Cost of Living Comparison Between Quilmes and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Quilmes and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $954 per month in Quilmes vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,568 per month in Quilmes vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,183 per month in Quilmes vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Quilmes is about 43% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Quilmes sits 30% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.74 ARS 8,688

$8.02 COP 25.4K

-28.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.51 ARS 53.8K

$47.87 COP 152.0K

-25.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.78 ARS 13.3K

$9.89 COP 31.4K

-11.22%

Cappuccino

$2.96 ARS 4,484

$3.13 COP 9,937

-5.43%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 ARS 2,555

$1.91 COP 6,058

-11.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 ARS 2,576

$1.51 COP 4,794

12.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.06 ARS 6,149

$3.12 COP 9,917

30.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 ARS 3,367

$5.75 COP 18.3K

-61.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 ARS 1,545

$1.44 COP 4,587

-29.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ARS 2,459

$2.49 COP 7,894

-34.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 ARS 2,430

$1.77 COP 5,631

-9.04%

Eggs

$2.27 ARS 3,439

$2.96 COP 9,396

-23.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.57 ARS 20.5K

$10.07 COP 32.0K

34.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.80 ARS 8,776

$10.12 COP 32.1K

-42.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.99 ARS 15.1K

$14.30 COP 45.4K

-30.14%

Apples (1kg)

$1.91 ARS 2,895

$4.14 COP 13.1K

-53.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 ARS 2,413

$1.61 COP 5,106

-1.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.07 ARS 1,616

$2.25 COP 7,129

-52.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.46 ARS 3,727

$2.25 COP 7,150

9.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 ARS 1,509

$2.04 COP 6,486

-50.98%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 ARS 964

$1.54 COP 4,873

-58.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ARS 1,028

$1.17 COP 3,715

-41.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ARS 1,041

$1.31 COP 4,148

-47.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.94 ARS 7,474

$3.90 COP 12.4K

26.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.18 ARS 6,327

$14.01 COP 44.5K

-70.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 ARS 1,837

$1.74 COP 5,534

-30.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 ARS 2,934

$2.87 COP 9,112

-32.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 ARS 1,610

$1.22 COP 3,858

-13.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 255.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.59 ARS 2,407

$1.31 COP 4,155

21.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.01 ARS 1,536

$2.19 COP 6,944

-53.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ARS 1,722

$1.37 COP 4,334

-16.79%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$49.2K ARS 74.5M

$27.8K COP 88.4M

76.80%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$38.3K ARS 58.1M

$35.8K COP 113.6M

7.20%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$61.1 ARS 92.6K

$177 COP 562.9K

-65.52%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.74 ARS 22.3K

$13.88 COP 44.1K

6.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.26 ARS 33.7K

$29.72 COP 94.4K

-25.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.03 ARS 51.5K

$44.88 COP 142.5K

-24.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 54.4K

Cinema Ticket

$9.81 ARS 14.9K

$6.65 COP 21.1K

47.52%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$258 ARS 390.2K

$813 COP 2.6M

-68.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 29.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$95.3 ARS 144.2K

$89.5 COP 284.1K

6.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.38 ARS 52.0K

$59.0 COP 187.2K

-41.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.2 ARS 98.7K

$138 COP 438.8K

-52.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.8 ARS 105.6K

$102 COP 324.2K

-31.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$479 ARS 725.9K

$1,062 COP 3.4M

-54.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$325 ARS 491.5K

$663 COP 2.1M

-51.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$922 ARS 1.4M

$1,888 COP 6.0M

-51.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$735 ARS 1.1M

$1,027 COP 3.3M

-28.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,315 ARS 3.5M

$4,183 COP 13.3M

-44.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,813 ARS 2.7M

$1,675 COP 5.3M

8.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,082 ARS 1.6M

$678 COP 2.2M

59.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

100

10.94

814.08%

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

Last update for Quilmes: September 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $479 in Quilmes versus $1,062 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 run about 60% higher in Quilmes, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Quilmes versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $211 vs $305 – making Quilmes 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

Quilmes vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 76%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,431 per month in Quilmes and $2,521 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Quilmes, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Quilmes and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 44% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Quilmes, where all-in costs run around $954, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Quilmes it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Quilmes – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Quilmes. 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.