Cost of living comparison

 Cartagena, Colombia
compared to
 Medellin, Colombia
Medellin vs. Cartagena Cost of Living Summary

Medellin is 10.7% more expensive than Cartagena.

Restaurants
pay 7.6% more in Medellin
Groceries
pay 15.6% less in Medellin
Transportation
pay 17.7% more in Medellin
Housing
pay 22.6% less in Medellin
Childcare
pay 2.1 times more in Medellin
Entertainment and Sports
pay 6.9% less in Medellin
Clothing
pay 13.2% less in Medellin

The cost of childcare, transportation, and restaurants in Medellin are more expensive than in Cartagena. Expenses including housing, groceries, clothing, and entertainment and sports are lower in Medellin. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in Medellin.

Medellin vs. Cartagena Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Medellin instead of Cartagena, you would:

pay 7.6% more for restaurants

 
Cartagena
Medellin
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $5.43
COP21,778.43
$5.77
COP23,168.54
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$8.08
COP32,435.96
$6.70
COP26,875.51
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $0.73
COP2,924.45
$0.95
COP3,827.04

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pay 15.6% less for groceries

 
Cartagena
Medellin
Bread
1 loaf
$1.46
COP5,865.92
$1.44
COP5,760.90
Local cheese (8 oz) $3.15
COP12,626.85
$2.18
COP8,762.31
Milk (1 gallon) $3.60
COP14,441.67
$3.90
COP15,636.40

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pay 17.7% more for transportation

 
Cartagena
Medellin
Gasoline (1 gallon) $2.81
COP11,261.24
$3.45
COP13,838.42
Monthly public transit pass $21.08
COP84,615.54
$36.95
COP148,278.65
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $17,318.49
COP69,505,618.40
$17,780.31
COP71,359,101.56

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pay 22.6% less for housing

 
Cartagena
Medellin
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$29.98
COP120,321.95
$22.90
COP91,915.91
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $692.74
COP2,780,224.74
$461.27
COP1,851,257.47
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $315.58
COP1,266,546.82
$342.05
COP1,372,779.75

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pay 2.1 times more for childcare

 
Cartagena
Medellin
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $124.69
COP500,440.45
$259.39
COP1,041,039.71
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters ?? $5,957.56
COP23,909,932.73

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pay 6.9% less for entertainment and sports

 
Cartagena
Medellin
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $1.73
COP6,950.56
$1.39
COP5,560.45
Cappuccino in mid-range area $1.54
COP6,178.28
$1.54
COP6,165.27
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$2.31
COP9,267.42
$2.08
COP8,340.67

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pay 13.2% less for clothing

 
Cartagena
Medellin
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$58.11
COP233,229.96
$56.19
COP225,499.76
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$36.95
COP148,278.65
$34.58
COP138,787.01
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$119.31
COP478,816.48
$87.11
COP349,587.52

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: July 2025
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