Colombia
Once notorious, now celebrated as a city of innovation with perfect spring-like weather, a booming digital nomad scene, and a dramatic mountain setting.
#71 of 250
37% above average
Monthly cost, one adult
$ 1 990
Based on NYC = 100 index
Medellin is the 71. most expensive of the 250 cities we track — a month here comes to $ 1 990 for one adult.
Most of that goes on housing, which runs 35% above the median city and adds $ 366 a month: 1br apartment (city center) $ 1 142, 1br apartment (outside center) $ 1 674.
Cheaper here than almost anywhere else is entertainment, 37% below the median: fitness club (monthly) $ 25, tennis court rent (1 hour) $ 13. You also get off lightly on restaurants, transportation.
Percentages compare this city against the median of all tracked cities, category by category.
51 prices on this page come from live scrapers (14 sources, observed October 7, 2026 to October 13, 2026). They are free to reuse under CC BY 4.0: credit CostCompass and link this page.
CostCompass (2026). Cost of living in Medellin, Colombia. Data as of 2026-10-14. https://costcompass.net/living/cities/medellin. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
| Item | Price (USD) | Observations | Last observed | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (City Center) | 1,141.97 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Finca Raíz |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside Center) | 1,673.84 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Finca Raíz |
| 3BR Apartment (City Center) | 1,407.90 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Finca Raíz |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside Center) | 1,767.70 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Finca Raíz |
| Chicken Breast (1kg) | 5.91 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Pork (1kg) | 9.35 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Beef (1kg) | 15.96 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Fish Fillet (1kg) | 10.63 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Deli Meat / Ham (1kg) | 15.50 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Milk (1 liter) | 1.49 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Yogurt (150g) | 1.40 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Cheese (1kg) | 11.31 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Butter (200g) | 2.79 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Eggs (12) | 3.08 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Bread (500g) | 1.87 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Pasta (500g) | 0.92 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Rice (1kg) | 1.29 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Oats (500g) | 1.36 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Potatoes (1kg) | 1.43 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Tomatoes (1kg) | 2.51 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Bell Peppers (1kg) | 1.96 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Carrots (1kg) | 0.60 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Onions (1kg) | 1.08 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Garlic (1kg) | 4.47 / item | 1 | 2026-10-07 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Lettuce (1 head) | 0.77 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Apples (1kg) | 2.54 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Banana (1kg) | 0.69 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Oranges (1kg) | 1.10 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Lentils (1kg) | 1.36 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Canned Tomatoes (400g) | 2.97 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Sunflower Oil (1L) | 5.15 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Flour (1kg) | 1.28 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Sugar (1kg) | 1.34 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Coffee (250g) | 4.22 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Water (1.5 liter) | 0.82 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Orange Juice (1L) | 2.85 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Domestic Beer (0.5L) | 3.60 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Pub & Bar Drinks Menus |
| Imported Beer (0.33L) | 4.90 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Pub & Bar Drinks Menus |
| One-way Ticket | 1.38 / trip | 1 | 2026-10-13 | City Transit Fares |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | 1.34 / liter | 1 | 2026-10-13 | National fuel price sources |
| Basic Utilities (85m2 Apt) | 87.55 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Official Electricity Tariffs |
| Mobile Plan (10GB+) | 16.86 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latam Telecom Operators |
| Internet (60 Mbps+) | 26.56 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latam Telecom Operators |
| Fitness Club (Monthly) | 24.88 / month | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Gym Chains, Americas Entertainment Chains |
| Doctor Visit (15 min) | 37.54 / visit | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Private Clinics & Telehealth |
| Cold Medicine (6 days) | 4.55 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Global Local Pharmacies, Online Pharmacies (API) |
| Antibiotics (12 doses) | 2.82 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Global Local Pharmacies |
| Jeans (Levis or Similar) | 77.90 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Americas Local Fashion Stores |
| Summer Dress (Chain Store) | 87.29 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Americas Local Fashion Stores |
| Running Shoes (Nike, Adidas) | 43.77 / pair | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Americas Local Fashion Stores |
| Business Shoes (Leather) | 63.90 / pair | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Local Shoe Stores (world), Americas Local Fashion Stores |
Cities where the money splits the same way
Mexico
Similar share of Housing & Basic Grocery Basket
Costa Rica
Similar share of Housing & Restaurants · compared on 7 of 8 categories
Mexico
Similar share of Restaurants & Utilities
New Zealand
Similar share of Restaurants & Basic Grocery Basket
Monthly average costs by category
$ 1 408
per month
$ 146
per month
$ 150
per month
$ 48
per month
$ 131
per month
$ 50
per month
$ 21
per month
$ 37
per month