Cost of Living
AffordableParadise
Live like royalty on a normal budget.
$600
Avg 1BR rent
$4
Full lunch
$3
Uber ride
3-4x
Buying power
Side-by-Side Comparison
See how Medellín stacks up against typical US cities
Housing
Item
Medellín
US City
Nice 1BR Apartment
$400-800
$1,500-2,500
Luxury Penthouse
$1,200-2,000
$4,000-8,000
Furnished Options
Abundant
Rare/Expensive
Food
Item
Medellín
US City
Lunch (Corrientazo)
$3-4
$12-18
Nice Dinner Out
$10-15
$30-60
Weekly Groceries
$30-50
$100-150
Transport
Item
Medellín
US City
Metro Ride
$0.70
$2.75
Uber Across Town
$3-5
$15-30
Monthly Transit
$25
$120+
Services
Item
Medellín
US City
House Cleaning
$15-25
$100-200
Haircut
$5-10
$25-50
Laundry Service
$3-5
$20-40
D1: The Aldi of Colombia
If you love Aldi, you'll feel right at home. D1 is a discount grocery chain with the same no-frills model and massive savings. Staples, snacks, and basics covered — at prices that'll make you question everything you ever paid in the US.
The Bottom Line
Housing supply is plentiful — not a crisis market
D1 stores (Aldi clone) for insane grocery savings
3-4x your purchasing power vs. major US cities
Furnished apartments abundant for newcomers
No hidden fees or surprise costs
Tip your Uber drivers — don't be that gringo