Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sioux City, IA and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,614 a month against $2,168 in Sioux City, IA, rent and utilities included – about $6,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Sioux City, IA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,168
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,614
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Sioux City, IA and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Sioux City, IA and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,168 per month in Sioux City, IA vs $1,614 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Sioux City, IA $2,168
  • Medellin $1,614

A couple spends around $3,305 per month in Sioux City, IA vs $2,402 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Sioux City, IA $3,305
  • Medellin $2,402

A family of three spends $4,442 per month in Sioux City, IA vs $3,190 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Sioux City, IA $4,442
  • Medellin $3,190

Sioux City, IA costs about 34% more than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Sioux City, IA and Medellin sit above the global median – Sioux City, IA by 61%, Medellin by 20%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sioux City, IA
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.33 $20.33
$7.93 COP 25.2K
156.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.0 $56.0
$46.13 COP 146.3K
21.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.65 $10.65
$9.50 COP 30.1K
12.11%
Cappuccino
$6.14 $6.14
$3.11 COP 9,866
97.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 $2.11
$1.83 COP 5,800
15.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.38 COP 4,360
28.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.07 $5.07
$3.05 COP 9,672
66.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.61 $5.61
$5.50 COP 17.4K
2.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sioux City, IA
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.87 $0.87
$1.45 COP 4,600
-40.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.92 $2.92
$2.36 COP 7,496
23.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.38 $3.38
$1.68 COP 5,328
101.19%
Eggs
$3.60 $3.60
$2.86 COP 9,077
25.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.92 $7.92
$10.19 COP 32.3K
-22.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.58 $7.58
$9.53 COP 30.2K
-20.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.77 $16.77
$14.04 COP 44.5K
19.44%
Apples (1kg)
$4.74 $4.74
$4.07 COP 12.9K
16.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.50 COP 4,742
1.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.02 $4.02
$2.17 COP 6,891
85.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.96 $3.96
$2.31 COP 7,310
71.43%
Potato (1kg)
$1.99 $1.99
$1.93 COP 6,113
3.11%
Onion (1kg)
$4.87 $4.87
$1.64 COP 5,196
196.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.38 $2.38
$1.13 COP 3,571
110.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.13 $2.13
$1.25 COP 3,954
70.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.94 $8.94
$3.99 COP 12.6K
124.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.12 $15.12
$13.35 COP 42.3K
13.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 $1.70
$1.70 COP 5,384
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08 $3.08
$2.37 COP 7,525
29.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Sioux City, IA
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.21 COP 3,827
46.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$47.88 $47.88
$76.5 COP 242.5K
-37.40%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.97 $1.97
$1.32 COP 4,179
49.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.20 $1.20
$2.14 COP 6,774
-43.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.61 $19.61
$8.47 COP 26.8K
131.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$1.30 COP 4,114
-30.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K $35.4K
$28.0K COP 88.7M
26.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0K $25.0K
$35.4K COP 112.3M
-29.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sioux City, IA
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$167 $167
$172 COP 545.6K
-3.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.4 $52.4
$13.37 COP 42.4K
291.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.0 $69.0
$28.73 COP 91.1K
140.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sioux City, IA
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.8 $98.8
$45.24 COP 143.5K
118.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.08 $20.08
$17.04 COP 54.0K
17.84%
Cinema Ticket
$15.05 $15.05
$6.28 COP 19.9K
139.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sioux City, IA
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,098 $1,098
$770 COP 2.4M
42.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.0K $12.0K
$9,011 COP 28.6M
32.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sioux City, IA
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.40 $43.40
$86.4 COP 274.0K
-49.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.73 $21.73
$57.1 COP 181.1K
-61.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.2 $77.2
$137 COP 432.9K
-43.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3 $89.3
$97.9 COP 310.4K
-8.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sioux City, IA
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$923 $923
$1,055 COP 3.3M
-12.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$922 $922
$616 COP 2.0M
49.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,481 $1,481
$1,892 COP 6.0M
-21.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,743 $1,743
$1,023 COP 3.2M
70.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,546 $1,546
$4,059 COP 12.9M
-61.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,546 $1,546
$1,678 COP 5.3M
-7.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sioux City, IA
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,592 $3,592
$652 COP 2.1M
450.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
10.94
-39.95%

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

Last update for Sioux City, IA: October 10, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Sioux City, IA
$922
Medellin
$616 33.2% $306
Groceries & Markets
Sioux City, IA
$342
Medellin
$295 13.9% $47
Eating Out
Sioux City, IA
$320
Medellin
$168 47.4% $152
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sioux City, IA
$288
Medellin
$214 25.6% $74
Sport & Entertainment
Sioux City, IA
$129
Medellin
$58 55.1% $71
Clothing & Footwear
Sioux City, IA
$104
Medellin
$170 63.2% $66
Getting Around
Sioux City, IA
$63
Medellin
$93 48.2% $30

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $923 in Sioux City, IA versus $1,055 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 451% higher in Sioux City, IA, 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 $56.0 in Sioux City, IA versus $46.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $342 vs $295 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Sioux City, IA
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
10:25 10:25 AM
10:25 10:25 AM
Same time as Sioux City, IA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
85,797
2,486,723
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sioux City, IA Medellin 4,520 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Sioux City, IA
  • Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Sioux City, IA vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Sioux City, IA?
Yes – Sioux City, IA is pricier by about 34%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,252 per month in Sioux City, IA and $2,421 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 Sioux City, IA or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $56.0 in Sioux City, IA and $46.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Sioux City, IA and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,168 in Sioux City, IA and $1,614 in Medellin. That's a gap of about 34%.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Sioux City, IA or in Medellin?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,614, than in Sioux City, IA at $2,168. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sioux City, IA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Sioux City, IA 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, Sioux City, IA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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