Cost of Living Comparison Between Sal and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Sal and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $997 per month in Sal vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,518 per month in Sal vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,038 per month in Sal vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Sal is about 3% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sal and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Sal 25% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.72 CVE 552

$6.16 COP 20.1K

-7.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.66 CVE 4,500

$32.60 COP 106.1K

43.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.38 CVE 712

$7.34 COP 23.9K

0.54%

Cappuccino

$2.37 CVE 229

$1.72 COP 5,600

37.79%

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

$2.43 CVE 234

$1.05 COP 3,420

131.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.17 CVE 113

$0.77 COP 2,515

51.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.98 CVE 384

$1.69 COP 5,488

135.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 CVE 311

$3.17 COP 10.3K

1.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.47 CVE 142

$1.05 COP 3,423

40.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.18 CVE 210

$1.30 COP 4,236

67.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 CVE 149

$1.40 COP 4,544

10.00%

Eggs

$2.73 CVE 264

$2.16 COP 7,047

26.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.08 CVE 1,068

$4.39 COP 14.3K

152.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.32 CVE 803

$5.88 COP 19.1K

41.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.37 CVE 1,579

$8.64 COP 28.1K

89.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.82 CVE 272

$2.28 COP 7,426

23.68%

Banana (1kg)

$2.55 CVE 246

$1.11 COP 3,604

129.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.97 CVE 286

$1.53 COP 4,983

94.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.05 CVE 390

$1.35 COP 4,410

200.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.62 CVE 156

$1.13 COP 3,674

43.36%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 CVE 192

$1.13 COP 3,692

76.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.86 CVE 180

$0.85 COP 2,753

118.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 CVE 107

$0.91 COP 2,975

21.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.74 CVE 457

$2.34 COP 7,630

102.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.65 CVE 641

$12.37 COP 40.3K

-46.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.07 CVE 296

$1.20 COP 3,909

155.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 CVE 189

$2.49 COP 8,104

-21.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.04 CVE 100

$0.84 COP 2,728

23.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.12 CVE 205

$1.42 COP 4,623

49.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.77 CVE 267

$1.92 COP 6,235

44.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.00 CVE 1,254

$7.66 COP 24.9K

69.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.48 CVE 143

$0.99 COP 3,223

49.49%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

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

$91.3 CVE 8,808

$80.8 COP 263.1K

13.02%

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.0 CVE 5,402

$24.18 COP 78.7K

131.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.94 CVE 3,370

$25.08 COP 81.7K

39.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

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

$146 CVE 14.0K

$305 COP 993.5K

-52.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,548 CVE 245.8K

$6,059 COP 19.7M

-57.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.14 CVE 3,003

$58.1 COP 189.2K

-46.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 CVE 14.0K

$108 COP 350.8K

34.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$333 CVE 32.2K

$477 COP 1.6M

-30.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$294 CVE 28.4K

$376 COP 1.2M

-21.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$440 CVE 42.5K

$845 COP 2.7M

-47.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$388 CVE 37.4K

$730 COP 2.4M

-46.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$672 CVE 64.8K

$3,215 COP 10.5M

-79.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$343 CVE 33.1K

$1,372 COP 4.5M

-74.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$257 CVE 24.8K

$617 COP 2.0M

-58.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.17

13.43

-54.06%

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

Last update for Sal: July 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $333 in Sal versus $477 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 140% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Sal versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $301 vs $193 – making Medellin 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

Sal vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 3%, 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 $1,495 per month in Sal and $1,546 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sal, 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 $47.00 in Sal 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 56% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sal, where all-in costs run around $997, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Sal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sal – 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 Sal. 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.