✦ Cost of living
Medellín
Medellín, Colombia
US = 100
In plain terms: Medellín is about 51% cheaper than a typical US city. A one-bedroom in the centre runs around $550/month.
▤ Category breakdown
Index vs the US average — the line marks 100. Lower is cheaper.
- Housing42−58%
- Food & groceries48−52%
- Transport40−60%
- Utilities55−45%
- Healthcare55−45%
- Goods & services58−42%
Is Medellín expensive?
No — Medellín is one of the cheap ones, indexing at 49 against a US average of 100: roughly 51% below a typical US city. The trade-offs usually show up in local wages, healthcare or infrastructure rather than in prices.
Of the 87 cities we track, Medellín ranks #79 by overall cost — 8 of them are cheaper.
What a month in Medellín costs
One person
$1,270/mo
A one-bedroom outside the centre, modest everyday spending.
Couple
$1,920/mo
A one-bedroom in the centre, two adults sharing the bills.
Family of four
$3,390/mo
A three-bedroom in the centre, two adults and two children.
| Monthly line | One person | Couple | Family of four |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent | $350 | $550 | $1,100 |
| Food & groceries | $220 | $320 | $540 |
| Transport | $240 | $350 | $590 |
| Utilities | $110 | $170 | $280 |
| Healthcare | $150 | $230 | $380 |
| Goods & services | $200 | $300 | $500 |
| Total per month | $1,270 | $1,920 | $3,390 |
Estimates, not quotes. Rent comes from this city's own figures; every other line is a US-average household basket (shaped by the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey) scaled by this city's category index. Your own total moves with the neighbourhood, your habits and whether you run a car. How we calculate these figures →
Good to know before you move to Medellín
A dramatic turnaround story with a year-round spring climate and a modern metro. El Poblado and Laureles anchor a booming nomad scene; costs are low and healthcare excellent, but safety still varies sharply by neighbourhood.
- Currency
- Colombian peso ($ COP)
- Languages
- Spanish
- Time zone
- UTC-5
- Internet
- 80 Mbps
- English
- Rarely spoken
- Safety
- 48/100
- Climate
- ❄ 22°C · ☀ 22°C · 200 sunny days/yr
- Tap water
- Safe to drink
- Power
- A/B · 110V
- Driving
- Right-hand side
- Popular areas
- El Poblado · Laureles · Envigado · Belén
About
“City of Eternal Spring”
A dramatic turnaround story with a year-round spring climate and a modern metro. El Poblado and Laureles anchor a booming nomad scene; costs are low and healthcare excellent, but safety still varies sharply by neighbourhood.
- Currency
- Colombian peso · COP
- Languages
- Spanish
- Coordinates
- 6.24, -75.58
- Emergency
- 123
What things cost
Housing
Taxes
39%
Income tax
progressive
19%
VAT / sales
35%
Corporate
$450
Avg net salary
per month
Visas & residency
The V-type Digital Nomad visa and M-type migrant visas make it a popular, affordable Latin-American base.
✈ 90 days visa-free (extendable to 180/year) for many passports.
Up to 2 years; ~$1,000/mo income.
Max stay: 24 months
Work, marriage or investment routes.
Permanent residence after ~5 yrs.
Quality of life
Quality of life
59/100
Safety
48/100
Healthcare
70/100
Pollution
55/100
Internet
80 Mbps
Jan avg
+22 °C
Jul avg
+22 °C
Sunny days
200/yr
Walkability
55/100
Public transit
68/100
Family-friendly
58/100
Living there
- English spoken
- Low
- Expat community
- Large
- Coworking spaces
- 40
- Tap water
- Safe to drink
Popular areas
Relocation & documents
Where to look
Updated: · Sources: Cost/quality survey (placeholder) · Economy: World Bank Open Data (GDP per capita, life expectancy, inflation) · Minimum wage (EU + Türkiye): Eurostat earn_mw_cur, 2026-S2 · Taxes: national tax authority / OECD (headline figures)
Can you live in Medellín without a car?
60/100
Car-free score
55/100
Walkability
68/100
Public transport
Mostly — at 60/100, Medellín handles everyday trips on foot and by public transport, but a car still helps for weekend trips, bulk shopping and anything outside the built-up core.
Transport in Medellín indexes at 40 against a US average of 100 — about 60% cheaper than a typical US city. That line covers fares, fuel and running a vehicle, so it is the one that moves most when you drop the car.
Medellín ranks #69 of 87 cities we track for walkability. See the most walkable cities →
The car-free score is our own composite: 60% walkability, 40% public transport, both on a 0–100 scale. Like the rest of our quality-of-life figures, they are calibrated estimates, not official statistics.
Cost of living in Medellín — in your currency
- 1-bed rent, city centre$550
- 1-bed rent, outside centre$350
- Inexpensive meal$5
- Monthly transit pass$40
- Utilities (monthly)$60
Converted from USD at approximate rates (2026-09).
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? Frequently asked questions
Is Medellín, CO expensive to live in?
Medellín, CO's cost-of-living index is 49 (US average = 100) — about 51% cheaper than a typical US city — and it ranks #79 of the 87 cities we track. On our estimates one person needs around $1,270 a month and a family of four around $3,390, rent included.
How much does it cost to live in Medellín, CO?
Medellín, CO's cost-of-living index is 49 (US average = 100) — about 51% cheaper than a typical US city. A one-bedroom apartment in the centre costs around $550 per month.
What are the average living costs in Medellín, CO?
Living costs in Medellín, CO are about 51% cheaper than the US average — its cost-of-living index is 49 (US = 100). Monthly living expenses scale with that, and housing is the biggest line: a one-bedroom in the centre runs around $550. See the category breakdown above for where the money goes.
What is the average rent in Medellín, CO?
A one-bedroom in the city centre averages about $550 per month, and around $350 outside the centre.
What taxes would I pay in Colombia?
Colombia has a top income-tax rate of 39% and a VAT or sales tax of 19%. See the taxes section above for the full breakdown.
What is the weather like in Medellín, CO?
Medellín, CO averages around +22 °C in January and +22 °C in July, with roughly 200 sunny days a year.
Is Medellín, CO safe?
Medellín, CO scores 48 out of 100 on our safety index, where higher means safer.
Can you live in Medellín, CO without a car?
Medellín, CO scores 60/100 on our car-free score — 55/100 for walkability and 68/100 for public transport. The higher the score, the more of daily life you can cover on foot or by transit instead of paying to run a car.
❖ Compare Medellín with…
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Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.