Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between the United States and Medellin
For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,589 a month against $2,785 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $14,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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United States Living Index133Cost of Living Index in the United StatesLearn more -
Medellin Living Index77Cost of Living Index in MedellinLearn more
😐 Solo nomad: The United States is 43.9% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 75.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: The United States is 47.7% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 65% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.22 $20.22
$8.01 COP 25.5K
152.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.1 $81.1
$46.55 COP 148.3K
74.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.12 $12.12
$9.43 COP 30.1K
28.53%
Cappuccino
$5.36 $5.36
$2.91 COP 9,277
84.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 $2.77
$1.75 COP 5,585
58.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 $2.09
$1.32 COP 4,218
58.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.84 $5.84
$3.13 COP 9,969
86.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.92 $7.92
$5.55 COP 17.7K
42.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.41 COP 4,495
-26.24%
White Bread (500g)
$3.56 $3.56
$2.44 COP 7,777
45.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.69 $4.69
$1.63 COP 5,191
187.73%
Eggs
$4.43 $4.43
$2.82 COP 8,990
57.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.91 $12.91
$9.69 COP 30.9K
33.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.20 $12.20
$9.32 COP 29.7K
30.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.00 $17.00
$13.46 COP 42.9K
26.30%
Apples (1kg)
$5.31 $5.31
$4.00 COP 12.8K
32.75%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 $1.67
$1.48 COP 4,719
12.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.49 $4.49
$2.12 COP 6,768
111.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.05 $5.05
$2.25 COP 7,178
124.44%
Potato (1kg)
$2.83 $2.83
$1.91 COP 6,092
48.17%
Onion (1kg)
$3.00 $3.00
$1.62 COP 5,160
85.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.28 $2.28
$1.15 COP 3,658
98.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.27 $2.27
$1.26 COP 4,021
80.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.33 $10.33
$3.82 COP 12.2K
170.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.72 $14.72
$13.11 COP 41.8K
12.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$1.60 COP 5,083
28.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 $3.66
$2.26 COP 7,188
61.95%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.33 $2.33
$1.17 COP 3,731
99.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.1 $65.1
$75.0 COP 239.0K
-13.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.60 $3.60
$1.27 COP 4,056
183.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.90 $1.90
$2.05 COP 6,531
-7.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.81 $29.81
$8.20 COP 26.1K
263.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.27 COP 4,046
-18.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K $35.1K
$26.8K COP 85.3M
31.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$34.4K COP 109.6M
-23.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$216 $216
$162 COP 516.9K
33.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.3 $62.3
$13.12 COP 41.8K
374.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.6 $74.6
$28.09 COP 89.5K
165.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.70 $44.70
$44.33 COP 141.2K
0.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.55 $22.55
$16.33 COP 52.0K
38.09%
Cinema Ticket
$15.19 $15.19
$6.09 COP 19.4K
149.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,440 $1,440
$764 COP 2.4M
88.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.2K $25.2K
$8,904 COP 28.4M
183.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.7 $53.7
$85.0 COP 270.8K
-36.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.44 $42.44
$57.5 COP 183.2K
-26.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.4 $93.4
$132 COP 419.8K
-29.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 $115
$95.8 COP 305.1K
20.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,622 $1,622
$1,028 COP 3.3M
57.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,357 $1,357
$604 COP 1.9M
124.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,681 $2,681
$1,802 COP 5.7M
48.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,170 $2,170
$993 COP 3.2M
118.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,294 $3,294
$3,921 COP 12.5M
-15.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,674 $2,674
$1,639 COP 5.2M
63.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,242 $4,242
$626 COP 2.0M
577.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
10.94
-40.13%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for the United States: October 6, 2026
Last update for Medellin: October 6, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
United States $1.4K 49.4%
Medellin $604 38.3% 55.4% $752
Groceries & Markets
United States $411 15%
Medellin $288 18.3% 29.8% $122
Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States $353 12.9%
Medellin $203 12.9% 42.4% $150
Eating Out
United States $327 11.9%
Medellin $166 10.6% 49.1% $161
Clothing & Footwear
United States $137 5%
Medellin $166 10.6% 21.5% $29
Getting Around
United States $87 3.2%
Medellin $91 5.8% 4.3% $3.7
Sport & Entertainment
United States $75 2.7%
Medellin $57 3.6% 24.7% $19
Accommodation & Living
United States $2.2K 41.3%
Medellin $993 31.9% 54.3% $1.2K
Groceries & Markets
United States $942 17.9%
Medellin $664 21.3% 29.5% $278
Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States $415 7.9%
Medellin $217 7% 47.9% $199
Eating Out
United States $1.1K 20.3%
Medellin $560 18% 47.5% $507
Clothing & Footwear
United States $304 5.8%
Medellin $370 11.9% 21.5% $65
Getting Around
United States $180 3.4%
Medellin $185 5.9% 2.9% $5.1
Sport & Entertainment
United States $173 3.3%
Medellin $129 4.2% 25.1% $43
Good to know
🇺🇸 United States
🇨🇴 Medellin
Weather
Population
340,110,988
2,486,723
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- United States Medellin 3,470 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
- United States
- Medellin
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
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