😐A single person spends $2,893 per month in Stillwater, MN vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,028 per month in Stillwater, MN vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,163 per month in Stillwater, MN vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Stillwater, MN costs about 69% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Stillwater, MN and Medellin sit above the global median – Stillwater, MN by 111%, Medellin by 25%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stillwater, MN
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.48$17.48
$8.03COP 25.3K
117.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.6$81.6
$48.26COP 152.0K
69.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.99$11.99
$9.77COP 30.8K
22.72%
Cappuccino
$5.81$5.81
$2.91COP 9,167
99.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98$2.98
$1.94COP 6,122
53.61%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23$2.23
$1.52COP 4,792
46.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.99$6.99
$3.09COP 9,740
126.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.20$8.20
$5.74COP 18.1K
42.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stillwater, MN
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.91$0.91
$1.36COP 4,296
-33.09%
White Bread(500g)
$3.66$3.66
$2.39COP 7,519
53.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$7.09$7.09
$1.70COP 5,356
317.06%
Eggs
$3.65$3.65
$2.87COP 9,038
27.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.44$10.44
$9.94COP 31.3K
5.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.16$14.16
$10.78COP 34.0K
31.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.52$19.52
$14.73COP 46.4K
32.52%
Apples(1kg)
$4.57$4.57
$4.09COP 12.9K
11.74%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79$1.79
$1.57COP 4,950
14.01%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.53$4.53
$2.13COP 6,695
112.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.15$5.15
$2.21COP 6,972
133.03%
Potato(1kg)
$4.30$4.30
$2.05COP 6,447
109.76%
Onion(1kg)
$3.90$3.90
$1.50COP 4,737
160.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.29$2.29
$1.19COP 3,747
92.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.59$2.59
$1.16COP 3,647
123.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.12$13.12
$3.90COP 12.3K
236.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.92$15.92
$14.44COP 45.5K
10.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.88$2.88
$1.58COP 4,987
82.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.59$5.59
$2.83COP 8,905
97.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Stillwater, MN
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.17COP 3,679
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$83.5$83.5
$77.7COP 244.8K
7.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.06$5.06
$1.28COP 4,045
295.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.67$1.67
$2.09COP 6,589
-20.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.04$24.04
$8.62COP 27.1K
178.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.03$1.03
$1.30COP 4,088
-20.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.2K$36.2K
$27.7KCOP 87.1M
30.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K$25.6K
$35.5KCOP 111.8M
-27.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stillwater, MN
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$133$133
$176COP 554.5K
-24.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.0$54.0
$13.37COP 42.1K
303.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.0$68.0
$29.89COP 94.1K
127.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stillwater, MN
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$123$123
$44.76COP 141.0K
175.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.58$35.58
$17.06COP 53.7K
108.56%
Cinema Ticket
$15.22$15.22
$6.20COP 19.5K
145.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stillwater, MN
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,349$1,349
$793COP 2.5M
70.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$35.6K$35.6K
$9,019COP 28.4M
294.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stillwater, MN
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.6$57.6
$85.6COP 269.6K
-32.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.28$44.28
$58.5COP 184.1K
-24.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.3$90.3
$136COP 429.3K
-33.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.5$50.5
$103COP 324.7K
-51.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stillwater, MN
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,513$1,513
$1,060COP 3.3M
42.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,515$1,515
$680COP 2.1M
122.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,263$2,263
$2,012COP 6.3M
12.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,131$2,131
$1,169COP 3.7M
82.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,977$2,977
$4,111COP 12.9M
-27.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,886$2,886
$1,701COP 5.4M
69.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stillwater, MN
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$6,798$6,798
$665COP 2.1M
921.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.27
10.94
-42.69%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stillwater, MN: August 29, 2026
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,513 in Stillwater, MN 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 922% higher in Stillwater, MN, 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 Stillwater, MN versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $445 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
Stillwater, MN vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Stillwater, MN?
Yes – Stillwater, MN is pricier by about 69%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $4,340 per month in Stillwater, MN and $2,574 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 Medellin, 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 Stillwater, MN or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $82.0 in Stillwater, MN and $48.00 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 Stillwater, MN and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,893 in Stillwater, MN and $1,716 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Stillwater, MN or in Medellin?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,716, than in Stillwater, MN at $2,893. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Stillwater, MN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Stillwater, MN or Medellin more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Stillwater, MN or Medellin?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Stillwater, MN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Stillwater, MN vs other spots: cost of living compared