Cost of Living Comparison Between Orem, UT and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Orem, UT and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,714 per month in Orem, UT vs $1,028 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,682 per month in Orem, UT vs $1,586 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,650 per month in Orem, UT vs $2,144 in Medellin, rent included.

Orem, UT costs about 164% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Orem, UT sits 104% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.75 $14.75

$6.00 COP 20.6K

145.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.0 $60.0

$32.84 COP 112.5K

82.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.04 $11.04

$7.42 COP 25.4K

48.79%

Cappuccino

$6.28 $6.28

$1.65 COP 5,659

280.61%

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

$1.80 $1.80

$1.07 COP 3,663

68.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.22 $1.22

$0.76 COP 2,607

60.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.16 $6.16

$1.72 COP 5,908

258.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.57 $7.57

$3.20 COP 11.0K

136.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$1.05 COP 3,597

-11.43%

White Bread (500g)

$3.26 $3.26

$1.31 COP 4,479

148.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.34 COP 4,591

70.90%

Eggs

$2.90 $2.90

$2.19 COP 7,521

32.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$4.41 COP 15.1K

213.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.71 $12.71

$5.69 COP 19.5K

123.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.50 $21.50

$8.52 COP 29.2K

152.35%

Apples (1kg)

$3.70 $3.70

$2.34 COP 8,023

58.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.11 COP 3,804

48.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.07 $3.07

$1.52 COP 5,210

101.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.21 $5.21

$1.37 COP 4,680

280.29%

Potato (1kg)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.15 COP 3,950

75.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.18 COP 4,043

67.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.82 $1.82

$0.84 COP 2,885

116.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$0.86 COP 2,931

131.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.15 $9.15

$2.26 COP 7,753

304.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.04 $15.04

$11.60 COP 39.8K

29.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$1.20 COP 4,109

75.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 $3.08

$2.48 COP 8,484

24.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.45 $2.45

$0.79 COP 2,721

210.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$85.6 $85.6

$40.83 COP 139.9K

109.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.47 COP 5,023

3.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.92 COP 6,568

-53.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.80 $19.80

$7.77 COP 26.6K

154.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.01 COP 3,464

-8.91%

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

$22.9K $22.9K

$17.7K COP 60.5M

29.49%

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

$23.1K $23.1K

$26.5K COP 90.7M

-12.81%

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

$147 $147

$81.1 COP 277.9K

81.28%

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

$48.11 $48.11

$9.43 COP 32.3K

410.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.8 $65.8

$23.86 COP 81.8K

175.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.16 $30.16

$25.99 COP 89.1K

16.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.71 COP 64.1K

Cinema Ticket

$12.69 $12.69

$4.09 COP 14.0K

210.27%

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

$959 $959

$315 COP 1.1M

205.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.0K $10.0K

$6,022 COP 20.6M

66.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.9 $53.9

$59.7 COP 204.6K

-9.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.41 $35.41

$31.97 COP 109.6K

10.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.0 $84.0

$101 COP 346.9K

-17.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$160 $160

$105 COP 360.3K

52.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,803 $1,803

$485 COP 1.7M

271.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,420 $1,420

$365 COP 1.3M

288.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,463 $3,463

$827 COP 2.8M

318.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,986 $1,986

$730 COP 2.5M

171.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,348 $2,348

$2,992 COP 10.3M

-21.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,354 $2,354

$1,314 COP 4.5M

79.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,483 $3,483

$551 COP 1.9M

532.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.87

13.43

-48.85%

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

Last update for Orem, UT: June 15, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,803 in Orem, UT versus $485 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 532% higher in Orem, UT, 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 $60.0 in Orem, UT versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $387 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

Orem, UT vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Orem, UT is pricier by about 164%, 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 $4,071 per month in Orem, UT and $1,542 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 $60.0 in Orem, UT 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 $2,714 in Orem, UT and $1,028 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,028, than in Orem, UT at $2,714. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Orem, UT 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.

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.

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