Cost of Living Comparison Between Soledad and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Soledad and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $980 per month in Soledad vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,432 per month in Soledad vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,883 per month in Soledad vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Soledad is about 4% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Soledad and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Soledad 27% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Soledad
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.00 COP 20.9K
$5.95 COP 20.8K
0.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.29 COP 81.3K
$33.33 COP 116.3K
-30.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.75 COP 34.0K
$7.23 COP 25.2K
34.85%
Cappuccino
$1.57 COP 5,483
$1.63 COP 5,687
-3.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 COP 2,831
$1.09 COP 3,821
-25.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 COP 2,516
$0.73 COP 2,548
-1.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.29 COP 4,491
$1.74 COP 6,065
-25.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 COP 10.3K
$3.23 COP 11.3K
-8.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Soledad
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 COP 3,992
$1.05 COP 3,662
8.57%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 COP 6,437
$1.29 COP 4,515
42.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,820
$1.32 COP 4,617
4.55%
Eggs
$2.18 COP 7,592
$2.27 COP 7,927
-3.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.76 COP 23.6K
$4.35 COP 15.2K
55.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.99 COP 20.9K
$5.88 COP 20.5K
1.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.98 COP 27.8K
$8.61 COP 30.0K
-7.32%
Apples (1kg)
$3.25 COP 11.3K
$2.25 COP 7,844
44.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,876
$1.07 COP 3,733
3.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.45 COP 5,069
$1.52 COP 5,322
-4.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.60 COP 5,581
$1.42 COP 4,964
12.68%
Potato (1kg)
$1.54 COP 5,370
$1.17 COP 4,084
31.62%
Onion (1kg)
$1.07 COP 3,728
$1.17 COP 4,077
-8.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 COP 3,522
$0.89 COP 3,096
13.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 COP 2,078
$0.90 COP 3,146
-33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 COP 8,167
$2.25 COP 7,837
4.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.09 COP 63.1K
$11.04 COP 38.5K
63.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 COP 3,443
$1.14 COP 3,977
-13.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98 COP 3,433
$2.38 COP 8,301
-58.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Soledad
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.72 COP 2,510
$0.84 COP 2,916
-14.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.99 COP 104.7K
$41.95 COP 146.4K
-28.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.92 COP 6,712
$1.41 COP 4,912
36.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.71 COP 5,984
$1.90 COP 6,634
-10.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.91 COP 17.1K
$7.75 COP 27.0K
-36.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 3,560
$1.01 COP 3,509
0.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.8K COP 65.7M
$17.6K COP 61.4M
7.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.8K COP 107.5M
$26.5K COP 92.5M
16.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Soledad
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$143 COP 497.7K
$83.7 COP 292.1K
70.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.94 COP 38.2K
$9.45 COP 33.0K
15.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.33 COP 88.4K
$24.11 COP 84.1K
5.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Soledad
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.80 COP 83.1K
$25.31 COP 88.3K
-5.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.14 COP 66.8K
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.94 COP 10.2K
$4.10 COP 14.3K
-28.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Soledad
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$144 COP 503.2K
$312 COP 1.1M
-53.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,892 COP 20.6M
$5,993 COP 20.9M
-1.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Soledad
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.10 COP 167.9K
$58.0 COP 202.6K
-17.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.58 COP 134.7K
$32.56 COP 113.6K
18.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$126 COP 441.2K
$99.6 COP 347.7K
26.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 COP 401.4K
$109 COP 378.8K
5.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Soledad
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$283 COP 988.4K
$482 COP 1.7M
-41.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 COP 821.0K
$379 COP 1.3M
-38.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$521 COP 1.8M
$837 COP 2.9M
-37.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$422 COP 1.5M
$723 COP 2.5M
-41.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,581 COP 5.5M
$2,840 COP 9.9M
-44.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,353 COP 4.7M
$1,223 COP 4.3M
10.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Soledad
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$541 COP 1.9M
-
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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $283 in Soledad 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 $23.00 in Soledad versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $216 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 4%, 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 $1,471 per month in Soledad 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 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 $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 vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $980 in Soledad and $1,017 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 $1,017. 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.

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