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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $888 per month in Quilmes vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,482 per month in Quilmes vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,075 per month in Quilmes vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Quilmes is about 11% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Quilmes and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Quilmes 33% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.77 ARS 13.0K

$5.91 COP 18.6K

48.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.08 ARS 44.7K

$32.96 COP 103.8K

-8.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.94 ARS 13.3K

$7.43 COP 23.4K

20.32%

Cappuccino

$1.72 ARS 2,549

$1.65 COP 5,207

4.24%

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

$1.31 ARS 1,947

$1.10 COP 3,468

19.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.14 ARS 1,692

$0.78 COP 2,458

46.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.19 ARS 1,774

$1.72 COP 5,412

-30.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 ARS 4,036

$3.18 COP 10.0K

-14.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 ARS 1,890

$1.10 COP 3,474

15.45%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ARS 2,372

$1.26 COP 3,962

26.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 ARS 2,666

$1.38 COP 4,349

30.43%

Eggs

$2.25 ARS 3,340

$2.18 COP 6,858

3.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.33 ARS 19.8K

$4.49 COP 14.1K

196.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.08 ARS 9,028

$5.79 COP 18.2K

5.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.34 ARS 15.4K

$8.97 COP 28.2K

15.27%

Apples (1kg)

$1.90 ARS 2,819

$2.32 COP 7,308

-18.10%

Banana (1kg)

$2.15 ARS 3,193

$1.06 COP 3,352

102.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.00 ARS 1,487

$1.52 COP 4,774

-34.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.60 ARS 3,856

$1.36 COP 4,270

91.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 ARS 1,676

$1.13 COP 3,552

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 ARS 2,033

$1.17 COP 3,689

17.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.86 ARS 1,284

$0.90 COP 2,838

-4.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ARS 2,725

$0.90 COP 2,823

103.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.50 ARS 5,199

$2.23 COP 7,034

56.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.27 ARS 6,335

$12.12 COP 38.2K

-64.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 ARS 1,906

$1.19 COP 3,743

7.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 ARS 4,653

$2.48 COP 7,815

26.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 ARS 1,170

$0.85 COP 2,687

-7.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.47 ARS 3,671

$1.42 COP 4,459

73.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.92 ARS 1,373

$1.95 COP 6,141

-52.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.17 ARS 9,158

$7.89 COP 24.8K

-21.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 ARS 1,585

$0.99 COP 3,118

8.08%

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

$24.4K ARS 36.2M

$17.6K COP 55.4M

38.61%

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

$25.6K ARS 38.0M

$26.8K COP 84.4M

-4.49%

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

$56.3 ARS 83.6K

$83.0 COP 261.4K

-32.21%

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

$18.53 ARS 27.5K

$9.70 COP 30.5K

91.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.83 ARS 22.0K

$23.52 COP 74.1K

-36.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.27 ARS 39.0K

$25.26 COP 79.5K

4.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.51 ARS 20.1K

$19.10 COP 60.1K

-29.27%

Cinema Ticket

$5.10 ARS 7,576

$3.95 COP 12.4K

29.11%

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

$219 ARS 324.7K

$316 COP 994.2K

-30.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,087 ARS 1.6M

$5,975 COP 18.8M

-81.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.6 ARS 91.4K

$60.0 COP 188.9K

2.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.0 ARS 90.6K

$31.82 COP 100.2K

91.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 ARS 159.5K

$102 COP 320.1K

5.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.5 ARS 141.8K

$107 COP 338.3K

-11.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$336 ARS 498.8K

$475 COP 1.5M

-29.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$233 ARS 346.5K

$374 COP 1.2M

-37.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$671 ARS 996.1K

$849 COP 2.7M

-21.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$543 ARS 806.8K

$719 COP 2.3M

-24.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,390 ARS 3.5M

$3,265 COP 10.3M

-26.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,755 ARS 2.6M

$1,441 COP 4.5M

21.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,109 ARS 1.6M

$624 COP 2.0M

77.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

100

13.43

644.60%

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

Last update for Quilmes: July 28, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $336 in Quilmes versus $475 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 78% 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 $30.00 in Quilmes versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $238 in Quilmes vs $193 in Medellin – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 13%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,332 per month in Quilmes and $1,504 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 $30.00 in Quilmes and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 23% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Quilmes, where all-in costs run around $888, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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.