Cost of living comparison
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.
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
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.62
COP2,489.92
|
$0.68
COP2,749.13
|
|
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
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$1.98
COP7,958.86
|
$1.98
COP7,949.11
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$2.39
COP9,594.79
|
$2.36
COP9,457.37
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$1.63
COP6,545.06
|
$0.96
COP3,834.82
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.73
COP2,942.54
|
$0.42
COP1,700.39
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.73
COP2,942.54
|
$0.60
COP2,397.13
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.59
COP2,354.04
|
$0.58
COP2,333.99
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.79
COP3,152.73
|
$0.50
COP1,987.49
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$0.55
COP2,206.91
|
$0.51
COP2,066.04
|
|
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
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$20.67
COP82,943.37
|
$14.42
COP57,859.65
|
|
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
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$99.71
COP400,153.77
|
$58.27
COP233,862.78
|
|
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
|
|
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
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$29.10
COP116,769.44
|
$27.04
COP108,506.01
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$4.04
COP16,217.98
|
$4.16
COP16,681.35
|
|
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
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$107.76
COP432,479.40
|
$90.54
COP363,372.28
|
|
Change currency:
Help us improve these prices
ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY
Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Medellin or Cartagena. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.