🙂A single person spends $628 per month in Pilikwe vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $983 per month in Pilikwe vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,339 per month in Pilikwe vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Pilikwe is about 39% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both Pilikwe and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Pilikwe53% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pilikwe
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.56P 100
$6.16COP 20.1K
22.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.88P 396
$32.60COP 106.1K
-8.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.84P 77.3
$7.34COP 23.9K
-20.44%
Cappuccino
$2.28P 30.15
$1.72COP 5,599
32.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87P 11.52
$1.05COP 3,420
-17.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47P 6.24
$0.77COP 2,515
-38.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.29P 30.32
$1.69COP 5,487
35.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01P 39.84
$3.17COP 10.3K
-5.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pilikwe
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.41P 18.71
$1.05COP 3,423
34.29%
White Bread(500g)
$0.86P 11.35
$1.30COP 4,236
-33.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.83P 24.22
$1.40COP 4,544
30.71%
Eggs
$2.41P 31.85
$2.16COP 7,046
11.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.49P 99.1
$4.39COP 14.3K
70.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.97P 65.8
$5.88COP 19.1K
-15.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.47P 72.4
$8.64COP 28.1K
-36.69%
Apples(1kg)
$1.84P 24.40
$2.28COP 7,425
-19.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.37P 18.14
$1.11COP 3,603
23.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85P 24.53
$1.53COP 4,982
20.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.55P 20.50
$1.35COP 4,410
14.81%
Potato(1kg)
$1.40P 18.53
$1.13COP 3,674
23.89%
Onion(1kg)
$1.21P 15.97
$1.13COP 3,692
7.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17P 15.49
$0.85COP 2,753
37.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.93P 12.26
$0.91COP 2,975
2.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.56P 47.11
$2.34COP 7,629
52.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.34P 57.5
$12.37COP 40.3K
-64.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62P 21.40
$1.20COP 3,909
35.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08P 27.60
$2.49COP 8,104
-16.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Pilikwe
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.84COP 2,727
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$40.57COP 132.1K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.61P 8.11
$1.42COP 4,623
-57.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.68P 35.43
$1.92COP 6,235
39.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.07P 40.63
$7.66COP 24.9K
-59.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14P 15.07
$0.99COP 3,223
15.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.4KP 296.4K
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
24.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.1KP 226.5K
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
-35.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pilikwe
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.5P 920
$80.8COP 263.1K
-14.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.42P 350
$9.95COP 32.4K
165.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$78.6P 1,041
$24.18COP 78.7K
225.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pilikwe
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$25.08COP 81.6K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.15COP 62.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.59P 87.3
$3.98COP 13.0K
65.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pilikwe
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$184P 2,436
$305COP 993.4K
-39.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,774P 50.0K
$6,059COP 19.7M
-37.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pilikwe
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.91P 555
$58.1COP 189.2K
-27.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.14P 320
$32.20COP 104.8K
-25.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.7P 989
$101COP 327.9K
-25.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.1P 1,299
$108COP 350.8K
-8.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pilikwe
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$477COP 1.6M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$376COP 1.2M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$845COP 2.7M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$730COP 2.4M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,215COP 10.5M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,372COP 4.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pilikwe
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$617COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.12
13.43
-32.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Pilikwe: July 13, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Pilikwe versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $179 vs $193 – making Pilikwe 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
Pilikwe vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Pilikwe?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 64%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. 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 $942 per month in Pilikwe and $1,546 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Pilikwe or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Pilikwe and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Pilikwe and in Medellin?
Groceries cost about 8% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Pilikwe or in Medellin?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Pilikwe, where all-in costs run around $628, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Pilikwe it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Pilikwe or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Pilikwe – 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 Pilikwe. 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.