Cost of Living Comparison Between Quito and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Quito and Medellin

😐 Solo nomad: Quito is 9.6% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 6% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Quito is 3.6% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 8.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Quito
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.62 $4.62
$5.99 COP 22.1K
-22.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.51 $32.51
$32.12 COP 118.6K
1.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.53 $7.53
$7.42 COP 27.4K
1.48%
Cappuccino
$2.89 $2.89
$1.72 COP 6,339
68.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 $1.06
$1.05 COP 3,886
0.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 $0.68
$0.78 COP 2,871
-12.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.99 $1.99
$1.65 COP 6,090
20.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.04 $4.04
$3.22 COP 11.9K
25.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Quito
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 $1.11
$1.11 COP 4,097
-
White Bread (500g)
$1.54 $1.54
$1.29 COP 4,776
19.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.38 COP 5,096
28.26%
Eggs
$2.22 $2.22
$2.24 COP 8,275
-0.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.57 $8.57
$4.55 COP 16.8K
88.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.93 $7.93
$5.66 COP 20.9K
40.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.25 $8.25
$8.99 COP 33.2K
-8.23%
Apples (1kg)
$2.09 $2.09
$2.32 COP 8,580
-9.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 $1.22
$1.07 COP 3,964
14.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.45 COP 5,349
-28.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.29 $1.29
$1.42 COP 5,245
-9.15%
Potato (1kg)
$1.38 $1.38
$1.12 COP 4,130
23.21%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 $1.10
$1.13 COP 4,169
-2.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.80 $0.80
$0.82 COP 3,028
-2.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03 $1.03
$0.86 COP 3,163
19.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.87 $5.87
$2.25 COP 8,312
160.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.08 $10.08
$10.32 COP 38.1K
-2.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 $1.59
$1.18 COP 4,373
34.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 $2.94
$2.47 COP 9,120
19.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Quito
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.33 $0.33
$0.80 COP 2,951
-58.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.62 $26.62
$41.89 COP 154.6K
-36.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.48 $1.48
$1.48 COP 5,461
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.51 $1.51
$1.92 COP 7,075
-21.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.03 $10.03
$7.89 COP 29.1K
27.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.72 $0.72
$0.94 COP 3,461
-23.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7K $19.7K
$17.6K COP 65.1M
11.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$26.3K COP 97.0M
-1.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quito
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$34.98 $34.98
$80.8 COP 298.3K
-56.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.22 $14.22
$9.78 COP 36.1K
45.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.52 $29.52
$24.41 COP 90.1K
20.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Quito
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.19 $42.19
$25.53 COP 94.2K
65.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.40 $16.40
$19.37 COP 71.5K
-15.33%
Cinema Ticket
$6.85 $6.85
$4.03 COP 14.9K
69.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Quito
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$280 $280
$315 COP 1.2M
-11.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,539 $8,539
$5,935 COP 21.9M
43.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Quito
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2 $56.2
$58.8 COP 216.9K
-4.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.25 $43.25
$32.62 COP 120.4K
32.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 $102
$103 COP 381.5K
-1.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.0 $84.0
$108 COP 398.4K
-22.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Quito
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$445 $445
$481 COP 1.8M
-7.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$313 $313
$366 COP 1.4M
-14.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$765 $765
$840 COP 3.1M
-8.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$504 $504
$717 COP 2.6M
-29.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,727 $1,727
$2,748 COP 10.1M
-37.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$725 $725
$1,303 COP 4.8M
-44.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Quito
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$631 $631
$534 COP 2.0M
18.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.19
13.43
-16.68%

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

Last update for Quito: March 9, 2026

Last update for Medellin: March 9, 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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