Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Pomona, CA and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,639 a month against $2,729 in Pomona, CA, rent and utilities included – about $13,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Pomona, CA, United States
Medellin, Colombia
Pomona, CA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,729
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Pomona, CA and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Pomona, CA and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,729 per month in Pomona, CA vs $1,639 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Pomona, CA $2,729
  • Medellin $1,639

A couple spends around $4,196 per month in Pomona, CA vs $2,413 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Pomona, CA $4,196
  • Medellin $2,413

A family of three spends $5,663 per month in Pomona, CA vs $3,186 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Pomona, CA $5,663
  • Medellin $3,186

Pomona, CA costs about 66% more than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Pomona, CA and Medellin sit above the global median – Pomona, CA by 101%, Medellin by 20%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pomona, CA
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.85 $27.85
$8.09 COP 26.1K
244.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.0 $75.0
$47.05 COP 151.9K
59.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.03 $10.03
$9.50 COP 30.7K
5.58%
Cappuccino
$5.32 $5.32
$3.01 COP 9,734
76.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.80 COP 5,809
-5.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 $1.27
$1.41 COP 4,560
-9.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.86 $4.86
$3.18 COP 10.3K
52.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.81 $5.81
$5.75 COP 18.6K
1.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pomona, CA
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.29 $1.29
$1.51 COP 4,875
-14.57%
White Bread (500g)
$3.82 $3.82
$2.38 COP 7,677
60.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.94 $2.94
$1.77 COP 5,719
66.10%
Eggs
$2.94 $2.94
$2.89 COP 9,332
1.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.71 $13.71
$10.19 COP 32.9K
34.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.03 $13.03
$9.87 COP 31.9K
32.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.25 $12.25
$13.99 COP 45.2K
-12.44%
Apples (1kg)
$3.32 $3.32
$3.97 COP 12.8K
-16.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.55 COP 5,011
-13.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.18 COP 7,047
7.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 $2.23
$2.18 COP 7,050
2.29%
Potato (1kg)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.96 COP 6,336
-9.69%
Onion (1kg)
$1.72 $1.72
$1.59 COP 5,131
8.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 $1.13
$1.15 COP 3,698
-1.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 $1.75
$1.24 COP 4,014
41.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.80 $10.80
$3.96 COP 12.8K
172.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.44 $13.44
$13.68 COP 44.2K
-1.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 $1.59
$1.66 COP 5,359
-4.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 $2.76
$2.26 COP 7,290
22.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Pomona, CA
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.30 $2.30
$1.17 COP 3,770
96.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.30 $19.30
$77.4 COP 249.8K
-75.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.55 $3.55
$1.27 COP 4,094
179.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.82 $1.82
$2.05 COP 6,611
-11.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.44 $24.44
$8.55 COP 27.6K
185.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 $1.35
$1.35 COP 4,348
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K $30.3K
$34.1K COP 110.0M
-10.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K $26.0K
$34.7K COP 111.9M
-24.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pomona, CA
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$247 $247
$170 COP 547.7K
45.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.3 $60.3
$13.55 COP 43.7K
345.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.98 $47.98
$28.07 COP 90.6K
70.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pomona, CA
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.25 $20.25
$43.70 COP 141.1K
-53.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.64 $40.64
$17.19 COP 55.5K
136.42%
Cinema Ticket
$12.18 $12.18
$6.91 COP 22.3K
76.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pomona, CA
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$557 $557
$797 COP 2.6M
-30.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,257 $8,257
$9,112 COP 29.4M
-9.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pomona, CA
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.17 $31.17
$84.7 COP 273.5K
-63.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.96 $34.96
$58.0 COP 187.1K
-39.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.2 $72.2
$135 COP 435.7K
-46.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4 $91.4
$97.9 COP 316.0K
-6.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pomona, CA
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,927 $1,927
$1,208 COP 3.9M
59.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,482 $1,482
$642 COP 2.1M
131.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,482 $3,482
$2,028 COP 6.5M
71.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,898 $2,898
$1,012 COP 3.3M
186.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$19.2K $19.2K
$4,170 COP 13.5M
359.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,453 $4,453
$1,910 COP 6.2M
133.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pomona, CA
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,623 $3,623
$657 COP 2.1M
451.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.5
10.94
-40.59%

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

Last update for Pomona, CA: October 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Pomona, CA
$1.5K
Medellin
$642 56.7% $841
Eating Out
Pomona, CA
$365
Medellin
$170 53.5% $195
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pomona, CA
$355
Medellin
$211 40.6% $144
Groceries & Markets
Pomona, CA
$337
Medellin
$297 12% $40
Clothing & Footwear
Pomona, CA
$103
Medellin
$169 63.4% $66
Sport & Entertainment
Pomona, CA
$45
Medellin
$58 28.9% $13
Getting Around
Pomona, CA
$41
Medellin
$94 127% $52

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,927 in Pomona, CA versus $1,208 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 in Pomona, CA are about 5.5 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75 in Pomona, CA versus $47 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $337 vs $297 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Pomona, CA
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
16:55 4:55 PM
19:55 7:55 PM
3 h ahead of Pomona, CA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
154,271
2,486,723
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 3,229 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,619 COP (10,000 COP = 2.76 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Pomona, CA Medellin 5,320 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Pomona, CA
  • Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Pomona, CA vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Pomona, CA?
Yes – Pomona, CA is pricier by about 66%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,094 per month in Pomona, CA and $2,459 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 Medellin, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,208 there versus $1,927 in Pomona, CA.
Is eating out cheaper in Pomona, CA or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $75 in Pomona, CA and $47 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 Pomona, CA and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,729 in Pomona, CA and $1,639 in Medellin. That makes Medellin about 40% cheaper.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Pomona, CA or in Medellin?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,639, than in Pomona, CA at $2,729. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Pomona, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is it better to live in Pomona, CA or in Medellin?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,639 in Medellin to $2,729 in Pomona, CA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Pomona, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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