😐A single person spends $1,120 per month in Sin el Fil vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,752 per month in Sin el Fil vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,383 per month in Sin el Fil vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Sin el Fil costs about 12% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Sin el Fil and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Sin el Fil16% lower, Medellin25% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sin el Fil
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.71LBP 958.4K
$5.91COP 18.9K
81.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.16LBP 4.4M
$32.96COP 105.2K
49.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.92LBP 709.2K
$7.43COP 23.7K
6.59%
Cappuccino
$2.91LBP 260.7K
$1.65COP 5,276
76.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65LBP 147.7K
$1.10COP 3,514
50.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93LBP 83.2K
$0.78COP 2,491
19.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.55LBP 317.8K
$1.72COP 5,484
106.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.10LBP 456.4K
$3.18COP 10.1K
60.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sin el Fil
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.77LBP 158.6K
$1.10COP 3,521
60.91%
White Bread(500g)
$0.79LBP 70.3K
$1.26COP 4,015
-37.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.84LBP 165.0K
$1.38COP 4,407
33.33%
Eggs
$3.09LBP 276.7K
$2.18COP 6,950
41.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.20LBP 733.7K
$4.49COP 14.3K
82.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.30LBP 832.5K
$5.79COP 18.5K
60.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.27LBP 1.0M
$8.97COP 28.6K
25.64%
Apples(1kg)
$1.81LBP 161.6K
$2.32COP 7,405
-21.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.53LBP 137.4K
$1.06COP 3,397
44.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.15LBP 103.2K
$1.52COP 4,838
-24.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.10LBP 98.5K
$1.36COP 4,327
-19.12%
Potato(1kg)
$0.98LBP 87.8K
$1.13COP 3,599
-13.27%
Onion(1kg)
$1.03LBP 92.2K
$1.17COP 3,738
-11.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.82LBP 73.3K
$0.90COP 2,876
-8.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51LBP 46.0K
$0.90COP 2,861
-43.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.47LBP 220.7K
$2.23COP 7,128
10.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.98LBP 893.1K
$12.12COP 38.7K
-17.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.29LBP 115.4K
$1.19COP 3,793
8.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14LBP 191.2K
$2.48COP 7,920
-13.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Sin el Fil
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.85COP 2,723
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.62COP 132.8K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.13LBP 459.6K
$1.42COP 4,518
261.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.24LBP 110.7K
$1.95COP 6,223
-36.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.81LBP 1.8M
$7.89COP 25.2K
151.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94LBP 84.4K
$0.99COP 3,160
-5.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8KLBP 3.1B
$17.6KCOP 56.2M
97.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4KLBP 2.5B
$26.8KCOP 85.5M
5.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sin el Fil
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$215LBP 19.3M
$83.0COP 264.9K
159.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.45LBP 3.4M
$9.70COP 30.9K
286.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.83LBP 3.4M
$23.52COP 75.0K
60.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sin el Fil
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.07LBP 2.7M
$25.26COP 80.6K
19.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.91LBP 887.0K
$19.10COP 60.9K
-48.12%
Cinema Ticket
$7.90LBP 707.1K
$3.95COP 12.6K
100.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sin el Fil
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$302LBP 27.0M
$316COP 1.0M
-4.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,436LBP 397.0M
$5,975COP 19.1M
-25.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sin el Fil
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.3LBP 6.3M
$60.0COP 191.4K
17.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.21LBP 4.0M
$31.82COP 101.5K
42.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.4LBP 8.9M
$102COP 324.4K
-2.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.1LBP 6.4M
$107COP 342.8K
-33.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sin el Fil
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$297LBP 26.6M
$475COP 1.5M
-37.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$246LBP 22.0M
$374COP 1.2M
-34.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,005LBP 89.9M
$849COP 2.7M
18.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$503LBP 45.0M
$719COP 2.3M
-30.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,265COP 10.4M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,441COP 4.6M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sin el Fil
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$624COP 2.0M
-
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $297 in Sin el Fil 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 $49.00 in Sin el Fil versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $224 vs $193 – 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 12%, 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 $1,680 per month in Sin el Fil and $1,504 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 in 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 in Medellin?
Groceries cost about 16% 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 living in Sin el Fil or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Sin el Fil at $1,120. 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