 152.0K

107.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.23 $14.23

$9.89 COP 31.4K

43.88%

Cappuccino

$6.33 $6.33

$3.13 COP 9,941

102.24%

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

$3.88 $3.88

$1.91 COP 6,061

103.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.51 COP 4,796

66.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.79 $7.79

$3.12 COP 9,921

149.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.83 $9.83

$5.75 COP 18.3K

70.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.44 COP 4,590

-6.25%

White Bread (500g)

$4.56 $4.56

$2.49 COP 7,898

83.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.12 $7.12

$1.77 COP 5,634

302.26%

Eggs

$5.87 $5.87

$2.96 COP 9,400

98.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.16 $7.16

$10.07 COP 32.0K

-28.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.22 $15.22

$10.12 COP 32.1K

50.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.66 $19.66

$14.30 COP 45.4K

37.48%

Apples (1kg)

$6.01 $6.01

$4.14 COP 13.1K

45.17%

Banana (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$1.61 COP 5,109

99.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.70 $5.70

$2.25 COP 7,132

153.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$2.25 COP 7,154

185.33%

Potato (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.04 COP 6,489

68.14%

Onion (1kg)

$4.18 $4.18

$1.54 COP 4,876

171.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.17 COP 3,716

129.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.31 COP 4,150

88.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.13 $12.13

$3.90 COP 12.4K

211.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.40 $20.40

$14.01 COP 44.5K

45.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 $1.86

$1.74 COP 5,536

6.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.87 COP 9,116

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.97 $5.97

$1.22 COP 3,860

389.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.6 $54.6

$80.5 COP 255.6K

-32.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 $3.05

$1.31 COP 4,157

132.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.19 COP 6,947

-2.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.43 $42.43

$8.71 COP 27.7K

387.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.37 COP 4,336

-28.47%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$27.8K COP 88.4M

27.12%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$35.8K COP 113.6M

-28.09%

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

$218 $218

$177 COP 563.1K

22.99%

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

$72.5 $72.5

$13.88 COP 44.1K

422.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.4 $72.4

$29.72 COP 94.4K

143.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.43 $29.43

$44.88 COP 142.6K

-34.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.20 $17.20

$17.12 COP 54.4K

0.47%

Cinema Ticket

$14.63 $14.63

$6.65 COP 21.1K

120.00%

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

$2,165 $2,165

$813 COP 2.6M

166.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$61.5K $61.5K

$9,187 COP 29.2M

569.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.6 $60.6

$89.5 COP 284.3K

-32.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.37 $28.37

$59.0 COP 187.3K

-51.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$138 COP 439.0K

-15.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 $127

$102 COP 324.4K

24.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,311 $2,311

$1,062 COP 3.4M

117.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,561 $1,561

$663 COP 2.1M

135.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,355 $4,355

$1,888 COP 6.0M

130.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,623 $2,623

$1,027 COP 3.3M

155.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,719 $5,719

$4,183 COP 13.3M

36.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,703 $5,703

$1,675 COP 5.3M

240.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,488 $3,488

$678 COP 2.2M

414.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.4

10.94

-41.50%

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

Last update for Newark, NJ: September 14, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,311 in Newark, NJ 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 415% higher in Newark, NJ, 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 $99.0 in Newark, NJ versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $487 vs $305 – 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

Newark, NJ vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Newark, NJ is pricier by about 82%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,592 per month in Newark, NJ 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 Medellin, 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 $99.0 in Newark, NJ and $48.00 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 $3,062 in Newark, NJ and $1,681 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,681, than in Newark, NJ at $3,062. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Newark, NJ it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Newark, NJ makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.