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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $896 per month in Yala vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,481 per month in Yala vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,065 per month in Yala vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.

Yala is about 13% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Yala and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Yala 33% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.52 ฿49.58

$5.92 COP 21.5K

-74.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.80 ฿904

$32.75 COP 119.1K

-15.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.42 ฿209

$7.20 COP 26.2K

-10.83%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿65.8

$1.70 COP 6,186

18.82%

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

$0.58 ฿18.75

$1.10 COP 3,996

-47.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 ฿7.15

$0.72 COP 2,625

-69.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.39 ฿77.8

$1.67 COP 6,067

43.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.81 ฿124

$3.10 COP 11.3K

22.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 ฿57.5

$1.06 COP 3,837

66.98%

White Bread (500g)

$1.39 ฿45.25

$1.25 COP 4,531

11.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 ฿41.55

$1.39 COP 5,060

-7.91%

Eggs

$2.22 ฿72.3

$2.26 COP 8,229

-1.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.71 ฿608

$4.33 COP 15.8K

332.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.05 ฿99.3

$5.84 COP 21.2K

-47.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.89 ฿354

$8.83 COP 32.1K

23.33%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 ฿105

$2.24 COP 8,159

44.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.26 ฿40.95

$1.08 COP 3,911

16.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.91 ฿62.1

$1.53 COP 5,563

24.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.70

$1.37 COP 4,987

11.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 ฿47.81

$1.13 COP 4,109

30.09%

Onion (1kg)

$1.25 ฿40.58

$1.12 COP 4,067

11.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿31.81

$0.85 COP 3,080

15.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿16.84

$0.91 COP 3,305

-42.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 ฿140

$2.33 COP 8,477

84.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.49 ฿536

$11.13 COP 40.5K

48.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 ฿56.6

$1.19 COP 4,342

46.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ฿89.8

$2.37 COP 8,617

16.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.61 ฿19.83

$0.79 COP 2,859

-22.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 149.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.07 ฿34.64

$1.44 COP 5,223

-25.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.16 ฿37.71

$1.91 COP 6,952

-39.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.02 ฿196

$8.02 COP 29.2K

-24.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 ฿34.46

$0.94 COP 3,410

12.77%

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

$27.9K ฿905.5K

$17.9K COP 65.2M

55.41%

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

$27.4K ฿891.8K

$26.8K COP 97.4M

2.39%

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

$77.3 ฿2,513

$84.0 COP 305.4K

-7.94%

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

$12.28 ฿399

$9.60 COP 34.9K

27.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.90 ฿614

$24.16 COP 87.9K

-21.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.0 ฿1,627

$25.88 COP 94.1K

93.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.43 ฿404

$19.04 COP 69.3K

-34.72%

Cinema Ticket

$7.29 ฿237

$3.92 COP 14.2K

85.97%

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

$298 ฿9,702

$306 COP 1.1M

-2.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,536 ฿310.0K

$5,919 COP 21.5M

61.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.08 ฿1,108

$57.9 COP 210.6K

-41.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.93 ฿1,136

$31.82 COP 115.7K

9.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 ฿3,181

$99.9 COP 363.3K

-2.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.5 ฿2,323

$107 COP 389.7K

-33.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$421 ฿13.7K

$487 COP 1.8M

-13.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$286 ฿9,312

$368 COP 1.3M

-22.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$810 ฿26.3K

$826 COP 3.0M

-1.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$650 ฿21.1K

$716 COP 2.6M

-9.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,064 ฿67.1K

$2,925 COP 10.6M

-29.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,483 ฿48.2K

$1,407 COP 5.1M

5.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $421 in Yala 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 $28.00 in Yala versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $253 in Yala vs $190 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 15%, 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 $1,345 per month in Yala and $1,550 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 $28.00 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 33% 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 $896, than in Medellin at $1,034. 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.