Cost of Living Comparison Between Varadero and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Varadero and Medellin

😐 Solo nomad: Varadero is 52.7% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 60% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Varadero is 33.7% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Varadero
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.87 CUP 141
$6.14 COP 22.1K
-4.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11 CUP 1,131
$33.05 COP 119.0K
42.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.79 CUP 211
$7.32 COP 26.4K
20.08%
Cappuccino
$0.97 CUP 23.31
$1.66 COP 5,971
-41.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 CUP 45.88
$1.10 COP 3,977
73.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98 CUP 23.50
$0.78 COP 2,815
25.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.64 CUP 87.4
$1.71 COP 6,172
112.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62 CUP 62.9
$3.17 COP 11.4K
-17.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Varadero
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.95 CUP 70.7
$1.11 COP 4,002
165.77%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 CUP 31.44
$1.31 COP 4,707
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 CUP 36.06
$1.38 COP 4,967
8.70%
Eggs
$2.39 CUP 57.4
$2.22 COP 7,989
7.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.99 CUP 144
$4.34 COP 15.6K
38.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.94 CUP 119
$5.80 COP 20.9K
-14.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.17 CUP 292
$8.98 COP 32.3K
35.52%
Apples (1kg)
$4.95 CUP 119
$2.26 COP 8,143
119.03%
Banana (1kg)
$0.58 CUP 13.88
$1.11 COP 4,013
-47.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.02 CUP 24.45
$1.46 COP 5,271
-30.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.13 CUP 27.04
$1.37 COP 4,916
-17.52%
Potato (1kg)
$0.95 CUP 22.82
$1.11 COP 3,999
-14.41%
Onion (1kg)
$5.50 CUP 132
$1.16 COP 4,188
374.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.35 CUP 8.52
$0.89 COP 3,202
-60.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 CUP 12.87
$0.87 COP 3,116
-37.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.63 CUP 87.0
$2.35 COP 8,473
54.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.73 CUP 138
$10.86 COP 39.1K
-47.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 CUP 19.89
$1.20 COP 4,319
-30.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 CUP 16.94
$2.48 COP 8,923
-71.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Varadero
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.79 COP 2,835
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.12 CUP 483
$40.77 COP 146.8K
-50.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.99 CUP 47.65
$1.42 COP 5,124
40.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 CUP 24.41
$1.91 COP 6,882
-46.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.39 CUP 489
$7.65 COP 27.5K
166.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 CUP 30.40
$0.97 COP 3,481
30.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$69.1K CUP 1.7M
$18.1K COP 65.2M
281.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$78.5K CUP 1.9M
$26.3K COP 94.7M
198.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Varadero
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.55 CUP 949
$81.3 COP 292.8K
-51.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.58 CUP 974
$9.63 COP 34.7K
321.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$221 CUP 5,300
$24.36 COP 87.7K
806.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Varadero
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.54 CUP 949
$26.02 COP 93.7K
51.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.02 CUP 360
$18.92 COP 68.1K
-20.61%
Cinema Ticket
$1.02 CUP 24.40
$3.89 COP 14.0K
-73.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Varadero
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$88.9 CUP 2,133
$304 COP 1.1M
-70.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K CUP 355.7K
$5,902 COP 21.3M
151.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Varadero
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.78 CUP 955
$58.7 COP 211.3K
-32.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.32 CUP 728
$32.48 COP 116.9K
-6.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.7 CUP 1,816
$102 COP 366.3K
-25.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.2 CUP 2,044
$108 COP 389.4K
-21.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Varadero
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$403 CUP 9,679
$474 COP 1.7M
-14.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$809 CUP 19.4K
$371 COP 1.3M
118.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,196 CUP 28.7K
$848 COP 3.1M
41.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$639 CUP 15.3K
$716 COP 2.6M
-10.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$400 CUP 9,598
$2,871 COP 10.3M
-86.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$351 CUP 8,431
$1,375 COP 5.0M
-74.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Varadero
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$18.99 CUP 456
$542 COP 1.9M
-96.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
15
13.43
11.69%

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

Last update for Varadero: April 11, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 13, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 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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