Cost of Living Comparison Between Waling and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Waling and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $414 per month in Waling vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $682 per month in Waling vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $949 per month in Waling vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Waling is about 60% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Waling and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Waling 69% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Waling
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.78 NPR 273
$6.16 COP 20.1K
-71.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.58 NPR 2,853
$32.60 COP 106.1K
-43.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.53 NPR 1,003
$7.34 COP 23.9K
-11.04%
Cappuccino
$1.90 NPR 292
$1.72 COP 5,600
10.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 NPR 77.6
$1.05 COP 3,420
-51.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18 NPR 27.73
$0.77 COP 2,515
-76.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.60 NPR 400
$1.69 COP 5,488
53.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.62 NPR 556
$3.17 COP 10.3K
14.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Waling
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.86 NPR 133
$1.05 COP 3,423
-18.10%
White Bread (500g)
$0.53 NPR 81.7
$1.30 COP 4,236
-59.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.96 NPR 147
$1.40 COP 4,544
-31.43%
Eggs
$1.50 NPR 230
$2.16 COP 7,047
-30.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.15 NPR 1,098
$4.39 COP 14.3K
62.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.83 NPR 434
$5.88 COP 19.1K
-51.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.57 NPR 549
$8.64 COP 28.1K
-58.68%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 NPR 350
$2.28 COP 7,426
-
Banana (1kg)
$0.89 NPR 137
$1.11 COP 3,604
-19.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.18 NPR 182
$1.53 COP 4,983
-22.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.65 NPR 101
$1.35 COP 4,410
-51.85%
Potato (1kg)
$0.39 NPR 59.8
$1.13 COP 3,674
-65.49%
Onion (1kg)
$0.45 NPR 69.5
$1.13 COP 3,692
-60.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.49 NPR 75.5
$0.85 COP 2,753
-42.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.23 NPR 35.47
$0.91 COP 2,975
-74.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.96 NPR 454
$2.34 COP 7,630
26.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.20 NPR 798
$12.37 COP 40.3K
-57.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.30 NPR 353
$1.20 COP 3,909
91.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26 NPR 501
$2.49 COP 8,104
30.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Waling
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.22 NPR 33.89
$0.84 COP 2,728
-73.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$40.57 COP 132.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.19 NPR 337
$1.42 COP 4,623
54.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.09 NPR 168
$1.92 COP 6,235
-43.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.57 NPR 549
$7.66 COP 24.9K
-53.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 NPR 189
$0.99 COP 3,223
24.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.7K NPR 5.0M
$18.0K COP 58.7M
81.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.1K NPR 6.2M
$26.6K COP 86.7M
50.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Waling
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$33.66 NPR 5,171
$80.8 COP 263.1K
-58.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.87 NPR 747
$9.95 COP 32.4K
-51.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.40 NPR 1,444
$24.18 COP 78.7K
-61.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Waling
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.35 NPR 2,818
$25.08 COP 81.7K
-26.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.15 COP 62.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.20 NPR 492
$3.98 COP 13.0K
-19.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Waling
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$91.5 NPR 14.0K
$305 COP 993.5K
-70.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,796 NPR 583.0K
$6,059 COP 19.7M
-37.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Waling
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.85 NPR 3,818
$58.1 COP 189.2K
-57.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.35 NPR 4,354
$32.20 COP 104.8K
-11.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$59.6 NPR 9,153
$101 COP 327.9K
-40.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.02 NPR 6,148
$108 COP 350.8K
-62.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Waling
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$103 NPR 15.8K
$477 COP 1.6M
-78.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$63.2 NPR 9,701
$376 COP 1.2M
-83.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$210 NPR 32.3K
$845 COP 2.7M
-75.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$144 NPR 22.1K
$730 COP 2.4M
-80.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,059 NPR 162.7K
$3,215 COP 10.5M
-67.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,272 NPR 195.4K
$1,372 COP 4.5M
-7.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Waling
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$617 COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.08
13.43
-10.05%

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

Last update for Waling: July 14, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $103 in Waling versus $477 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 $19.00 in Waling versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $130 vs $193 – making Waling 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
Waling vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Waling?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 149%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $621 per month in Waling and $1,546 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 Waling, 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 Waling or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Waling 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 Waling and in Medellin?
Groceries cost about 48% more in Medellin, 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 living in Waling or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Waling, where all-in costs run around $414, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Waling it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Waling or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Waling – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Waling 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 Waling. 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.

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