๐A single person spends $1,063 per month in San Luis Rio Colorado vs $1,030 in Medellin, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $1,667 per month in San Luis Rio Colorado vs $1,586 in Medellin, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $2,271 per month in San Luis Rio Colorado vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.
๐San Luis Rio Colorado costs about 3% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Both San Luis Rio Colorado and Medellin are more affordable than the global median โ San Luis Rio Colorado21% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
San Luis Rio Colorado
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.60MX$166
$5.92COPย 21.2K
62.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.65MX$549
$33.17COPย 118.7K
-4.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.71MX$134
$7.25COPย 25.9K
6.34%
Cappuccino
$2.68MX$46.48
$1.71COPย 6,137
56.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.12
$1.09COPย 3,915
6.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90MX$15.59
$0.77COPย 2,743
16.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.87MX$49.71
$1.75COPย 6,254
64.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.98MX$86.4
$3.18COPย 11.4K
56.60%
๐ Groceries & Markets
San Luis Rio Colorado
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.58MX$27.33
$1.06COPย 3,792
49.06%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49MX$43.17
$1.30COPย 4,657
91.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.08
$1.38COPย 4,926
29.71%
Eggs
$3.13MX$54.2
$2.21COPย 7,908
41.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.38MX$128
$4.52COPย 16.2K
63.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.64MX$97.8
$5.80COPย 20.7K
-2.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.49MX$182
$8.97COPย 32.1K
16.95%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63MX$45.55
$2.29COPย 8,182
14.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.48MX$25.71
$1.06COPย 3,791
39.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.83MX$31.73
$1.51COPย 5,411
21.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.23
$1.36COPย 4,869
15.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.67MX$28.97
$1.16COPย 4,146
43.97%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79MX$30.96
$1.17COPย 4,174
52.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.11MX$19.23
$0.83COPย 2,960
33.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.82
$0.85COPย 3,043
14.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.16MX$72.1
$2.35COPย 8,423
77.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.67MX$150
$11.09COPย 39.7K
-21.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87MX$32.44
$1.15COPย 4,133
62.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18MX$55.2
$2.47COPย 8,853
28.74%
๐ Getting Around
San Luis Rio Colorado
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.65MX$11.26
$0.79COPย 2,827
-17.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.85COPย 149.8K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.75MX$47.63
$1.44COPย 5,140
90.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.54MX$26.76
$1.90COPย 6,793
-18.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.15MX$54.6
$7.70COPย 27.6K
-59.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26MX$21.86
$1.03COPย 3,680
22.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9KMX$396.9K
$17.7KCOPย 63.3M
29.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4KMX$354.3K
$27.0KCOPย 96.7M
-24.32%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Luis Rio Colorado
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$56.2MX$973
$81.4COPย 291.4K
-31.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.28MX$473
$9.42COPย 33.7K
189.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.26MX$542
$23.77COPย 85.1K
31.51%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
San Luis Rio Colorado
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.56MX$634
$25.86COPย 92.6K
41.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.94MX$276
$19.34COPย 69.2K
-17.58%
Cinema Ticket
$4.47MX$77.5
$4.05COPย 14.5K
10.37%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
San Luis Rio Colorado
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$202MX$3,504
$312COPย 1.1M
-35.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,750MX$47.7K
$6,067COPย 21.7M
-54.67%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
San Luis Rio Colorado
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.19MX$731
$58.9COPย 210.7K
-28.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.91MX$605
$32.82COPย 117.5K
6.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.1MX$1,492
$100COPย 359.6K
-14.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.2MX$1,199
$106COPย 380.3K
-34.91%
๐ Accommodation & Living
San Luis Rio Colorado
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$503MX$8,711
$490COPย 1.8M
2.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$393MX$6,815
$371COPย 1.3M
6.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$926MX$16.0K
$838COPย 3.0M
10.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$769MX$13.3K
$715COPย 2.6M
7.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,928MX$33.4K
$2,952COPย 10.6M
-34.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,189MX$20.6K
$1,394COPย 5.0M
-14.69%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
San Luis Rio Colorado
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$532COPย 1.9M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.8
13.43
-12.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for San Luis Rio Colorado: April 22, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $503 in San Luis Rio Colorado versus $490 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in San Luis Rio Colorado versus $33 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story โ $237 in San Luis Rio Colorado vs $190 in Medellin โ 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
San Luis Rio Colorado vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than San Luis Rio Colorado?
Yes โ San Luis Rio Colorado is pricier by about 3%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,595 per month in San Luis Rio Colorado and $1,544 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in San Luis Rio Colorado or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in San Luis Rio Colorado and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafรฉ pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in San Luis Rio Colorado and Medellin?
Groceries cost about 25% more in San Luis Rio Colorado, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for San Luis Rio Colorado or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,030, than in San Luis Rio Colorado at $1,063. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Luis Rio Colorado it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is San Luis Rio Colorado or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin โ lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Luis Rio Colorado makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
San Luis Rio Colorado vs other spots: cost of living compared