The relatively low Medellín cost of living is one of the 27 reasons why I started living in the city of Medellín after I discovered it many years ago. I have now been living in Medellín for over eight years. And I share our 2019 cost of living for a family of three with my Colombian wife and our baby.
In my opinion, the nearly perfect weather and the quality of life in Medellín, for the cost, are challenging to beat.
Since I am an expat and have lived over eight years in Medellín and own the popular Medellin Guru blog, I am often asked frequently by foreigners what the Medellín cost of living is.
So, with the help of my Colombian wife, we track our expenses every month and we share our cost of living for a family of three over the past few months in Medellín plus our historical cost of living as a couple a few years ago.
In addition, Stephanie previously provided her cost of living in Medellín as a single woman living in a shared place. Also, we have a separate article with 15 tips for living cheaper in Medellín that helped us to reduce our cost of living.
Our Standard of Living
When looking at the Medellín cost of living, it is important to consider the standard of living, which more than anything will affect a person’s or couple’s or family’s cost of living.
I’m an expat from the United States living with my Colombian wife and our baby in Sabaneta, which is a separate municipality in the Medellín metro area. Sabaneta is located directly south of Envigado. And we live in a nice 85-square-meter, three-bedroom casa located in an estrato three neighborhood that is very well-located.
We don’t have a car and travel using the metro, buses and cheap taxies. We also live within easy walking distance to two malls, several grocery stores, Parque Sabaneta and many restaurants and small tiendas (shops).
Our Medellín Cost of Living for a Family
The above table shows our actual Medellín monthly cost of living for a couple from January 2015 to July 2017, which was a total of 31 months. The average exchange rate I experienced was used in the table to calculate the average monthly total Medellín cost of living in U.S. dollars we experienced as a couple for nearly three years.
In addition, the table includes a column with our recent 2019 cost of living for a family of three over the past three months. Also, the green in the table indicates costs that have dropped due to moving to a new place in Sabaneta.
Each of the categories in the table above is discussed below with more details along with our 2019 average monthly cost per category:
1. Rent = 1,050,000 Pesos ($305) Per Month
Apartment (casa) rent is our biggest expense but the cost to rent an apartment in Medellín is surprisingly cheap by Western standards. Apartment rent was included in our list of 14 surprising cheap things in Medellín for expats.
I have been renting unfurnished apartments in Medellín for over eight years. Furthermore, we currently live in a three-bedroom casa in Sabaneta, which we moved into earlier this year. If we hadn’t moved our apartment rent would have been about 1,500,000 pesos per month.
While looking for apartments in Sabaneta, one real estate agent showed us a casa (house) that was in great location, near Parque Sabaneta and near the Sabaneta metro station, which we rented.
This house we rented is very well-located. It’s a five-minute walk to Parque Sabaneta, a 10-minute walk to the Sabaneta metro station and an 18-minute walk to the large Mayorca mall.
Also, there are well over 50 restaurants within about a 10-minute walk from this house. And here are the house specifications:
- Two story house with a small balcony and vaulted ceilings
- Three bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms, 85 square meters (915 square feet)
- Kitchen with gas cook-top, plus a gas water heater (tankless)
- Estrato 3 neighborhood
- Rent: 1,050,000 pesos per month
2. Groceries = 798,921 Pesos ($232) Per Month
Groceries are our second biggest expense. We cook at home frequently. Weekly we shop at Exito and two other grocery stores that are walking distance from our casa.
We also shop at PriceSmart, which has good prices for many items as well as some hard to find imported items. In addition, we shop at Tiendas D1 and Justo y Bueno which both have good prices for many items. Four Tiendas D1 stores and two Justo y Bueno stores are within walking distance from our apartment.
This groceries category also includes our expenses for cleaners and drugstore items like toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner. In addition, it includes diapers for our baby.
In 2014, we were averaging about 1,200,000 pesos per month shopping at Exito and Jumbo. So, our grocery costs have dropped substantially.
We started shopping at PriceSmart in 2015 and Tiendas D1 in 2016 as well as local butcher shops and local fruit and vegetable shops plus Justo y Bueno, our average monthly groceries cost has dropped each year.
3. Dining = 521,745 Pesos ($152) Per Month
Dining is currently our third biggest expense. We typically eat at nice restaurants a couple times each month. In addition, we order domicillio (takout) a few times each week when we are too tired to cook or go out to eat.
