Cost of Living in Medellin, Colombia

Quick answer: As of 2026, living in Medellin costs approximately $940 per month for one person including rent. That is 42% below the $1,620 global median across the 340 cities in the Voyica Cost of Living Index 2026. Against its own region, where the median is $951, Medellin is cheaper than typical for Latin America & Caribbean. A one-bedroom apartment in the city centre averages $642 per month, or $450 outside the centre. Day to day, an inexpensive restaurant meal runs about $6.80 and a monthly transit pass $67. For anyone weighing a longer stay, median internet speed is 207 Mbps and Medellin scores 35/100 on safety (below average on safety), and Colombia offers a digital nomad visa. Actual costs vary with lifestyle, neighbourhood, and exchange rates; figures come from crowd-sourced price data last refreshed June 2026. See the full Cost of Living Index →

Medellin is a city in Colombia, where a single person can expect to spend about $940 per month including rent, food, and local transport. A one-bedroom apartment in the city centre averages $642 per month, or $450 outside the centre. Internet is fast at around 207 Mbps median download speed, and Colombia offers a digital nomad visa. On safety, Medellin scores 35/100 — below average on safety for residents and visitors. Expect summer highs near 82°F and winter highs around 76°F, with roughly 168 sunny days a year.

Top for CoworkingTop for Late NightTop for Medical TourismTop for Coffee CultureDigital nomad visaLGBTQ+ friendlyFamily friendly

Monthly Cost$940≈ $31/day

1BR Rent (Centre)$642

Internet207 Mbps

Safety35/100

Avg Temp79°F

Medellin Cost of Living Breakdown

🍽️ Dining

Inexpensive Restaurant$6.80

Mid-Range Restaurant (2 People)$35.36

McDonald's Combo Meal$8.16

Cappuccino$1.93

Domestic Beer (Restaurant)$1.90

Bottled Water (Restaurant)$0.87

🛒 Groceries

Milk (1 Liter)$1.17

Bread (1 lb Loaf)$1.44

Eggs (12)$2.43

Chicken Fillets (1 lb)$3.23

Apples (1 lb)$1.26

Bananas (1 lb)$0.54

Tomatoes (1 lb)$0.69

Potatoes (1 lb)$0.60

Water (1.5L Bottle)$1.02

Wine (Mid-Range Bottle)$9.61

Cigarettes (Marlboro)$3.36

🚌 Transportation

One-Way Ticket$0.94

Monthly Transit Pass$67.46

Taxi Start$1.50

Taxi (1 Mile)$2.91

Gasoline (1 Liter)$1.14

VW Golf (New)$23,933.87

⚡ Utilities & Tech

Basic Utilities (Monthly)$93.84

Mobile Phone Plan$11.49

Broadband Internet$27.34

🎬 Lifestyle

Gym Membership (Monthly)$29.97

Cinema Ticket$4.49

Preschool (Monthly)$612.95

Intl. Primary School (Annual)$7,498.80

👔 Clothing

Jeans (Levi's 501)$73.38

Nike Running Shoes$120.85

🏠 Housing

Rent 1BR (City Centre)$641.74

Rent 1BR (Outside Centre)$449.75

Rent 3BR (City Centre)$1,225.82

Rent 3BR (Outside Centre)$829.42

Buy Price/sqft (Centre)$282.10

Buy Price/sqft (Outside)$124.35

📊 Summary

Avg Monthly Net Salary$542.62

Mortgage Interest Rate11%

Lifestyle & Quality of Life in Medellin

Internet207 Mbps

Safety35/100

Healthcare79/100

Public Transit55/100

Walkability62/100

Nightlife68/100

Food Scene74/100

Fine Dining10/100

Coffee Culture85/100

Air Quality83/100

Green Spaces60/100

Culture55/100

Beaches65/100

Hiking70/100

Surfing0/100

Coworking Spaces55

US Visa-Free90 days

How Medellin Ranks Among 340 Cities

Of the 340 cities Voyica tracks, Medellin is cheaper than 76% of them, but sits in the bottom 9% for safety.

Metric	Medellin	World rank	Rank in Latin America & Caribbean
Monthly cost	$940	#79 of 340	#31 of 63
Safety	35/100	#312 of 340	#51 of 63
Healthcare	79/100	#90 of 340	#1 of 63
Internet speed	207 Mbps	#139 of 340	#14 of 63
Walkability	62/100	#135 of 340	#13 of 63
Public transit	55/100	#104 of 340	#7 of 63
Food scene	74/100	#176 of 340	#23 of 63
Air quality	83/100	#148 of 340	#19 of 63

Rank 1 = most affordable, safest, and so on. Computed across every city in Voyica's dataset (June 2026 snapshot); ties share a rank.

Cheaper Alternatives to Medellin

Cities with a similar mix of safety, food, culture, walkability and climate that cost at least 15% less per month than Medellin.

Natal, Brazil — $751/mo, 20% cheaper, safety 32/100
Santa Marta, Colombia — $751/mo, 20% cheaper, safety 38/100
El Tunco, El Salvador — $751/mo, 20% cheaper, safety 38/100
Pipa, Brazil — $720/mo, 23% cheaper, safety 48/100

Neighborhoods in Medellin

El Poblado · Laureles · Envigado

Communities & Expat Groups

Medellín Expats & Digital Nomads · Digital Nomads Medellin · Medellin Rooms & Expat Info

Medellin FAQ

How much does it cost to live in Medellin?

A single person should budget around $940 per month in Medellin, covering rent, groceries, transport, and basic lifestyle costs.

How much is rent in Medellin?

A one-bedroom apartment in central Medellin averages $642 per month, dropping to about $450 outside the centre. A three-bedroom in the centre runs about $1,226.

Is Medellin safe?

Medellin scores 35/100 on safety, which is below average on safety. Tourist safety is rated 45/100.

How fast is the internet in Medellin?

Median download speeds in Medellin are around 207 Mbps — fast for remote work and video calls. There are roughly 55 coworking spaces in the city.

Does Colombia offer a digital nomad visa?

Yes — Colombia offers a digital nomad visa. US passport holders can typically stay 90 days visa-free before applying.

What is the weather like in Medellin?

Medellin sees summer highs around 82°F and winter highs near 76°F, with about 168 mostly sunny days a year and at least 1 mm of rain on about 160 days.