🙂A single person spends $896 per month in Zgharta vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,433 per month in Zgharta vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,971 per month in Zgharta vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Zgharta is about 12% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Zgharta and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Zgharta33% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zgharta
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.86LBP 972.3K
$5.95COP 20.8K
82.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.4LBP 5.3M
$33.33COP 116.3K
78.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.17LBP 731.3K
$7.23COP 25.2K
13.00%
Cappuccino
$3.41LBP 304.8K
$1.63COP 5,687
109.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64LBP 147.1K
$1.09COP 3,821
50.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88LBP 79.0K
$0.73COP 2,548
20.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.54LBP 317.2K
$1.74COP 6,065
103.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.95LBP 442.7K
$3.23COP 11.3K
53.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zgharta
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.78LBP 159.0K
$1.05COP 3,662
69.52%
White Bread(500g)
$0.79LBP 71.0K
$1.29COP 4,515
-38.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.78LBP 159.2K
$1.32COP 4,617
34.85%
Eggs
$3.19LBP 285.3K
$2.27COP 7,927
40.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.47LBP 1.0M
$4.35COP 15.2K
163.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.78LBP 875.1K
$5.88COP 20.5K
66.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.50LBP 1.0M
$8.61COP 30.0K
33.57%
Apples(1kg)
$1.78LBP 159.4K
$2.25COP 7,844
-20.89%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45LBP 130.1K
$1.07COP 3,733
35.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.09LBP 97.4K
$1.52COP 5,322
-28.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.10LBP 98.4K
$1.42COP 4,964
-22.54%
Potato(1kg)
$0.92LBP 82.8K
$1.17COP 4,084
-21.37%
Onion(1kg)
$1.01LBP 90.2K
$1.17COP 4,077
-13.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.87LBP 78.1K
$0.89COP 3,096
-2.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52LBP 46.1K
$0.90COP 3,146
-42.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.54LBP 227.5K
$2.25COP 7,837
12.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.06LBP 899.9K
$11.04COP 38.5K
-8.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27LBP 114.1K
$1.14COP 3,977
11.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19LBP 196.2K
$2.38COP 8,301
-7.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Zgharta
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.84COP 2,916
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.95COP 146.4K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.88LBP 436.5K
$1.41COP 4,912
246.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.22LBP 109.4K
$1.90COP 6,634
-35.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.24LBP 1.8M
$7.75COP 27.0K
161.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.89LBP 79.7K
$1.01COP 3,509
-11.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.7KLBP 3.2B
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
102.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0KLBP 2.5B
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
5.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zgharta
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$218LBP 19.5M
$83.7COP 292.1K
160.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.70LBP 3.4M
$9.45COP 33.0K
298.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.91LBP 3.3M
$24.11COP 84.1K
53.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zgharta
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$25.31COP 88.3K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.14COP 66.8K
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.18LBP 732.2K
$4.10COP 14.3K
99.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zgharta
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305LBP 27.3M
$312COP 1.1M
-2.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,455LBP 398.7M
$5,993COP 20.9M
-25.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zgharta
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.2LBP 6.5M
$58.0COP 202.6K
24.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.16LBP 4.0M
$32.56COP 113.6K
35.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$123LBP 11.0M
$99.6COP 347.7K
23.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.6LBP 8.4M
$109COP 378.8K
-13.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zgharta
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$482COP 1.7M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$379COP 1.3M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$837COP 2.9M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$723COP 2.5M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,840COP 9.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,223COP 4.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zgharta
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$541COP 1.9M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.16
13.43
-16.90%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Zgharta: June 7, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in Zgharta versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $236 vs $190 – making Medellin 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
Zgharta vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Zgharta?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 13%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,344 per month in Zgharta and $1,525 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Zgharta or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in Zgharta 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 Zgharta and Medellin?
Interestingly, groceries are about 24% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Zgharta or Medellin?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Zgharta, where all-in costs run around $896, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Zgharta it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Zgharta or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Zgharta – 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 Zgharta. 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.