We also eat at small local restaurants in Sabaneta several times each month for lunch and dinner. Sabaneta has several good restaurant choices and we previously looked at the best restaurants in Sabaneta.
There are several “menú del día” lunch specials at small restaurants in Sabaneta that range in price from 8,000 to 10,000 pesos. The menú del día normally includes a soup or salad, a main course of meat, chicken or fish plus sides of rice and/or potatoes and a drink.
4. Medical = 390,050 Pesos ($113) Per Month
The medical costs we experience during the year includes SURA EPS medical insurance for our family. This category also includes a few trips to dentists and doctors, as well as drugs purchased at drugstores.
5. Miscellaneous = 321,043 Pesos ($93) Per Month
This is a general category of miscellaneous items not included in other categories. This category includes furnishings for our apartment, books and laundry expenses.
6. Ground Transportation = 75,250 ($22) Per Month
This category includes our costs for using the metro, buses as well as taxis. We don’t have a car. And I haven’t found a need to rent a car in over seven years living in the city. Reportedly over 80 percent of the expats living in Medellín don’t have a car.
We can catch a bus one block from our casa in Sabaneta that takes about five minutes to go to the Sabaneta metro station. Or the Sabaneta metro station is about a 10-minute walk from our casa. So, we walk to the metro station and use the metro frequently.
In addition, we can catch buses one block from our casa that have a route that goes to the Santafé mall in El Poblado. This trip takes about 30 minutes during normal hours or up to about an hour during rush hour. The cost is only 2,200 pesos.
7. Clothing = 229,357 Pesos ($67) Per Month
This category is now about 100 percent for my wife and our baby. My wife goes shopping for clothes usually once a month for something new. While I may buy some new clothing items only a couple times each year.
8. Vacation Travel = 0 Pesos ($0) Per Month
Each year in the past we typically took a couple of vacation trips. But since we now have a small baby, we no longer travel on vacations.
Before we had a baby over the past couple of years, we traveled to Cartagena, Pereira and Bogotá for about a week each. We also traveled to Curaçao for 10 days, which is an island nation off the coast of Venezuela.
9. Triple-Play Internet/TV/Phone = 119,586 pesos ($35) Per Month
Triple Play Internet/TV/Phone services in Medellín are lower in cost than what you will find in the U.S. There are three major Internet and TV providers in Medellín that offer triple play Internet, TV and phone services: Claro, Tigo-UNE and Moviestar.
We currently have Claro’s Triple-Play service with 30 Mbps Internet, HD TV service with over 160 channels (over 30 in English) for two TVs and phone service.
And I am very happy with the service as it is very reliable. The average monthly cost is only 119,586 pesos per month in an estrato three neighborhood.
In my experience, the Internet service with Claro has been more reliable than my Verizon FiOS service was in the United States and is much less expensive.
10. Utilities (Electric, Gas, Water) = 128,258 Pesos ($37) Per Month
Utility services in Medellín are provided by EPM, the local utility provider in the city. Fortunately, there is really no need for heating or cooling with the climate in Medellín. So, the result is relatively low utility bills.
We also live in an estrato three neighborhood, which has lower utility rates than are found in estrato five or six neighborhoods like El Poblado or Laureles.
We have found that our utility services have been cheaper in Sabaneta than when we lived in a smaller apartment in Belén a few years ago.
11. Pets = 82,167 Pesos ($24) Per Month
We have two dogs. In 2013, we bought a Pomeranian dog. And in 2016, we bought a Shih Tzu dog.
So, we have ongoing expenses for our two pets including dog food and vet services.
12. Cell Phone Services = 85,000 Pesos ($25) Per Month
This is the cost for Claro cellular services for two cellphones. I have a postpaid plan and my wife has a pre-paid plan.
I no longer have a cell phone in the U.S. as my Colombian cell phone with international roaming works fine in the U.S.
13. Mail Services = 68,421 Pesos ($20) Per Month
The expense is for mailing services from the U.S. to Medellín. Usually every other month I mail something from the U.S. to Medellín.
Also, in the United States, I use the US Global Mail mailbox service in Houston as my primary mailing address. The cost is only $12.50 per month, if paid for a year in advance.
This US Global Mail service permits me to go online and see scans of any mail received. And I can discard any junk mail online. In addition, they can open mail and scan it for a small fee, so you can see the contents online. And they can also deposit checks.
14. Entertainment = 63,021 Pesos ($18) Per Month
This category of expenses includes our expenses for going to bars, concerts, discotecas and movie theaters.
