Cost of Living Comparison Between Summit, NJ and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Summit, NJ and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,638 per month in Summit, NJ vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,979 per month in Summit, NJ vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,320 per month in Summit, NJ vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.

Summit, NJ costs about 155% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Summit, NJ sits 97% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Summit, NJ
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.71 $19.71
$5.92 COP 21.5K
232.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101 $101
$32.75 COP 119.1K
207.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.15 $14.15
$7.20 COP 26.2K
96.53%
Cappuccino
$5.18 $5.18
$1.70 COP 6,186
204.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 $2.48
$1.10 COP 3,996
125.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 $1.95
$0.72 COP 2,625
170.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.23 $8.23
$1.67 COP 6,067
392.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.94 $7.94
$3.10 COP 11.3K
156.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Summit, NJ
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 $1.21
$1.06 COP 3,837
14.15%
White Bread (500g)
$3.83 $3.83
$1.25 COP 4,531
206.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.37 $5.37
$1.39 COP 5,060
286.33%
Eggs
$4.26 $4.26
$2.26 COP 8,229
88.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$25.72 $25.72
$4.33 COP 15.8K
494.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.73 $11.73
$5.84 COP 21.2K
100.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.56 $17.56
$8.83 COP 32.1K
98.87%
Apples (1kg)
$7.15 $7.15
$2.24 COP 8,159
219.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.08 COP 3,911
64.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.93 $3.93
$1.53 COP 5,563
156.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.13 $4.13
$1.37 COP 4,987
201.46%
Potato (1kg)
$2.71 $2.71
$1.13 COP 4,109
139.82%
Onion (1kg)
$3.78 $3.78
$1.12 COP 4,067
237.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.62 $2.62
$0.85 COP 3,080
208.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.61 $2.61
$0.91 COP 3,305
186.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.12 $11.12
$2.33 COP 8,477
377.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.14 $15.14
$11.13 COP 40.5K
36.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 $1.75
$1.19 COP 4,342
47.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.18 $6.18
$2.37 COP 8,617
160.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Summit, NJ
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.99 $1.99
$0.79 COP 2,859
151.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$41.13 COP 149.6K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.95 $2.95
$1.44 COP 5,223
104.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.02 $2.02
$1.91 COP 6,952
5.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.82 $23.82
$8.02 COP 29.2K
197.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.87 $0.87
$0.94 COP 3,410
-7.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1K $30.1K
$17.9K COP 65.2M
67.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K $25.4K
$26.8K COP 97.4M
-5.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Summit, NJ
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$181 $181
$84.0 COP 305.4K
115.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.77 $49.77
$9.60 COP 34.9K
418.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.4 $56.4
$24.16 COP 87.9K
133.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Summit, NJ
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.84 $42.84
$25.88 COP 94.1K
65.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.04 COP 69.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.90 $14.90
$3.92 COP 14.2K
280.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Summit, NJ
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,842 $1,842
$306 COP 1.1M
501.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.1K $24.1K
$5,919 COP 21.5M
307.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Summit, NJ
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.6 $70.6
$57.9 COP 210.6K
21.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3 $55.3
$31.82 COP 115.7K
73.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.5 $74.5
$99.9 COP 363.3K
-25.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131 $131
$107 COP 389.7K
22.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Summit, NJ
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,778 $2,778
$487 COP 1.8M
470.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,348 $1,348
$368 COP 1.3M
266.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,480 $5,480
$826 COP 3.0M
563.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,186 $2,186
$716 COP 2.6M
205.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,837 $2,837
$2,925 COP 10.6M
-3.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,309 $2,309
$1,407 COP 5.1M
64.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Summit, NJ
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$546 COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
13.43
-51.23%

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

Last update for Summit, NJ: April 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,778 in Summit, NJ versus $487 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Summit, NJ versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $469 vs $190 – 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
Summit, NJ vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Summit, NJ?
Yes – Summit, NJ is pricier by about 155%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $3,957 per month in Summit, NJ and $1,550 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 Summit, NJ or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Summit, NJ and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Summit, NJ and Medellin?
Groceries cost about 147% more in Summit, NJ, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Summit, NJ or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,034, than in Summit, NJ at $2,638. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Summit, NJ it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Summit, NJ 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, Summit, NJ 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, Summit, NJ makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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