🙂A single person spends $954 per month in Soledad vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,435 per month in Soledad vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,916 per month in Soledad vs $2,143 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 – Soledad28% lower, Medellin25% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Soledad
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.13COP 19.3K
$5.91COP 18.6K
3.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.14COP 72.8K
$32.96COP 103.8K
-29.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.45COP 29.8K
$7.43COP 23.4K
27.19%
Cappuccino
$1.59COP 5,008
$1.65COP 5,207
-3.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80COP 2,518
$1.10COP 3,468
-27.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COP 2,279
$0.78COP 2,458
-7.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.30COP 4,091
$1.72COP 5,412
-24.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96COP 9,306
$3.18COP 10.0K
-6.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Soledad
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15COP 3,634
$1.10COP 3,474
4.55%
White Bread(500g)
$1.87COP 5,878
$1.26COP 3,962
48.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.33COP 4,203
$1.38COP 4,349
-3.62%
Eggs
$2.21COP 6,958
$2.18COP 6,858
1.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.98COP 22.0K
$4.49COP 14.1K
55.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.10COP 19.2K
$5.79COP 18.2K
5.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.76COP 24.4K
$8.97COP 28.2K
-13.49%
Apples(1kg)
$3.17COP 9,978
$2.32COP 7,308
36.64%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,497
$1.06COP 3,352
4.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.45COP 4,557
$1.52COP 4,774
-4.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.64COP 5,152
$1.36COP 4,270
20.59%
Potato(1kg)
$1.60COP 5,036
$1.13COP 3,552
41.59%
Onion(1kg)
$1.10COP 3,466
$1.17COP 3,689
-5.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.05COP 3,300
$0.90COP 2,838
16.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63COP 1,997
$0.90COP 2,823
-30.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25COP 7,090
$2.23COP 7,034
0.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.89COP 59.5K
$12.12COP 38.2K
55.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99COP 3,118
$1.19COP 3,743
-16.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99COP 3,115
$2.48COP 7,815
-60.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Soledad
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.68COP 2,126
$0.85COP 2,687
-20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.96COP 94.3K
$41.62COP 131.0K
-28.02%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.95COP 6,143
$1.42COP 4,459
37.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.65COP 5,181
$1.95COP 6,141
-15.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.78COP 15.0K
$7.89COP 24.8K
-39.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.96COP 3,011
$0.99COP 3,118
-3.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5KCOP 58.4M
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
5.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.4KCOP 95.8M
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
13.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Soledad
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$139COP 436.8K
$83.0COP 261.4K
67.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.70COP 33.7K
$9.70COP 30.5K
10.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.40COP 80.0K
$23.52COP 74.1K
7.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Soledad
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.37COP 73.6K
$25.26COP 79.5K
-7.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.10COP 60.1K
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.86COP 9,019
$3.95COP 12.4K
-27.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Soledad
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$141COP 443.8K
$316COP 994.2K
-55.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,907COP 18.6M
$5,975COP 18.8M
-1.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Soledad
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.36COP 152.3K
$60.0COP 188.9K
-19.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.47COP 121.1K
$31.82COP 100.2K
20.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$125COP 393.3K
$102COP 320.1K
22.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112COP 351.1K
$107COP 338.3K
3.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Soledad
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$279COP 878.7K
$475COP 1.5M
-41.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$241COP 760.1K
$374COP 1.2M
-35.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$521COP 1.6M
$849COP 2.7M
-38.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$433COP 1.4M
$719COP 2.3M
-39.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,046COP 6.4M
$3,265COP 10.3M
-37.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,606COP 5.1M
$1,441COP 4.5M
11.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Soledad
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$624COP 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: July 25, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $279 in Soledad 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 $23.00 in Soledad versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $219 in Soledad vs $193 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 $1,430 per month in Soledad 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 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 in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 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 and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $954 in Soledad and $1,003 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 living in Soledad or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Soledad, where all-in costs run around $954, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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.