Cost of Living Comparison Between Sumba and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Sumba and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $217 per month in Sumba vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $290 per month in Sumba vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $364 per month in Sumba vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

Sumba is about 87% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Sumba sits 84% below the global median, while Medellin is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.03 COP 25.2K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.26 COP 151.7K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.77 COP 30.7K

Cappuccino

$2.91 COP 9,149

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

$1.94 COP 6,110

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 COP 4,783

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 COP 9,721

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.74 COP 18.1K

Milk (1 liter)

$2.31 FOK 14.87

$1.36 COP 4,287

69.85%

White Bread (500g)

$2.39 COP 7,505

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 COP 5,346

Eggs

$2.87 COP 9,021

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.94 COP 31.2K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.78 COP 33.9K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.73 COP 46.3K

Apples (1kg)

$4.09 COP 12.8K

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 COP 4,940

Oranges (1kg)

$2.13 COP 6,682

Tomato (1kg)

$2.21 COP 6,959

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 COP 6,435

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 COP 4,728

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 COP 3,740

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 COP 3,640

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.84 FOK 69.9

$3.90 COP 12.2K

177.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.17 FOK 78.5

$14.44 COP 45.4K

-15.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 FOK 15.49

$1.58 COP 4,978

51.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 FOK 11.87

$2.83 COP 8,889

-34.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.64 FOK 29.91

$1.17 COP 3,672

296.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.7 COP 244.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.28 COP 4,038

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.09 COP 6,576

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.62 COP 27.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.07 FOK 13.34

$1.30 COP 4,080

59.23%

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)

$176 COP 553.4K

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

$13.37 COP 42.0K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.3 FOK 396

$29.89 COP 94.0K

105.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.73 FOK 250

$44.76 COP 140.7K

-13.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.06 COP 53.6K

Cinema Ticket

$15.64 FOK 101

$6.20 COP 19.5K

152.26%

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)

$85.6 COP 269.1K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.5 COP 183.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$136 COP 428.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 COP 324.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,060 COP 3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 COP 2.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,012 COP 6.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,169 COP 3.7M

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)

$665 COP 2.1M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

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

Last update for Sumba: August 29, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

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

Sumba vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 690%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $326 per month in Sumba and $2,574 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $217 in Sumba and $1,716 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 381% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sumba, where all-in costs run around $217, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Sumba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sumba – 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 Sumba. 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.