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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,991 per month in Stanley vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,581 per month in Stanley vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,172 per month in Stanley vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

Stanley costs about 74% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Stanley and Medellin sit above the global median – Stanley by 118%, Medellin by 25%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.57 FKP 20.34

$8.03 COP 25.2K

243.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.9 FKP 60.4

$48.26 COP 151.7K

69.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.77 COP 30.7K

Cappuccino

$4.35 FKP 3.21

$2.91 COP 9,149

49.48%

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

$2.27 FKP 1.68

$1.94 COP 6,110

17.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.44 FKP 1.06

$1.52 COP 4,783

-5.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.37 FKP 3.23

$3.09 COP 9,721

41.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 FKP 1.91

$5.74 COP 18.1K

-55.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.32 FKP 1.71

$1.36 COP 4,287

70.59%

White Bread (500g)

$3.15 FKP 2.32

$2.39 COP 7,505

31.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.93 FKP 0.68

$1.70 COP 5,346

-45.29%

Eggs

$7.34 FKP 5.41

$2.87 COP 9,021

155.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.90 FKP 2.14

$9.94 COP 31.2K

-70.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.66 FKP 7.12

$10.78 COP 33.9K

-10.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 FKP 8.99

$14.73 COP 46.3K

-17.31%

Apples (1kg)

$9.38 FKP 6.92

$4.09 COP 12.8K

129.34%

Banana (1kg)

$5.59 FKP 4.12

$1.57 COP 4,940

256.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$10.76 FKP 7.94

$2.13 COP 6,682

405.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.09 FKP 5.97

$2.21 COP 6,959

266.06%

Potato (1kg)

$3.19 FKP 2.35

$2.05 COP 6,435

55.61%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 FKP 0.56

$1.50 COP 4,728

-49.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.40 FKP 3.25

$1.19 COP 3,740

269.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 COP 3,640

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.54 FKP 12.20

$3.90 COP 12.2K

324.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.35 FKP 9.11

$14.44 COP 45.4K

-14.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 COP 4,978

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 FKP 1.84

$2.83 COP 8,889

-12.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.17 COP 3,672

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.7 COP 244.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.94 FKP 5.12

$1.28 COP 4,038

442.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.09 COP 6,576

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.62 COP 27.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.63 FKP 1.20

$1.30 COP 4,080

25.38%

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

$27.7K COP 86.9M

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

$35.5K COP 111.6M

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

$396 FKP 292

$176 COP 553.4K

124.89%

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

$78.7 FKP 58.1

$13.37 COP 42.0K

488.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$462 FKP 341

$29.89 COP 94.0K

1446.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.49 FKP 16.59

$44.76 COP 140.7K

-49.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.06 COP 53.6K

Cinema Ticket

$12.39 FKP 9.14

$6.20 COP 19.5K

99.84%

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

$793 COP 2.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,019 COP 28.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$116 FKP 85.5

$85.6 COP 269.1K

35.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$93.6 FKP 69.0

$58.5 COP 183.8K

60.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$164 FKP 121

$136 COP 428.4K

20.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 FKP 78.5

$103 COP 324.1K

3.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,489 FKP 1,099

$1,060 COP 3.3M

40.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,078 FKP 795

$680 COP 2.1M

58.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,678 FKP 1,976

$2,012 COP 6.3M

33.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,469 FKP 1,822

$1,169 COP 3.7M

111.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,111 COP 12.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,701 COP 5.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,092 FKP 3,019

$665 COP 2.1M

515.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.75

10.94

-29.16%

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

Last update for Stanley: August 29, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,489 in Stanley versus $1,060 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 515% 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 $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $404 vs $303 – 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 74%, 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 $4,486 per month in Stanley and $2,574 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.

Groceries cost about 33% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $82.0 in Stanley and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,716, than in Stanley at $2,991. 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.