Cost of Living Comparison Between Selfoss and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Selfoss and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,533 per month in Selfoss vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,478 per month in Selfoss vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,422 per month in Selfoss vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Selfoss costs about 247% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Selfoss sits 163% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$19.63 ISK 2,444

$7.23 COP 25.2K

171.51%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.26 ISK 1,527

$1.74 COP 6,065

604.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 ISK 218

$1.05 COP 3,662

66.67%

White Bread (500g)

$7.42 ISK 924

$1.29 COP 4,515

475.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.32 ISK 538

$1.32 COP 4,617

227.27%

Eggs

$6.22 ISK 774

$2.27 COP 7,927

174.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.97 ISK 2,113

$4.35 COP 15.2K

290.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$21.17 ISK 2,635

$5.88 COP 20.5K

260.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$33.10 ISK 4,121

$8.61 COP 30.0K

284.44%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ISK 344

$2.25 COP 7,844

22.67%

Banana (1kg)

$2.59 ISK 322

$1.07 COP 3,733

142.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 ISK 320

$1.52 COP 5,322

69.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.15 ISK 891

$1.42 COP 4,964

403.52%

Potato (1kg)

$3.14 ISK 391

$1.17 COP 4,084

168.38%

Onion (1kg)

$2.07 ISK 257

$1.17 COP 4,077

76.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.59 ISK 447

$0.89 COP 3,096

303.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 ISK 167

$0.90 COP 3,146

48.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.37 ISK 1,914

$2.25 COP 7,837

583.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 ISK 137

$2.38 COP 8,301

-53.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

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

$312 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,884 ISK 359.0K

$379 COP 1.3M

659.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

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

Last update for Selfoss: June 8, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

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

Selfoss vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Selfoss is pricier by about 247%, 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 $5,299 per month in Selfoss and $1,525 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,533 in Selfoss and $1,017 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 170% more in Selfoss, 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 Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Selfoss at $3,533. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Selfoss it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Medellin – 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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Selfoss makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.