Since we now have a baby we don’t go out very often and this this varies from month to month. Also, we take advantage of some of the free things to do found in the city.
Inflation and Exchange Rate Impacts
Two of the biggest things impacting the Medellín cost of living over time for expats are inflation and the exchange rate.
Colombia experienced inflation of 3.79 percent in 2018, 4.09 percent in 2017 and 5.75 percent in 2016. The biggest inflation in Colombia during these three years was in food, which increased at an even higher rate.
But as seen in our Medellín cost of living details above, our grocery costs have dropped. This was because we starting to shop at some lower cost places. So, it’s possible to substitute to avoid some impacts of inflation.
A bigger impact than inflation for expats with an income from another country is the exchange rate. The improved exchange rate in Colombia over the past few years has made the country cheaper to live in for expats compared to five years ago.
As the above graph from http://www.xe.com/ shows, over the past four years, the Colombian peso has been trading in a range from about 2,711 to 3,482 pesos, which is a much higher range than the prior eight years.
The exchange rate typically has a much greater impact on the cost of living in USD for expats than inflation does. It is very difficult to predict exchange rates, so it’s difficult to know how much longer the Colombia peso will stay in the range experienced over the past four years.
Colombian Income Taxes
Not included in the living expenses above are Colombian income taxes. Since I have been filing Colombian income taxes, my Colombian income taxes have averaged less than $100 USD per month.
Everyone’s tax situation is different. Some foreigners file taxes in Colombia but don’t have to pay income taxes in Colombia. While others have to pay some Colombian income taxes. In addition, the low cost of living in Colombia can likely more than offset any income taxes in Colombia.
Also, keep in mind that Colombia permits to you deduct some income taxes paid in another country from income taxes due in Colombia.
The Bottom Line: Medellín Cost of Living for a Family
Our cost of living for a family in Medellín has dropped substantially from before we had a baby and were a couple living together in Medellín.
This is due to moving to a lower cost casa (house) that is more conveniently located where we can walk to many places. In addition, we no longer travel on vacation since we now have a small baby. Also, the exchange rate has improved, which helps make our cost of living for a family cheaper.
I have met several couples living in Medellín with a budget of less than $1,400 per month and some couples with budgets of about $2,000 per month. I also have met some couples with budgets of over $3,000 and a few with budgets of over $4,000 per month. It’s possible to live a wide range of lifestyles in the city that will impact your Medellín cost of living.
In addition, Medellín has a wide range of prices for apartment rentals. I have seen prices for apartment rentals ranging from less than $200 per month to well over $2,500 per month for unfurnished places. We previously looked at unfurnished apartment rental costs in Medellín.
Furthermore, if looking at cost of living budgets you see touted for popular foreign retirement locations like Medellín, be careful. In my experience, some budgets tend to leave out several categories such as medical, vacation travel, travel back home, taxes and mail services.
Also, “What is the cost of living in Medellín?” is a common question by expats considering moving to Medellín. So, we included this question in our list of Medellín frequently asked questions (FAQ).
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14 thoughts on “Medellín Cost of Living for a Family: A Couple with a Baby – 2019 Update”
I have been making roughly 175k usd income from SEO past few years while living in medellin. Never filed taxes in colombia. Not sure if colombia will ever find out? Never been questioned about it. I recently left and return in the summer.
We just spent a month there, family of four, two kids 3.5 yo and 13yo. If we did decide to come down, I can easily see the following monthly costs for us in addition to the above:
– daycare for the 3.5yo from 8a-3p w/ transport + meals = 1.7million cop @ Cascanuces in Poblado
– private schooling for the 13yo = 2million cop
– various classes for the kids (swim, soccer, horse riding, tutors) = 2million cop
– full-time ninera who would also do housework/laundry = 900,000 cop
Is the private schooling for your 14 year old at 2million COP a monthly cost or annual? How much is the cost of the private school annually?
I’m married and have a baby also. We live in Los Colores and own our apartment in a strata 4 barrio out right. So the only fixed costs associated with the apartment is administration of 214 mill per month and property taxes. We both have our own cars that are paid for so we have car insurance and taxes which I would estimate to be about 4 million a year. They are brand new cars so gas and maintenance is probably about 2 to 2.5 million a year I would guess. We eat out regularly and go to clubs a few times a month. And we travel a bit. So far only in Colombia. And I spend about 10 million a month. I know that I live better than I would live in the states on that kind of budget and I think I get more of a bang for my buck so if you have the money to spend then why not spend it.
