🇲🇽 Mexico City vs 🇨🇴 Medellin
Cost of Living Comparison (2026)
Medellin is 37% cheaper than Mexico City
Quick answer
Comparing Mexico City, Mexico and Medellin, Colombia: a moderate single-person monthly budget is approximately $1,651 in Mexico City versus $1,040 in Medellin. Medellin is roughly 37% cheaper overall. Central 1-bed rent: $1,001/mo (Mexico City) vs $617/mo (Medellin). The totals use the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
Key facts
- Moderate budget: $1,651/mo in Mexico City single person — city-centre rent + modeled non-housing categories.
- Moderate budget: $1,040/mo in Medellin single person — like-for-like city-centre basket.
- Central 1-bed rent $1,001/mo in Mexico City · $617/mo in Medellin.
- Cheaper overall: Medellin ~37% cheaper than Mexico City.
- Source World Bank ICP + national statistics + item-level price snapshots · CC BY 4.0.
Monthly Budget Comparison
| Lifestyle | 🇲🇽 Mexico City | 🇨🇴 Medellin | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $1,150/mo | $750/mo | -35% |
| Moderate | $1,651/mo | $1,040/mo | -37% |
| Comfortable | $2,500/mo | $1,550/mo | -38% |
The Moderate row equals the category table below: single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending. Budget and Comfortable scale that same basket.
Cost Breakdown by Category
| Category | 🇲🇽 Mexico City | 🇨🇴 Medellin | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1-bed, center) | $1,001/mo | $617/mo | -38% |
| Groceries & Food | $200/mo | $130/mo | -35% |
| Dining Out | $100/mo | $65/mo | -35% |
| Transport | $100/mo | $65/mo | -35% |
| Utilities & Internet | $100/mo | $65/mo | -35% |
| Healthcare | $80/mo | $52/mo | -35% |
| Leisure & Personal | $70/mo | $46/mo | -34% |
Category sum = Moderate budget. Basis: single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
Housing (1-bed, center)
Mexico City
$1,001
Medellin
$617
Groceries & Food
Mexico City
$200
Medellin
$130
Dining Out
Mexico City
$100
Medellin
$65
Transport
Mexico City
$100
Medellin
$65
Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
$100
Medellin
$65
Healthcare
Mexico City
$80
Medellin
$52
Leisure & Personal
Mexico City
$70
Medellin
$46
Detailed Price Comparison
Sources: INEGI (Mexico), World Bank / DANE (Colombia), World Bank. Updated Jan 2026.
Groceries
| Item | 🇲🇽 Mexico City | 🇨🇴 Medellin | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loaf of bread (500g) | $2 | $1 | -44% |
| Milk (1 liter) | $1 | $1 | -29% |
| Eggs (12) | $2 | $2 | -11% |
| Chicken breast (1 kg) | $5 | $3 | -34% |
| Rice (1 kg) | $1 | $1 | -20% |
| Apples (1 kg) | $2 | $3 | +9% |
| Tomatoes (1 kg) | $2 | $1 | -33% |
| Cheese, local (1 kg) | $6 | $5 | -17% |
Restaurants & Cafes
| Item | 🇲🇽 Mexico City | 🇨🇴 Medellin | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Street taco (single) | $1 | $4 | +500% |
| Comida corrida (set lunch) | $4 | $5 | +29% |
| Fast food combo meal | $6 | $2 | -73% |
| Cappuccino | $3 | $2 | -34% |
| Beer (0.5L, restaurant) | $3 | $1 | -72% |
| Beer (0.5L, store) | $1 | $1 | 0% |
Housing
| Item | 🇲🇽 Mexico City | 🇨🇴 Medellin | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-bedroom apartment, center | $1,001 | $617 | -38% |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside | $450 | $510 | +13% |
| 3-bedroom apartment, center | $1,500 | $1,000 | -33% |
| 3-bedroom apartment, outside | $900 | $550 | -39% |
Transport
| Item | 🇲🇽 Mexico City | 🇨🇴 Medellin | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly transit pass (Metro) | $16 | $22 | +38% |
| Taxi start | $1 | $1 | +25% |
| Taxi per km | $1 | $0 | -36% |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | $1 | $1 | -48% |
Utilities & Internet
| Item | 🇲🇽 Mexico City | 🇨🇴 Medellin | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity, water, garbage (85m²) | $55 | $65 | +18% |
| Internet (60+ Mbps) | $25 | $20 | -20% |
| Mobile plan (10GB+) | $15 | $10 | -33% |
Clothing
| Item | 🇲🇽 Mexico City | 🇨🇴 Medellin | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pair of jeans (Levi's) | $52 | $45 | -13% |
| Summer dress (Zara/H&M) | $30 | $65 | +117% |
Leisure & Fitness
| Item | 🇲🇽 Mexico City | 🇨🇴 Medellin | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gym membership (monthly) | $30 | $25 | -17% |
| Cinema ticket | $4 | $4 | -10% |
Personal Care
| Item | 🇲🇽 Mexico City | 🇨🇴 Medellin | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haircut (men) | $6 | $5 | -17% |
Quick Facts
🇲🇽 Mexico City
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $1,651
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $1,001/mo
- Cappuccino
- $2.80
- Inexpensive meal
- $5.00
- Monthly transit pass
- $18
- Internet speed
- 75 Mbps
- Safety index
- 48/100(concerns)
- Healthcare index
- 71/100
- Country
- Mexico
🇨🇴 Medellin
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $1,040
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $617/mo
- Cappuccino
- $1.80
- Inexpensive meal
- $4.00
- Monthly transit pass
- $28
- Internet speed
- 85 Mbps
- Safety index
- 52/100(moderately safe)
- Healthcare index
- 80/100
- Country
- Colombia
Explore more: Mexico City city guide | Medellin city guide | Mexico | Colombia
Related Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City or Medellin cheaper to live in?
Medellin is approximately 37% cheaper than Mexico City overall.
How much does it cost to live in Mexico City per month?
A moderate monthly budget for a single person in Mexico City is approximately $1,651 on the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin per month?
A moderate monthly budget for a single person in Medellin is approximately $1,040 on the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
What is the rent difference between Mexico City and Medellin?
A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center costs around $1,001/month in Mexico City and $617/month in Medellin.