🙂A single person spends $910 per month in Pasaje vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,438 per month in Pasaje vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,965 per month in Pasaje vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Pasaje is about 10% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Pasaje and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Pasaje32% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pasaje
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.59$3.59
$5.99COP 21.4K
-40.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.33$47.33
$32.86COP 117.4K
44.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.79$7.79
$7.09COP 25.3K
9.87%
Cappuccino
$2.51$2.51
$1.71COP 6,115
46.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91$0.91
$1.10COP 3,924
-17.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62$0.62
$0.78COP 2,781
-20.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.92$2.92
$1.68COP 5,997
73.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56$4.56
$3.07COP 11.0K
48.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pasaje
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.13$1.13
$1.09COP 3,906
3.67%
White Bread(500g)
$1.69$1.69
$1.26COP 4,508
34.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.79$1.79
$1.38COP 4,922
29.71%
Eggs
$2.50$2.50
$2.19COP 7,827
14.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.86$5.86
$4.40COP 15.7K
33.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.12$5.12
$5.63COP 20.1K
-9.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.29$6.29
$8.89COP 31.8K
-29.25%
Apples(1kg)
$2.12$2.12
$2.34COP 8,349
-9.40%
Banana(1kg)
$1.04$1.04
$1.06COP 3,777
-1.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.05$1.05
$1.50COP 5,374
-30.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.03$1.03
$1.38COP 4,924
-25.36%
Potato(1kg)
$1.89$1.89
$1.15COP 4,111
64.35%
Onion(1kg)
$1.41$1.41
$1.16COP 4,155
21.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.70$0.70
$0.89COP 3,182
-21.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02$1.02
$0.84COP 2,997
21.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.98$5.98
$2.28COP 8,145
162.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.90$11.90
$10.64COP 38.0K
11.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61$1.61
$1.20COP 4,284
34.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21$2.21
$2.47COP 8,824
-10.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Pasaje
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.37$0.37
$0.86COP 3,056
-56.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$24.26$24.26
$41.40COP 147.9K
-41.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.76$2.76
$1.47COP 5,264
87.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.03$1.03
$1.96COP 7,009
-47.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.95$9.95
$7.74COP 27.6K
28.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.68$0.68
$0.95COP 3,409
-28.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9K$24.9K
$18.1KCOP 64.7M
37.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.9K$28.9K
$26.5KCOP 94.6M
9.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pasaje
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$37.69$37.69
$82.3COP 293.7K
-54.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.81$13.81
$9.50COP 33.9K
45.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.78$31.78
$24.23COP 86.5K
31.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pasaje
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.39$30.39
$25.89COP 92.4K
17.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.53$14.53
$19.00COP 67.9K
-23.53%
Cinema Ticket
$7.68$7.68
$3.93COP 14.0K
95.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pasaje
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$315$315
$309COP 1.1M
1.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,944$5,944
$5,965COP 21.3M
-0.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pasaje
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.0$52.0
$58.7COP 209.5K
-11.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.85$42.85
$32.35COP 115.5K
32.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103$103
$103COP 366.4K
0.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110$110
$108COP 387.2K
1.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pasaje
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$335$335
$476COP 1.7M
-29.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$320$320
$379COP 1.4M
-15.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$625$625
$838COP 3.0M
-25.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$500$500
$724COP 2.6M
-30.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,310$1,310
$2,791COP 10.0M
-53.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$760$760
$1,211COP 4.3M
-37.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pasaje
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$512COP 1.8M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.35
13.43
-30.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Pasaje: May 31, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $335 in Pasaje versus $476 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Pasaje versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $194 vs $188 – 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
Pasaje vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Pasaje?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 11%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $1,365 per month in Pasaje and $1,519 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 Pasaje, 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 Pasaje or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Pasaje and $33.00 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 Pasaje vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $910 in Pasaje and $1,013 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Pasaje or Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Pasaje, where all-in costs run around $910, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Pasaje it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Pasaje or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Pasaje – 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 Pasaje. 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.