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 $816 per month in Pago Pago vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,379 per month in Pago Pago vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,942 per month in Pago Pago vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Pago Pago is about 19% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Pago Pago and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Pago Pago 39% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.26 $25.26

$5.91 COP 18.9K

327.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$6.79 $6.79

$32.96 COP 105.2K

-79.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.7K

Cappuccino

$1.03 $1.03

$1.65 COP 5,276

-37.58%

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

$1.27 $1.27

$1.10 COP 3,514

15.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,491

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.72 COP 5,484

15.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$3.18 COP 10.1K

-36.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.59 $2.59

$1.10 COP 3,521

135.45%

White Bread (500g)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.26 COP 4,015

132.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$1.38 COP 4,407

207.25%

Eggs

$4.42 $4.42

$2.18 COP 6,950

102.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.15 $10.15

$4.49 COP 14.3K

126.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.5K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.37 $11.37

$8.97 COP 28.6K

26.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,405

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,397

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,838

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,327

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,599

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,738

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,876

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,861

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.31 $11.31

$2.23 COP 7,128

407.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.16 $15.16

$12.12 COP 38.7K

25.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,793

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 $2.91

$2.48 COP 7,920

17.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 $1.94

$0.85 COP 2,723

128.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 132.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.12 $5.12

$1.42 COP 4,518

260.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,223

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 25.2K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.99 COP 3,160

35.35%

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

$17.6K COP 56.2M

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

$26.8K COP 85.5M

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

$83.0 COP 264.9K

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

$30.18 $30.18

$9.70 COP 30.9K

211.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.4 $76.4

$23.52 COP 75.0K

224.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.53 $49.53

$25.26 COP 80.6K

96.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.19 $10.19

$19.10 COP 60.9K

-46.65%

Cinema Ticket

$8.94 $8.94

$3.95 COP 12.6K

126.33%

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

$316 COP 1.0M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 19.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 191.4K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 101.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 324.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 342.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$151 $151

$475 COP 1.5M

-68.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$198 $198

$374 COP 1.2M

-46.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$895 $895

$849 COP 2.7M

5.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$690 $690

$719 COP 2.3M

-4.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$17.9K $17.9K

$3,265 COP 10.4M

449.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$10.8K $10.8K

$1,441 COP 4.6M

646.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,217 $1,217

$624 COP 2.0M

94.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

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

Last update for Pago Pago: July 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $151 in Pago Pago versus $475 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 95% 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 $7.00 in Pago Pago versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $191 vs $193 – making Pago Pago 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

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

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 23%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,224 per month in Pago Pago and $1,504 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.

Groceries cost about 1% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $7.00 in Pago Pago and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Pago Pago, where all-in costs run around $816, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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.