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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $882 per month in Quilmes vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,462 per month in Quilmes vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,043 per month in Quilmes vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Quilmes is about 13% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Quilmes and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Quilmes 34% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.14 ARS 13.1K

$5.95 COP 20.8K

53.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.02 ARS 42.9K

$33.33 COP 116.3K

-9.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.22 ARS 13.2K

$7.23 COP 25.2K

27.52%

Cappuccino

$1.70 ARS 2,425

$1.63 COP 5,687

4.29%

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

$1.27 ARS 1,807

$1.09 COP 3,821

16.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 ARS 1,594

$0.73 COP 2,548

53.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.20 ARS 1,718

$1.74 COP 6,065

-31.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ARS 3,910

$3.23 COP 11.3K

-15.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 ARS 1,815

$1.05 COP 3,662

20.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ARS 2,228

$1.29 COP 4,515

20.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 ARS 2,664

$1.32 COP 4,617

41.67%

Eggs

$2.17 ARS 3,106

$2.27 COP 7,927

-4.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.29 ARS 19.0K

$4.35 COP 15.2K

205.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.87 ARS 8,384

$5.88 COP 20.5K

-0.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.69 ARS 15.3K

$8.61 COP 30.0K

24.16%

Apples (1kg)

$1.82 ARS 2,593

$2.25 COP 7,844

-19.11%

Banana (1kg)

$2.12 ARS 3,022

$1.07 COP 3,733

98.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.97 ARS 1,389

$1.52 COP 5,322

-36.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.58 ARS 3,680

$1.42 COP 4,964

81.69%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 ARS 1,698

$1.17 COP 4,084

1.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 ARS 1,975

$1.17 COP 4,077

17.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 ARS 1,328

$0.89 COP 3,096

4.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 ARS 2,640

$0.90 COP 3,146

105.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.42 ARS 4,885

$2.25 COP 7,837

52.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.20 ARS 5,999

$11.04 COP 38.5K

-61.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 ARS 1,852

$1.14 COP 3,977

14.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 ARS 4,468

$2.38 COP 8,301

31.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 ARS 1,185

$0.84 COP 2,916

-1.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.54 ARS 3,630

$1.41 COP 4,912

80.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.93 ARS 1,334

$1.90 COP 6,634

-51.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.14 ARS 8,770

$7.75 COP 27.0K

-20.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 ARS 1,539

$1.01 COP 3,509

6.93%

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

$24.0K ARS 34.3M

$17.6K COP 61.4M

36.77%

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

$26.2K ARS 37.4M

$26.5K COP 92.5M

-1.22%

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

$55.3 ARS 79.1K

$83.7 COP 292.1K

-33.87%

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

$18.56 ARS 26.5K

$9.45 COP 33.0K

96.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.85 ARS 21.2K

$24.11 COP 84.1K

-38.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.11 ARS 37.3K

$25.31 COP 88.3K

3.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.99 ARS 20.0K

$19.14 COP 66.8K

-26.91%

Cinema Ticket

$5.02 ARS 7,176

$4.10 COP 14.3K

22.44%

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

$217 ARS 310.0K

$312 COP 1.1M

-30.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,094 ARS 1.6M

$5,993 COP 20.9M

-81.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.7 ARS 86.7K

$58.0 COP 202.6K

4.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.8 ARS 86.8K

$32.56 COP 113.6K

86.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 ARS 154.8K

$99.6 COP 347.7K

8.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.5 ARS 137.8K

$109 COP 378.8K

-11.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$337 ARS 481.2K

$482 COP 1.7M

-30.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$233 ARS 332.5K

$379 COP 1.3M

-38.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$685 ARS 978.0K

$837 COP 2.9M

-18.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$528 ARS 754.2K

$723 COP 2.5M

-26.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,389 ARS 3.4M

$2,840 COP 9.9M

-15.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,801 ARS 2.6M

$1,223 COP 4.3M

47.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,103 ARS 1.6M

$541 COP 1.9M

103.96%

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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $337 in Quilmes versus $482 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 104% 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 $190 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 15%, 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 $1,322 per month in Quilmes and $1,525 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 25% 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 $882, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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.