Cost of Living Comparison Between Salento and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Salento and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $808 per month in Salento vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,204 per month in Salento vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,600 per month in Salento vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Salento is about 19% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Salento and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Salento 39% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.86 COP 12.3K

$5.91 COP 18.9K

-34.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.73 COP 75.7K

$32.96 COP 105.2K

-28.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.17 COP 22.9K

$7.43 COP 23.7K

-3.50%

Cappuccino

$1.49 COP 4,740

$1.65 COP 5,276

-9.70%

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

$0.87 COP 2,785

$1.10 COP 3,514

-20.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 COP 1,835

$0.78 COP 2,491

-25.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.19 COP 3,810

$1.72 COP 5,484

-30.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 COP 7,145

$3.18 COP 10.1K

-29.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 COP 3,405

$1.10 COP 3,521

-2.73%

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 COP 3,966

$1.26 COP 4,015

-1.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 COP 3,660

$1.38 COP 4,407

-16.67%

Eggs

$2.12 COP 6,762

$2.18 COP 6,950

-2.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.63 COP 14.8K

$4.49 COP 14.3K

3.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.16 COP 16.5K

$5.79 COP 18.5K

-10.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.39 COP 23.6K

$8.97 COP 28.6K

-17.61%

Apples (1kg)

$2.54 COP 8,101

$2.32 COP 7,405

9.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,423

$1.06 COP 3,397

0.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,351

$1.52 COP 4,838

-10.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,387

$1.36 COP 4,327

-22.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,596

$1.13 COP 3,599

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,720

$1.17 COP 3,738

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.82 COP 2,628

$0.90 COP 2,876

-8.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 COP 2,058

$0.90 COP 2,861

-28.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.46 COP 7,847

$2.23 COP 7,128

10.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.48 COP 30.2K

$12.12 COP 38.7K

-21.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 COP 3,475

$1.19 COP 3,793

-8.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 COP 5,541

$2.48 COP 7,920

-29.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 COP 2,191

$0.85 COP 2,723

-18.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.74 COP 94.9K

$41.62 COP 132.8K

-28.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 COP 4,739

$1.42 COP 4,518

4.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 COP 5,730

$1.95 COP 6,223

-7.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.90 COP 18.8K

$7.89 COP 25.2K

-25.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 COP 3,055

$0.99 COP 3,160

-3.03%

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

$17.6K COP 56.2M

0.04%

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

$25.1K COP 80.0M

$26.8K COP 85.5M

-6.37%

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

$81.0 COP 258.4K

$83.0 COP 264.9K

-2.42%

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

$9.23 COP 29.5K

$9.70 COP 30.9K

-4.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.66 COP 72.3K

$23.52 COP 75.0K

-3.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.65 COP 75.5K

$25.26 COP 80.6K

-6.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.9K

Cinema Ticket

$4.00 COP 12.8K

$3.95 COP 12.6K

1.27%

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

$240 COP 764.3K

$316 COP 1.0M

-24.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,011 COP 19.2M

$5,975 COP 19.1M

0.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.1 COP 191.7K

$60.0 COP 191.4K

0.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.12 COP 105.7K

$31.82 COP 101.5K

4.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.7 COP 267.0K

$102 COP 324.4K

-17.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 COP 234.1K

$107 COP 342.8K

-31.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$276 COP 880.4K

$475 COP 1.5M

-41.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$235 COP 751.1K

$374 COP 1.2M

-37.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$537 COP 1.7M

$849 COP 2.7M

-36.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$414 COP 1.3M

$719 COP 2.3M

-42.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,453 COP 4.6M

$3,265 COP 10.4M

-55.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,052 COP 3.4M

$1,441 COP 4.6M

-26.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.06

13.43

-2.76%

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

Last update for Salento: July 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $276 in Salento 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Salento versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $173 vs $193 – making Salento 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

Salento vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 24%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,212 per month in Salento 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 Salento, 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 $24.00 in Salento and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $808 in Salento and $1,003 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Salento, where all-in costs run around $808, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Salento it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Salento – 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 Salento. 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.