Thanks
Pretty good article, Jeff. A question: How are you planing to buy insurance after you turn 59? Since they dont sell it after 59.
Also, you montly taxes seems to be too high, they sound more like yearly.
Best,
John
See our guide to signing up for SURA health insurance – https://medellinguru.com/health-insurance/. The age only comes into play when signing up for health insurance and only for a prepagada plan. Once you have a prepagado plan it continues to cover you as you get older but the premiums go up. An EPS plan will accept you at older ages. After age 62, it is almost impossible to sign up for most prepagada plans, except possibly with AXA Colpatria that is up to age 65. https://medellinguru.com/health-insurance/
Income taxes of less than $100 per month is too high and sounds like yearly??? Income taxes depend on your income and your situation – https://medellinguru.com/income-taxes/
Nice article, thanks for sharing. Looks like the place you chose to live can have a big impact on your cost to live. The casa you are renting looks like a very good deal, you are paying 450,000 pesos less for a larger place than the 2 bedroom apartment we are renting in Envigado. And your utilities are lower, we are in estrato 5.
No need for heating or cooling?? I beg to differ. The daytime temperature can get as hot as 30 – 35 degrees celsius. Many people here face west and indoor temps can reach nearly 40 degrees celsius. Living at higher elevations Rionegro or Santa Elena for examle temps become frigid at night and heat is recommended. Lets be totally honest and not mislead expats. Many are lucky to have cool apts. But definitely NOT ALL. Since I first arrived here in 1975 when the population was under half a million as compared to today the climate has changed radically. This is no longer the ciudad de eterna primavera. Ask any Colombian and you will hear how many suffer die to heat prostration. This place has become the ciudad de eterna Verano. No matter what statistics you can quote. They are meaningless to people who suffer from the extreme daytime temperatures and breathing in contaminated air. My physician at Clinica las vegas would be happy to verify how hazardous Medellin has become. Quoting stats is meaningless for those who know the reality of daytime life here. As far of cost of living. My energy bill was over 400.000 pesos last month in Strata 4 La America. I do have airconditioning because without it the apartment would be uninhabitable. And as far as supermarket bills goes. I paid 10.000 pesos for a small can of shaving cream. Prices for many meet oe exceed mid west usa prices. Veggies and Meat are a great bargain
But everything else has increased and yes I shop.at D1. Justo bueno and HH supermercados. Lets take a stroll down the aisle one day and bring your pad and pencil with you.
I have lived in Estadio, three barrios in Belén and two neighborhoods in Sabaneta and never needed air conditioning – only fans. The average temperature daily usually ranges from 63.2 to 82.1 °F. The record high is about 100 °F but it rarely gets that hot – https://medellinguru.com/medellin-weather-climate/
I have talked to many foreigners and a majority do not have air-conditioning – very few I have talked to have air conditioning.
We previously looked at grocery shopping and how to save money, yes some imported items can be more expensive than the U.S. – https://medellinguru.com/grocery-shopping/
I live in an area of Laureles and on a floor facing North that comes out to several hundred feet higher than La 70 or Parque del Rio around the river. It makes a difference. All I need is two fans that do the trick. Nobody in the building has an air conditioner or heater. Installing one would be a foolish extravagance in our particular case. From about 11:00 am until around 4:30 pm direct sun exposure can be a bit much but the humidity is not nearly as high as other places I’ve lived so once I step into the shade it’s an immediate relief. Nearly every night the temps drop into the Goldilocks zone and a gentle, sweet breeze flows through the apartment.
My doctor says my lungs are in great shape. It’s likely because I spend very little time in traffic during rush hour on the busier streets; the ones with lots of heavy commercial fumes and smoke belching.
I live in Rionegro and have no need for Heat or Air conditioning, and I don’t think anybody around here does. I have no idea where or who gave you that information about this part of the country, this is the perfect weather.
🤭🙄 Gosh Ron. I think you better stay in your air-conditioned city prison cell and wait for the Apocalypse. 😋😂🤣.
I suppose you have central heating turned up to 22C in Winter?
Did you know that your cellular repair processes and brain toxin clearing doesn’t kick in if you are sleeping with your head in, and breathing in more than 15C Air?
It was published in the Academic literature about 5 years ago.
Title of the paper: ” Being too hot makes you stupid.”
I track our monthly costs (a married couple) in a similar manner. Let me say that your $1147 per month is more than 3 times frugal than our monthly budget. You disprove the naysayers who say it can’t be done.