Cost of Living Comparison Between Salto and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Salto and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,341 per month in Salto vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,953 per month in Salto vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,565 per month in Salto vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

Salto is about 22% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Salto sits 2% below the global median, while Medellin is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.23 UYU 653

$8.03 COP 25.2K

102.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.48 UYU 1,508

$48.26 COP 151.7K

-22.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 UYU 477

$9.77 COP 30.7K

21.39%

Cappuccino

$3.40 UYU 137

$2.91 COP 9,149

16.84%

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

$2.13 UYU 85.7

$1.94 COP 6,110

9.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 UYU 63.0

$1.52 COP 4,783

3.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.51 UYU 181

$3.09 COP 9,721

45.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 UYU 128

$5.74 COP 18.1K

-44.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 UYU 55.5

$1.36 COP 4,287

1.47%

White Bread (500g)

$2.10 UYU 84.4

$2.39 COP 7,505

-12.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.53 UYU 61.4

$1.70 COP 5,346

-10.00%

Eggs

$5.24 UYU 211

$2.87 COP 9,021

82.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.16 UYU 610

$9.94 COP 31.2K

52.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.61 UYU 346

$10.78 COP 33.9K

-20.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.98 UYU 402

$14.73 COP 46.3K

-32.25%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 UYU 49.25

$4.09 COP 12.8K

-70.17%

Banana (1kg)

$2.17 UYU 87.3

$1.57 COP 4,940

38.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.25 UYU 50.4

$2.13 COP 6,682

-41.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.89 UYU 76.2

$2.21 COP 6,959

-14.48%

Potato (1kg)

$0.85 UYU 34.17

$2.05 COP 6,435

-58.54%

Onion (1kg)

$1.67 UYU 67.1

$1.50 COP 4,728

11.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 UYU 37.56

$1.19 COP 3,740

-21.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 UYU 59.2

$1.16 COP 3,640

26.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.18 UYU 209

$3.90 COP 12.2K

32.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.61 UYU 306

$14.44 COP 45.4K

-47.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 UYU 75.4

$1.58 COP 4,978

18.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.57 UYU 104

$2.83 COP 8,889

-9.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 UYU 25.73

$1.17 COP 3,672

-45.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.90 UYU 1,203

$77.7 COP 244.3K

-61.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.28 COP 4,038

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.66 UYU 147

$2.09 COP 6,576

75.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.62 COP 27.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.80 UYU 72.5

$1.30 COP 4,080

38.46%

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

$27.7K COP 86.9M

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

$35.5K COP 111.6M

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

$202 UYU 8,120

$176 COP 553.4K

14.62%

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

$21.33 UYU 858

$13.37 COP 42.0K

59.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.32 UYU 1,220

$29.89 COP 94.0K

1.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.89 UYU 1,444

$44.76 COP 140.7K

-19.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.48 UYU 502

$17.06 COP 53.6K

-26.85%

Cinema Ticket

$10.06 UYU 405

$6.20 COP 19.5K

62.26%

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

$793 COP 2.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,543 UYU 182.8K

$9,019 COP 28.4M

-49.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$86.2 UYU 3,469

$85.6 COP 269.1K

0.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.3 UYU 2,264

$58.5 COP 183.8K

-3.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 UYU 4,644

$136 COP 428.4K

-15.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.1 UYU 2,660

$103 COP 324.1K

-35.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$455 UYU 18.3K

$1,060 COP 3.3M

-57.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$301 UYU 12.1K

$680 COP 2.1M

-55.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$730 UYU 29.4K

$2,012 COP 6.3M

-63.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$428 UYU 17.2K

$1,169 COP 3.7M

-63.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,111 COP 12.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,701 COP 5.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$631 UYU 25.4K

$665 COP 2.1M

-5.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

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

Last update for Salto: August 31, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $455 in Salto versus $1,060 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 5% 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 $37.00 in Salto versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $271 vs $303 – making Salto 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

Salto vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 28%, 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 $2,011 per month in Salto and $2,574 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Salto, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 160% less in Salto. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 12% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Salto, where all-in costs run around $1,341, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Salto it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Salto – 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 Salto. 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.