😐A single person spends $1,112 per month in Sin el Fil vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,730 per month in Sin el Fil vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,348 per month in Sin el Fil vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Sin el Fil costs about 9% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Sin el Fil and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Sin el Fil17% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sin el Fil
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.65LBP 953.5K
$5.95COP 20.8K
78.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.34LBP 4.4M
$33.33COP 116.3K
48.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.91LBP 707.5K
$7.23COP 25.2K
9.41%
Cappuccino
$2.96LBP 265.1K
$1.63COP 5,687
81.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63LBP 145.8K
$1.09COP 3,821
49.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93LBP 83.4K
$0.73COP 2,548
27.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.51LBP 314.5K
$1.74COP 6,065
101.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.10LBP 456.5K
$3.23COP 11.3K
57.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sin el Fil
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73LBP 155.1K
$1.05COP 3,662
64.76%
White Bread(500g)
$0.85LBP 75.8K
$1.29COP 4,515
-34.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.81LBP 162.4K
$1.32COP 4,617
37.12%
Eggs
$3.11LBP 278.5K
$2.27COP 7,927
37.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.18LBP 732.0K
$4.35COP 15.2K
88.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.61LBP 859.9K
$5.88COP 20.5K
63.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.64LBP 1.0M
$8.61COP 30.0K
35.19%
Apples(1kg)
$1.75LBP 157.1K
$2.25COP 7,844
-22.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45LBP 130.0K
$1.07COP 3,733
35.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.13LBP 101.2K
$1.52COP 5,322
-25.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.09LBP 97.6K
$1.42COP 4,964
-23.24%
Potato(1kg)
$1.01LBP 90.8K
$1.17COP 4,084
-13.68%
Onion(1kg)
$1.03LBP 92.6K
$1.17COP 4,077
-11.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89LBP 79.3K
$0.89COP 3,096
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51LBP 46.0K
$0.90COP 3,146
-43.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.53LBP 226.7K
$2.25COP 7,837
12.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.09LBP 902.9K
$11.04COP 38.5K
-8.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23LBP 109.8K
$1.14COP 3,977
7.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20LBP 196.5K
$2.38COP 8,301
-7.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Sin el Fil
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.84COP 2,916
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.95COP 146.4K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.95LBP 443.0K
$1.41COP 4,912
251.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.23LBP 109.8K
$1.90COP 6,634
-35.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.16LBP 1.8M
$7.75COP 27.0K
160.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.91LBP 81.1K
$1.01COP 3,509
-9.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.6KLBP 3.2B
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
102.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0KLBP 2.5B
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
5.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sin el Fil
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$211LBP 18.9M
$83.7COP 292.1K
152.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.87LBP 3.4M
$9.45COP 33.0K
300.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.48LBP 3.3M
$24.11COP 84.1K
51.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sin el Fil
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.84LBP 2.7M
$25.31COP 88.3K
17.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.86LBP 882.9K
$19.14COP 66.8K
-48.48%
Cinema Ticket
$8.09LBP 724.0K
$4.10COP 14.3K
97.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sin el Fil
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$299LBP 26.8M
$312COP 1.1M
-4.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,428LBP 396.3M
$5,993COP 20.9M
-26.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sin el Fil
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.2LBP 6.4M
$58.0COP 202.6K
22.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.15LBP 4.0M
$32.56COP 113.6K
38.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.1LBP 8.8M
$99.6COP 347.7K
-1.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.3LBP 6.4M
$109COP 378.8K
-34.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sin el Fil
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$300LBP 26.9M
$482COP 1.7M
-37.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$247LBP 22.1M
$379COP 1.3M
-34.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$986LBP 88.3M
$837COP 2.9M
17.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$499LBP 44.7M
$723COP 2.5M
-30.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,840COP 9.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,223COP 4.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sin el Fil
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$541COP 1.9M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.16
13.43
-16.90%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sin el Fil: June 8, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $300 in Sin el Fil versus $482 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 $49.00 in Sin el Fil versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $226 vs $190 – 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
Sin el Fil vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Sin el Fil?
Yes – Sin el Fil is pricier by about 9%, 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 $1,668 per month in Sin el Fil and $1,525 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – 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 Sin el Fil or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Sin el Fil and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Sin el Fil and Medellin?
Groceries cost about 19% more in Sin el Fil, 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 Sin el Fil or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Sin el Fil at $1,112. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sin el Fil it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Sin el Fil or Medellin more family-friendly?
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.
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, Sin el Fil makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Sin el Fil vs other spots: cost of living compared