Cost of Living Comparison Between Pago Pago and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Pago Pago and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,465 per month in Pago Pago vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,287 per month in Pago Pago vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,109 per month in Pago Pago vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.

Pago Pago is about 11% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Pago Pago and Medellin sit above the global median – Pago Pago by 6%, Medellin by 19%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.04 COP 24.8K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.55 $35.55

$48.29 COP 148.6K

-26.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.17 $10.17

$9.42 COP 29.0K

7.96%

Cappuccino

$2.94 COP 9,040

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

$1.86 COP 5,735

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.46 COP 4,479

-32.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 COP 9,882

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.09 $4.09

$5.71 COP 17.6K

-28.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.44 COP 4,428

81.94%

White Bread (500g)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.40 COP 7,389

23.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$1.70 COP 5,228

157.06%

Eggs

$4.40 $4.40

$2.89 COP 8,896

52.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.35 $10.35

$10.06 COP 30.9K

2.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.05 $10.05

$9.97 COP 30.7K

0.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.24 $11.24

$14.20 COP 43.7K

-20.85%

Apples (1kg)

$5.87 $5.87

$3.98 COP 12.3K

47.49%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.58 COP 4,878

-38.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.07 $3.07

$2.15 COP 6,624

42.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$2.30 COP 7,078

75.65%

Potato (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$2.00 COP 6,169

94.50%

Onion (1kg)

$3.98 $3.98

$1.51 COP 4,646

163.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.20 COP 3,701

68.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.28 COP 3,946

55.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.46 $11.46

$3.84 COP 11.8K

198.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$14.01 COP 43.1K

7.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.71 COP 5,256

-40.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.74 COP 8,440

8.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.25 COP 3,834

59.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$124 $124

$77.9 COP 239.7K

59.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.86 $4.86

$1.31 COP 4,016

270.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.17 COP 6,680

-10.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.41 $29.41

$8.29 COP 25.5K

254.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$1.36 COP 4,172

-4.41%

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

$30.5K $30.5K

$27.5K COP 84.5M

10.88%

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

$20.1K $20.1K

$36.5K COP 112.4M

-44.86%

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

$408 $408

$169 COP 519.2K

141.65%

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

$29.64 $29.64

$13.57 COP 41.8K

118.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.2 $75.2

$28.32 COP 87.2K

165.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.40 $49.40

$45.71 COP 140.7K

8.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.03 $10.03

$17.22 COP 53.0K

-41.75%

Cinema Ticket

$9.25 $9.25

$6.65 COP 20.5K

39.10%

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

$995 $995

$803 COP 2.5M

23.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,813 $9,813

$9,190 COP 28.3M

6.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.1 $71.1

$87.4 COP 268.8K

-18.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.64 $49.64

$59.4 COP 182.7K

-16.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 $80.7

$139 COP 427.5K

-41.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 $100

$102 COP 314.0K

-1.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$319 $319

$1,071 COP 3.3M

-70.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$204 $204

$653 COP 2.0M

-68.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$888 $888

$1,925 COP 5.9M

-53.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$700 $700

$1,048 COP 3.2M

-33.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$17.7K $17.7K

$4,123 COP 12.7M

330.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$10.6K $10.6K

$1,697 COP 5.2M

522.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,214 $1,214

$655 COP 2.0M

85.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

-72.58%

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

Last update for Pago Pago: September 5, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $319 in Pago Pago versus $1,071 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 85% higher in Pago Pago, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Pago Pago versus $48.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $366 in Pago Pago vs $300 in Medellin – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Pago Pago vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 12%, 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 $2,198 per month in Pago Pago and $2,462 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Pago Pago, 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 $36.00 in Pago Pago 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 $1,465 in Pago Pago and $1,641 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Pago Pago, where all-in costs run around $1,465, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Pago Pago it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Pago Pago – 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 Pago Pago. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.