Cost of Living Comparison Between Popayan and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Popayan and Medellin

🙂 Solo nomad: Popayan is 19.5% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 24.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Popayan is 32% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 28% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Popayan
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.91 COP 14.7K
$6.03 COP 22.7K
-35.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.50 COP 88.5K
$33.17 COP 124.8K
-29.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.38 COP 27.8K
$7.29 COP 27.4K
1.23%
Cappuccino
$1.50 COP 5,652
$1.63 COP 6,134
-7.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 COP 3,270
$1.05 COP 3,948
-17.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 COP 2,165
$0.77 COP 2,899
-24.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.20 COP 4,520
$1.73 COP 6,511
-30.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 COP 8,433
$3.18 COP 12.0K
-29.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Popayan
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,965
$1.07 COP 4,016
-1.87%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 4,664
$1.31 COP 4,935
-5.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.13 COP 4,268
$1.38 COP 5,196
-18.12%
Eggs
$2.24 COP 8,439
$2.25 COP 8,458
-0.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 17.1K
$4.48 COP 16.9K
1.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.37 COP 20.2K
$5.74 COP 21.6K
-6.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.48 COP 28.2K
$8.86 COP 33.4K
-15.58%
Apples (1kg)
$2.52 COP 9,491
$2.24 COP 8,440
12.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,025
$1.06 COP 3,989
0.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.36 COP 5,118
$1.51 COP 5,698
-9.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.91 COP 3,416
$1.36 COP 5,120
-33.09%
Potato (1kg)
$1.16 COP 4,354
$1.12 COP 4,219
3.57%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 COP 4,255
$1.17 COP 4,401
-3.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 3,202
$0.90 COP 3,396
-5.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65 COP 2,451
$0.84 COP 3,150
-22.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.38 COP 8,971
$2.26 COP 8,502
5.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.50 COP 32.0K
$9.97 COP 37.5K
-14.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 COP 4,113
$1.18 COP 4,452
-7.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 COP 6,531
$2.39 COP 8,995
-27.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Popayan
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.72 COP 2,694
$0.86 COP 3,234
-16.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$41.45 COP 156.0K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.49 COP 5,602
$1.47 COP 5,522
1.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.71 COP 6,419
$1.95 COP 7,324
-12.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.88 COP 22.1K
$7.76 COP 29.2K
-24.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 COP 3,560
$0.97 COP 3,641
-2.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.8K COP 66.9M
$17.9K COP 67.6M
-1.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K COP 94.9M
$26.7K COP 100.6M
-5.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Popayan
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.8 COP 311.7K
$81.1 COP 305.2K
2.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.99 COP 33.8K
$9.40 COP 35.4K
-4.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.62 COP 85.1K
$23.61 COP 88.8K
-4.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Popayan
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.39 COP 88.0K
$25.55 COP 96.1K
-8.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.29 COP 72.6K
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 14.9K
$4.10 COP 15.4K
-3.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Popayan
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$237 COP 890.9K
$306 COP 1.2M
-22.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,888 COP 22.2M
$5,899 COP 22.2M
-0.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Popayan
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.4 COP 219.9K
$59.8 COP 225.1K
-2.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.73 COP 123.2K
$31.96 COP 120.3K
2.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.3 COP 309.9K
$103 COP 386.5K
-19.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.0 COP 271.1K
$108 COP 406.0K
-33.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Popayan
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$282 COP 1.1M
$483 COP 1.8M
-41.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 COP 891.1K
$377 COP 1.4M
-37.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$534 COP 2.0M
$822 COP 3.1M
-34.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$423 COP 1.6M
$721 COP 2.7M
-41.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,637 COP 6.2M
$2,784 COP 10.5M
-41.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,433 COP 5.4M
$1,320 COP 5.0M
8.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Popayan
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$538 COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.18
13.43
-1.86%

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

Last update for Popayan: March 3, 2026

Last update for Medellin: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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