Cost of Living Comparison Between Songdo-dong and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Songdo-dong and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,449 per month in Songdo-dong vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Songdo-dong vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,110 per month in Songdo-dong vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Songdo-dong is about 14% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Songdo-dong and Medellin sit above the global median – Songdo-dong by 6%, Medellin by 23%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.80 ₩8,036

$8.02 COP 25.4K

-27.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.27 ₩47.5K

$47.87 COP 152.0K

-28.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.62 ₩9,177

$9.89 COP 31.4K

-33.06%

Cappuccino

$3.60 ₩4,992

$3.13 COP 9,937

15.02%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 ₩2,192

$1.91 COP 6,058

-17.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.63 ₩870

$1.51 COP 4,794

-58.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 ₩4,048

$3.12 COP 9,917

-6.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.33 ₩6,005

$5.75 COP 18.3K

-24.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 ₩3,120

$1.44 COP 4,587

56.25%

White Bread (500g)

$3.15 ₩4,359

$2.49 COP 7,894

26.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.34 ₩3,241

$1.77 COP 5,631

32.20%

Eggs

$3.34 ₩4,630

$2.96 COP 9,396

12.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.64 ₩21.7K

$10.07 COP 32.0K

55.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.72 ₩10.7K

$10.12 COP 32.1K

-23.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.03 ₩15.3K

$14.30 COP 45.4K

-22.87%

Apples (1kg)

$3.79 ₩5,255

$4.14 COP 13.1K

-8.45%

Banana (1kg)

$2.99 ₩4,149

$1.61 COP 5,106

85.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.47 ₩10.4K

$2.25 COP 7,129

232.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.11 ₩9,853

$2.25 COP 7,150

216.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.64 ₩3,660

$2.04 COP 6,486

29.41%

Onion (1kg)

$2.47 ₩3,417

$1.54 COP 4,873

60.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 ₩2,798

$1.17 COP 3,715

72.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₩1,578

$1.31 COP 4,148

-12.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.30 ₩4,572

$3.90 COP 12.4K

-15.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.04 ₩20.9K

$14.01 COP 44.5K

7.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₩3,029

$1.74 COP 5,534

25.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.06 ₩7,014

$2.87 COP 9,112

76.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ₩1,258

$1.22 COP 3,858

-25.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 255.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.70 ₩5,128

$1.31 COP 4,155

182.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.65 ₩898

$2.19 COP 6,944

-70.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 ₩1,898

$1.37 COP 4,334

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.3K ₩40.6M

$27.8K COP 88.4M

5.21%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$34.9K ₩48.4M

$35.8K COP 113.6M

-2.32%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$206 ₩285.2K

$177 COP 562.9K

16.06%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$43.92 ₩60.9K

$13.88 COP 44.1K

216.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.48 ₩28.4K

$29.72 COP 94.4K

-31.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.7 ₩104.9K

$44.88 COP 142.5K

68.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 54.4K

Cinema Ticket

$11.12 ₩15.4K

$6.65 COP 21.1K

67.22%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$364 ₩504.9K

$813 COP 2.6M

-55.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.6K ₩24.4M

$9,187 COP 29.2M

91.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 ₩88.9K

$89.5 COP 284.1K

-28.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$64.2 ₩88.9K

$59.0 COP 187.2K

8.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$36.51 ₩50.6K

$138 COP 438.8K

-73.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.8 ₩135.5K

$102 COP 324.2K

-4.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 COP 3.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ₩618.0K

$663 COP 2.1M

-32.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,494 ₩2.1M

$1,888 COP 6.0M

-20.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,042 ₩1.4M

$1,027 COP 3.3M

1.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,405 ₩4.7M

$678 COP 2.2M

402.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.1

10.94

-62.52%

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

Last update for Songdo-dong: September 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 402% higher in Songdo-dong, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Songdo-dong versus $48.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $383 in Songdo-dong vs $305 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

Songdo-dong vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 16%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,174 per month in Songdo-dong and $2,521 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Songdo-dong and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 26% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Songdo-dong, where all-in costs run around $1,449, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Songdo-dong it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Songdo-dong – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Songdo-dong. 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.