Cost of Living Comparison Between Stanley and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Stanley and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,392 per month in Stanley vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,460 per month in Stanley vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,528 per month in Stanley vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Stanley costs about 132% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Stanley sits 79% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.26 FKP 20.26

$6.16 COP 20.1K

342.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$82.2 FKP 61.1

$32.60 COP 106.1K

152.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

Cappuccino

$2.73 FKP 2.03

$1.72 COP 5,600

58.72%

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

$1.80 FKP 1.34

$1.05 COP 3,420

71.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 FKP 1.03

$0.77 COP 2,515

80.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.58 FKP 3.40

$1.69 COP 5,488

171.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 FKP 2.46

$3.17 COP 10.3K

4.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 FKP 1.66

$1.05 COP 3,423

112.38%

White Bread (500g)

$3.14 FKP 2.33

$1.30 COP 4,236

141.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.91 FKP 0.68

$1.40 COP 4,544

-35.00%

Eggs

$7.44 FKP 5.53

$2.16 COP 7,047

244.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.04 FKP 2.26

$4.39 COP 14.3K

-30.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 FKP 4.34

$5.88 COP 19.1K

-0.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.72 FKP 7.22

$8.64 COP 28.1K

12.50%

Apples (1kg)

$7.16 FKP 5.32

$2.28 COP 7,426

214.04%

Banana (1kg)

$5.19 FKP 3.85

$1.11 COP 3,604

367.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.46 FKP 4.06

$1.53 COP 4,983

256.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.19 FKP 3.86

$1.35 COP 4,410

284.44%

Potato (1kg)

$2.37 FKP 1.76

$1.13 COP 3,674

109.73%

Onion (1kg)

$0.74 FKP 0.55

$1.13 COP 3,692

-34.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.92 FKP 3.65

$0.85 COP 2,753

478.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.50 FKP 13.75

$2.34 COP 7,630

690.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.85 FKP 8.80

$12.37 COP 40.3K

-4.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.18 FKP 0.87

$2.49 COP 8,104

-52.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,728

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.83 FKP 1.36

$0.99 COP 3,223

84.85%

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

$2,748 FKP 2,042

$18.0K COP 58.7M

-84.76%

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

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

$402 FKP 299

$80.8 COP 263.1K

397.34%

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

$88.9 FKP 66.0

$9.95 COP 32.4K

793.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$529 FKP 393

$24.18 COP 78.7K

2089.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.30 FKP 11.37

$25.08 COP 81.7K

-39.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.72 FKP 18.37

$19.15 COP 62.3K

29.09%

Cinema Ticket

$11.07 FKP 8.22

$3.98 COP 13.0K

178.14%

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

$624 FKP 463

$305 COP 993.5K

104.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.7 FKP 45.83

$101 COP 327.9K

-38.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,247 FKP 926

$477 COP 1.6M

161.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 FKP 497

$376 COP 1.2M

77.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,222 FKP 1,651

$845 COP 2.7M

163.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,366 FKP 1,015

$730 COP 2.4M

87.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,978 FKP 2,956

$617 COP 2.0M

544.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

-47.88%

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

Last update for Stanley: July 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,247 in Stanley versus $477 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 545% higher in Stanley, 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 $82.0 in Stanley versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $324 vs $193 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Stanley vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Stanley is pricier by about 132%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,588 per month in Stanley and $1,546 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $82.0 in Stanley and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 68% more in Stanley, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Stanley at $2,392. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Stanley it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Stanley makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.