🙂A single person spends $980 per month in Soledad vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,464 per month in Soledad vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,947 per month in Soledad vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Soledad is about 5% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Soledad and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Soledad27% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Soledad
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.98COP 21.6K
$5.92COP 21.4K
1.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.99COP 86.6K
$32.75COP 118.2K
-26.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.82COP 35.5K
$7.20COP 26.0K
36.39%
Cappuccino
$1.64COP 5,928
$1.70COP 6,140
-3.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86COP 3,121
$1.10COP 3,966
-21.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COP 2,603
$0.72COP 2,605
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.25COP 4,522
$1.67COP 6,022
-25.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89COP 10.5K
$3.10COP 11.2K
-6.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Soledad
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.20COP 4,337
$1.06COP 3,809
13.21%
White Bread(500g)
$1.86COP 6,727
$1.25COP 4,497
48.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.33COP 4,797
$1.39COP 5,022
-4.32%
Eggs
$2.21COP 7,963
$2.26COP 8,168
-2.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.91COP 25.0K
$4.33COP 15.6K
59.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.16COP 22.2K
$5.84COP 21.1K
5.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.78COP 28.1K
$8.83COP 31.9K
-11.89%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29COP 11.9K
$2.24COP 8,099
46.87%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,844
$1.08COP 3,882
-1.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.51COP 5,455
$1.53COP 5,522
-1.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.65COP 5,970
$1.37COP 4,950
20.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.54COP 5,562
$1.13COP 4,078
36.28%
Onion(1kg)
$1.11COP 4,005
$1.12COP 4,036
-0.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01COP 3,644
$0.85COP 3,057
18.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59COP 2,139
$0.91COP 3,281
-35.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.29COP 8,254
$2.33COP 8,414
-1.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.15COP 65.5K
$11.13COP 40.2K
63.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.92COP 3,332
$1.19COP 4,309
-22.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97COP 3,513
$2.37COP 8,553
-59.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Soledad
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.68COP 2,463
$0.79COP 2,838
-13.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.02COP 108.4K
$41.13COP 148.5K
-27.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.91COP 6,897
$1.44COP 5,184
32.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.72COP 6,217
$1.91COP 6,901
-9.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.76COP 17.2K
$8.02COP 28.9K
-40.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.96COP 3,472
$0.94COP 3,385
2.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KCOP 67.5M
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
4.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.1KCOP 108.7M
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
12.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Soledad
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$143COP 514.8K
$84.0COP 303.1K
69.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.90COP 39.3K
$9.60COP 34.7K
13.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.92COP 90.0K
$24.16COP 87.2K
3.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Soledad
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.77COP 85.8K
$25.88COP 93.4K
-8.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.04COP 68.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.85COP 10.3K
$3.92COP 14.1K
-27.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Soledad
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$140COP 506.7K
$306COP 1.1M
-54.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,852COP 21.1M
$5,919COP 21.4M
-1.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Soledad
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.04COP 177.0K
$57.9COP 209.1K
-15.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.25COP 138.1K
$31.82COP 114.9K
20.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$127COP 458.6K
$99.9COP 360.6K
27.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112COP 403.4K
$107COP 386.8K
4.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Soledad
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$282COP 1.0M
$487COP 1.8M
-42.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$236COP 852.9K
$368COP 1.3M
-35.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$523COP 1.9M
$826COP 3.0M
-36.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$427COP 1.5M
$716COP 2.6M
-40.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,518COP 5.5M
$2,925COP 10.6M
-48.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,302COP 4.7M
$1,407COP 5.1M
-7.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Soledad
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$546COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
15
13.43
11.69%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Soledad: April 25, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $282 in Soledad versus $487 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 $24.00 in Soledad versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $218 in Soledad vs $190 in Medellin – 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
Soledad vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Soledad?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 5%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,470 per month in Soledad and $1,550 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 Soledad, 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 Soledad or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Soledad and $33.00 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 Soledad vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $980 in Soledad and $1,034 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Soledad or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Soledad, where all-in costs run around $980, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Soledad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Soledad or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Soledad – 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 Soledad. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.