Cost of Living Comparison Between Zabol and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Zabol and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $495 per month in Zabol vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $794 per month in Zabol vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,093 per month in Zabol vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Zabol is about 51% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Zabol and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Zabol 63% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zabol
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.95 $1.95
$5.91 COP 19.1K
-67.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.24 $17.24
$32.96 COP 106.5K
-47.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.37 $4.37
$7.43 COP 24.0K
-41.18%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.51 $0.51
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04 $1.04
-
-
Cappuccino
$0.52 $0.52
$1.65 COP 5,343
-68.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 $0.43
$1.10 COP 3,559
-60.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00 $1.00
$0.78 COP 2,523
28.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.72 COP 5,553
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.18 COP 10.3K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zabol
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.59 $0.59
$1.10 COP 3,565
-46.36%
White Bread (500g)
$0.53 $0.53
$1.26 COP 4,066
-57.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.84 $1.84
$1.38 COP 4,463
33.33%
Eggs
$1.19 $1.19
$2.18 COP 7,038
-45.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.49 $3.49
$4.49 COP 14.5K
-22.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 $3.17
$5.79 COP 18.7K
-45.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.13 $10.13
$8.97 COP 29.0K
12.93%
Apples (1kg)
$0.84 $0.84
$2.32 COP 7,499
-63.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.41 $1.41
$1.06 COP 3,440
33.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.87 $0.87
$1.52 COP 4,899
-42.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.57 $0.57
$1.36 COP 4,381
-58.09%
Potato (1kg)
$0.51 $0.51
$1.13 COP 3,645
-54.87%
Onion (1kg)
$0.46 $0.46
$1.17 COP 3,785
-60.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.55 $0.55
$0.90 COP 2,912
-38.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.23 $0.23
$0.90 COP 2,897
-74.44%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$0.63 $0.63
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.46 $0.46
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 $1.44
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.24 $2.24
$2.23 COP 7,218
0.45%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$12.12 COP 39.2K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.19 COP 3,841
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.48 COP 8,020
-
🚌 Getting Around
Zabol
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.19 $0.19
$0.85 COP 2,758
-77.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.11 $10.11
$41.62 COP 134.5K
-75.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.37 $0.37
$1.42 COP 4,575
-73.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.29 $0.29
$1.95 COP 6,302
-85.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.02 $2.02
$7.89 COP 25.5K
-74.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 $0.76
$0.99 COP 3,200
-23.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$72.6K $72.6K
$17.6K COP 56.9M
312.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$55.4K $55.4K
$26.8K COP 86.6M
106.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zabol
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$15.98 $15.98
$83.0 COP 268.2K
-80.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.05 $2.05
$9.70 COP 31.3K
-78.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.91 $5.91
$23.52 COP 76.0K
-74.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zabol
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$15.77 $15.77
$25.26 COP 81.6K
-37.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.71 $12.71
$19.10 COP 61.7K
-33.46%
Cinema Ticket
$1.48 $1.48
$3.95 COP 12.8K
-62.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zabol
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$116 $116
$316 COP 1.0M
-63.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,970 $1,970
$5,975 COP 19.3M
-67.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zabol
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.49 $22.49
$60.0 COP 193.8K
-62.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.65 $24.65
$31.82 COP 102.8K
-22.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 $111
$102 COP 328.5K
9.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.0 $69.0
$107 COP 347.2K
-35.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zabol
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$280 $280
$475 COP 1.5M
-40.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$204 $204
$374 COP 1.2M
-45.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$641 $641
$849 COP 2.7M
-24.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$319 $319
$719 COP 2.3M
-55.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,137 $1,137
$3,265 COP 10.5M
-65.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$586 $586
$1,441 COP 4.7M
-59.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zabol
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$149 $149
$624 COP 2.0M
-76.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
22.24
13.43
65.60%

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

Last update for Zabol: July 28, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $280 in Zabol 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.

Salaries run about 320% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Zabol versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $106 vs $193 – making Zabol the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Zabol vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Zabol?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 102%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $743 per month in Zabol and $1,504 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 Zabol, 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 Zabol or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Zabol and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Zabol and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $495 in Zabol and $1,003 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Zabol or in Medellin?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Zabol, where all-in costs run around $495, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Zabol it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Zabol or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Zabol – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Zabol. 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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