🙂A single person spends $998 per month in Zgharta vs $1,555 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,601 per month in Zgharta vs $2,314 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,205 per month in Zgharta vs $3,072 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Zgharta is about 36% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Zgharta sits 26% below the global median, while Medellin is 15% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zgharta
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.79LBP 1.1M
$7.59COP 24.3K
55.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.6LBP 6.1M
$44.78COP 143.4K
53.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.86LBP 882.9K
$9.24COP 29.6K
6.71%
Cappuccino
$4.50LBP 402.8K
$2.95COP 9,441
52.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38LBP 212.6K
$1.80COP 5,769
32.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89LBP 79.6K
$1.35COP 4,322
-34.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.07LBP 453.7K
$2.93COP 9,394
73.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.83LBP 432.5K
$5.46COP 17.5K
-11.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zgharta
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.92LBP 171.7K
$1.43COP 4,590
34.27%
White Bread(500g)
$0.92LBP 82.1K
$2.39COP 7,662
-61.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.33LBP 208.5K
$1.60COP 5,127
45.63%
Eggs
$3.51LBP 314.1K
$2.88COP 9,217
21.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.17LBP 1.0M
$9.71COP 31.1K
15.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.63LBP 951.3K
$9.44COP 30.2K
12.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.96LBP 1.3M
$13.24COP 42.4K
12.99%
Apples(1kg)
$3.03LBP 271.0K
$3.75COP 12.0K
-19.20%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71LBP 152.7K
$1.45COP 4,629
17.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.68LBP 150.3K
$2.10COP 6,722
-20.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.49LBP 133.1K
$2.13COP 6,821
-30.05%
Potato(1kg)
$1.20LBP 107.3K
$1.92COP 6,161
-37.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.52LBP 136.5K
$1.53COP 4,905
-0.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.21LBP 108.2K
$1.09COP 3,493
11.01%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68LBP 60.6K
$1.18COP 3,783
-42.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.05LBP 272.8K
$3.79COP 12.1K
-19.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.12LBP 995.5K
$13.16COP 42.2K
-15.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28LBP 114.9K
$1.64COP 5,254
-21.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49LBP 223.1K
$2.28COP 7,294
9.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Zgharta
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.18COP 3,765
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$73.6COP 235.8K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.87LBP 435.6K
$1.28COP 4,091
280.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.29LBP 205.2K
$1.98COP 6,333
15.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.84LBP 2.0M
$7.89COP 25.3K
189.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.03LBP 92.2K
$1.29COP 4,145
-20.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$53.9KLBP 4.8B
$26.8KCOP 85.8M
101.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4KLBP 2.9B
$34.7KCOP 111.1M
-6.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zgharta
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$229LBP 20.5M
$158COP 505.5K
45.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.86LBP 2.0M
$13.39COP 42.9K
63.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.56LBP 3.5M
$27.28COP 87.4K
41.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zgharta
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$44.15COP 141.4K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$15.99COP 51.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.81LBP 878.0K
$6.39COP 20.5K
53.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zgharta
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$693LBP 62.0M
$777COP 2.5M
-10.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KLBP 940.0M
$8,800COP 28.2M
19.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zgharta
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.3LBP 6.1M
$82.7COP 265.0K
-17.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.50LBP 4.3M
$56.1COP 179.8K
-13.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$136LBP 12.2M
$131COP 419.0K
4.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122LBP 10.9M
$95.9COP 307.2K
27.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zgharta
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,006COP 3.2M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$627COP 2.0M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,826COP 5.8M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$969COP 3.1M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,907COP 12.5M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,576COP 5.0M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zgharta
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$620COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11
10.94
0.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Zgharta: September 29, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Zgharta versus $45.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $276 in Zgharta vs $285 in Medellin – so Zgharta 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
Zgharta vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Zgharta?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 56%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $1,497 per month in Zgharta and $2,333 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 in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Zgharta and $45.00 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 in Medellin?
Groceries cost about 3% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Zgharta or in Medellin?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Zgharta, where all-in costs run around $998, than in Medellin at $1,555. 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.