🙂A single person spends $578 per month in Pilikwe vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $911 per month in Pilikwe vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,245 per month in Pilikwe vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Pilikwe is about 65% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Pilikwe sits 58% below the global median, while Medellin is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pilikwe
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.26P 148
$8.04COP 24.8K
40.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.59P 389
$48.29COP 148.6K
-38.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.82P 76.5
$9.42COP 29.0K
-38.22%
Cappuccino
$2.43P 31.98
$2.94COP 9,040
-17.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78P 10.18
$1.86COP 5,735
-58.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45P 5.85
$1.46COP 4,479
-69.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.08P 27.38
$3.21COP 9,882
-35.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55P 33.50
$5.71COP 17.6K
-55.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pilikwe
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.53P 20.05
$1.44COP 4,428
6.25%
White Bread(500g)
$0.84P 11.01
$2.40COP 7,389
-65.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.82P 23.96
$1.70COP 5,228
7.06%
Eggs
$2.43P 31.98
$2.89COP 8,896
-15.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.04P 79.4
$10.06COP 30.9K
-39.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.67P 61.4
$9.97COP 30.7K
-53.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.88P 64.1
$14.20COP 43.7K
-65.63%
Apples(1kg)
$1.57P 20.61
$3.98COP 12.3K
-60.55%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46P 19.20
$1.58COP 4,878
-7.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.98P 26.00
$2.15COP 6,624
-7.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.63P 21.46
$2.30COP 7,078
-29.13%
Potato(1kg)
$1.41P 18.47
$2.00COP 6,169
-29.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.22P 16.01
$1.51COP 4,646
-19.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46P 19.13
$1.20COP 3,701
21.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85P 11.21
$1.28COP 3,946
-33.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.77P 49.52
$3.84COP 11.8K
-1.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.47P 58.8
$14.01COP 43.1K
-68.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42P 18.61
$1.71COP 5,256
-16.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69P 22.23
$2.74COP 8,440
-38.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Pilikwe
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.25COP 3,834
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$77.9COP 239.7K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.60P 7.93
$1.31COP 4,016
-54.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.53P 33.23
$2.17COP 6,680
16.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.96P 38.87
$8.29COP 25.5K
-64.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37P 18.00
$1.36COP 4,172
0.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.1KP 264.7K
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
-26.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.0KP 276.4K
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
-42.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pilikwe
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$61.6P 810
$169COP 519.2K
-63.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.05P 263
$13.57COP 41.8K
47.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.86P 550
$28.32COP 87.2K
47.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pilikwe
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$45.71COP 140.7K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.22COP 53.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.45P 84.8
$6.65COP 20.5K
-3.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pilikwe
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$130P 1,708
$803COP 2.5M
-83.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,531P 33.2K
$9,190COP 28.3M
-72.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pilikwe
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.39P 623
$87.4COP 268.8K
-45.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.10P 225
$59.4COP 182.7K
-71.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$67.2P 882
$139COP 427.5K
-51.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.8P 970
$102COP 314.0K
-27.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pilikwe
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,071COP 3.3M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$653COP 2.0M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,925COP 5.9M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,048COP 3.2M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,123COP 12.7M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,697COP 5.2M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pilikwe
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$655COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.67
10.94
6.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Pilikwe: September 6, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Pilikwe versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $172 vs $300 – 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 184%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $867 per month in Pilikwe and $2,462 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 $48.00 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 75% 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 $578, than in Medellin at $1,641. 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.