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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $505 per month in Zabol vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $786 per month in Zabol vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,068 per month in Zabol vs $2,120 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 62% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zabol
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.05 $2.05
$5.92 COP 21.4K
-65.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.72 $16.72
$32.75 COP 118.2K
-48.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.63 $4.63
$7.20 COP 26.0K
-35.69%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.48 $0.48
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01 $1.01
-
-
Cappuccino
$0.48 $0.48
$1.70 COP 6,140
-71.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 $0.43
$1.10 COP 3,966
-60.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93 $0.93
$0.72 COP 2,605
29.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.67 COP 6,022
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.10 COP 11.2K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zabol
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.58 $0.58
$1.06 COP 3,809
-45.28%
White Bread (500g)
$0.56 $0.56
$1.25 COP 4,497
-55.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.87 $1.87
$1.39 COP 5,022
34.53%
Eggs
$1.17 $1.17
$2.26 COP 8,168
-48.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.56 $3.56
$4.33 COP 15.6K
-17.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.21 $3.21
$5.84 COP 21.1K
-45.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.70 $9.70
$8.83 COP 31.9K
9.85%
Apples (1kg)
$0.92 $0.92
$2.24 COP 8,099
-58.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.41 $1.41
$1.08 COP 3,882
30.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.83 $0.83
$1.53 COP 5,522
-45.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.54 $0.54
$1.37 COP 4,950
-60.58%
Potato (1kg)
$0.51 $0.51
$1.13 COP 4,078
-54.87%
Onion (1kg)
$0.45 $0.45
$1.12 COP 4,036
-59.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.59 $0.59
$0.85 COP 3,057
-30.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.25 $0.25
$0.91 COP 3,281
-72.53%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.03 $1.03
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 $0.50
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 $1.38
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.16 $2.16
$2.33 COP 8,414
-7.30%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$11.13 COP 40.2K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.19 COP 4,309
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.37 COP 8,553
-
🚌 Getting Around
Zabol
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.20 $0.20
$0.79 COP 2,838
-74.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.96 $9.96
$41.13 COP 148.5K
-75.78%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.34 $0.34
$1.44 COP 5,184
-76.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.27 $0.27
$1.91 COP 6,901
-85.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.99 $1.99
$8.02 COP 28.9K
-75.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.72 $0.72
$0.94 COP 3,385
-23.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$71.3K $71.3K
$17.9K COP 64.7M
297.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$54.0K $54.0K
$26.8K COP 96.7M
101.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zabol
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$16.06 $16.06
$84.0 COP 303.1K
-80.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.13 $2.13
$9.60 COP 34.7K
-77.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.85 $5.85
$24.16 COP 87.2K
-75.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zabol
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$16.07 $16.07
$25.88 COP 93.4K
-37.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.69 $12.69
$19.04 COP 68.7K
-33.35%
Cinema Ticket
$1.52 $1.52
$3.92 COP 14.1K
-61.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zabol
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$116 $116
$306 COP 1.1M
-62.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,956 $1,956
$5,919 COP 21.4M
-66.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zabol
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.29 $22.29
$57.9 COP 209.1K
-61.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.37 $25.37
$31.82 COP 114.9K
-20.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 $110
$99.9 COP 360.6K
10.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.9 $70.9
$107 COP 386.8K
-33.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zabol
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$285 $285
$487 COP 1.8M
-41.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$198 $198
$368 COP 1.3M
-46.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$639 $639
$826 COP 3.0M
-22.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$320 $320
$716 COP 2.6M
-55.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,085 $1,085
$2,925 COP 10.6M
-62.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$627 $627
$1,407 COP 5.1M
-55.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zabol
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$147 $147
$546 COP 2.0M
-73.04%
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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $285 in Zabol 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.

Salaries run about 271% 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 $190 – 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 105%, 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 $757 per month in Zabol and $1,550 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 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 vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $505 in Zabol and $1,034 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 Zabol or Medellin?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Zabol, where all-in costs run around $505, than in Medellin at $1,034. 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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