Cost of Living Comparison Between Yala and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Yala and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $904 per month in Yala vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,453 per month in Yala vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,002 per month in Yala vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Yala is about 10% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Yala and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Yala 32% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.50 ฿49.97

$5.91 COP 18.6K

-74.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.34 ฿912

$32.96 COP 103.8K

-17.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.42 ฿214

$7.43 COP 23.4K

-13.59%

Cappuccino

$2.08 ฿69.3

$1.65 COP 5,207

26.06%

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

$0.58 ฿19.46

$1.10 COP 3,468

-47.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 ฿5.84

$0.78 COP 2,458

-76.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿81.0

$1.72 COP 5,412

41.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿127

$3.18 COP 10.0K

19.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 ฿56.1

$1.10 COP 3,474

52.73%

White Bread (500g)

$1.36 ฿45.29

$1.26 COP 3,962

7.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 ฿42.25

$1.38 COP 4,349

-7.97%

Eggs

$2.12 ฿70.7

$2.18 COP 6,858

-2.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.79 ฿627

$4.49 COP 14.1K

318.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.05 ฿102

$5.79 COP 18.2K

-47.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 ฿358

$8.97 COP 28.2K

19.62%

Apples (1kg)

$3.11 ฿104

$2.32 COP 7,308

34.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿40.61

$1.06 COP 3,352

15.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.97 ฿65.8

$1.52 COP 4,774

29.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.4

$1.36 COP 4,270

17.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.70

$1.13 COP 3,552

29.20%

Onion (1kg)

$1.25 ฿41.84

$1.17 COP 3,689

6.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ฿33.87

$0.90 COP 2,838

13.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.44

$0.90 COP 2,823

-42.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.43 ฿148

$2.23 COP 7,034

98.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.69 ฿590

$12.12 COP 38.2K

45.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿60.7

$1.19 COP 3,743

52.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$2.48 COP 7,815

8.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 ฿20.09

$0.85 COP 2,687

-29.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.10 ฿36.71

$1.42 COP 4,459

-22.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.20 ฿39.98

$1.95 COP 6,141

-38.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.32 ฿211

$7.89 COP 24.8K

-19.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 ฿35.24

$0.99 COP 3,118

7.07%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.7K ฿925.0K

$17.6K COP 55.4M

57.53%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.1K ฿903.0K

$26.8K COP 84.4M

1.01%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$77.4 ฿2,580

$83.0 COP 261.4K

-6.82%

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

$12.43 ฿415

$9.70 COP 30.5K

28.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.82 ฿628

$23.52 COP 74.1K

-19.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.72 ฿1,625

$25.26 COP 79.5K

92.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.37 ฿413

$19.10 COP 60.1K

-35.24%

Cinema Ticket

$7.17 ฿239

$3.95 COP 12.4K

81.52%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$295 ฿9,839

$316 COP 994.2K

-6.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,683 ฿323.0K

$5,975 COP 18.8M

62.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.19 ฿1,140

$60.0 COP 188.9K

-43.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.60 ฿1,154

$31.82 COP 100.2K

8.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 ฿3,349

$102 COP 320.1K

-1.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.3 ฿2,377

$107 COP 338.3K

-33.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$427 ฿14.3K

$475 COP 1.5M

-10.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 ฿9,411

$374 COP 1.2M

-24.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$808 ฿26.9K

$849 COP 2.7M

-4.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$643 ฿21.5K

$719 COP 2.3M

-10.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,780 ฿59.4K

$3,265 COP 10.3M

-45.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,418 ฿47.3K

$1,441 COP 4.5M

-1.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.45

13.43

-59.42%

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

Last update for Yala: July 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $427 in Yala versus $475 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 $27.00 in Yala versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $254 in Yala vs $193 in Medellin – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Yala vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 11%, 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 $1,355 per month in Yala and $1,504 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Yala, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Yala and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 31% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Yala, where all-in costs run around $904, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Yala it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Yala – 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 Yala. 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.