Cost of Living & Salary Comparison 2026
Yes, Medellín is 11% cheaper than Bogotá based on our cost of living index. Medellín has a COLI of 20.4, while Bogotá has a COLI of 22.9. 11% cheaper
Overall, Medellín is approximately 11% cheaper than Bogotá based on our cost of living index. Bogotá has a COLI of 22.9 (ranked #103 of 182 cities), while Medellín has a COLI of 20.4 (ranked #109).
When it comes to housing, one-bedroom apartment rent in Bogotá averages $400/month compared to $350/month in Medellín. That makes Medellín approximately 12% cheaper for rent alone.
Medellín has lower total deductions (13.2%) compared to Bogotá (14.7%), meaning you keep more of your gross salary in Medellín. When evaluating a relocation, remember that total deductions directly impact your take-home pay and should be weighed alongside cost of living differences.
Full breakdown of mandatory payroll deductions for a mid-range salary as a local employee in each city.
Rates shown for local employees. Expat deductions may differ — use the main converter for personalized calculations.
If you earn COP 311,746,988 in Bogotá, you would need approximately COP 277,713,474 in Medellín to maintain the same purchasing power. That is 11% less thanks to lower cost of living.
Estimated mid-level annual salaries in local currency, adjusted for each city's cost of living:
| Job Title | Bogotá (COP) | Medellín (COP) |
|---|---|---|
| Doctor (General) | COP 171,336,145 | COP 152,631,325 |
| Software Engineer | COP 80,908,735 | COP 72,075,904 |
| Product Manager | COP 95,186,747 | COP 84,795,181 |
| Lawyer | COP 95,186,747 | COP 84,795,181 |
| Data Scientist | COP 90,427,410 | COP 80,555,422 |
| Marketing Manager | COP 68,534,458 | COP 61,052,530 |
| Teacher | COP 45,689,639 | COP 40,701,687 |
| Nurse | COP 55,208,313 | COP 49,181,205 |
Salary estimates are adjusted by each city's COLI relative to the New York baseline. Actual salaries vary by company, experience, and industry.
| Neighborhood | Multiplier |
|---|---|
| Zona T (Zona Rosa) | 1.25x (+25%) |
| Usaquén | 1.22x (+22%) |
| Chicó | 1.20x (+20%) |
| Rosales | 1.18x (+18%) |
| Santa Bárbara | 1.15x (+15%) |
| Neighborhood | Multiplier |
|---|---|
| El Poblado | 1.30x (+30%) |
| San Lucas | 1.18x (+18%) |
| Provenza | 1.15x (+15%) |
| Laureles | 1.12x (+12%) |
| Envigado | 1.08x (+8%) |
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Open Salary ConverterBogotá is more expensive overall. Bogotá has a COLI of 22.9 while Medellín has a COLI of 20.4, making Medellín approximately 11% cheaper.
To maintain the same standard of living as COP 311,746,988 in Bogotá, you would need approximately COP 277,713,474 in Medellín.
Average one-bedroom rent in Bogotá is $400/month compared to $350/month in Medellín. Medellín has lower rent by approximately 12%.
Medellín has lower total deductions (13.2%) compared to Bogotá (14.7%), meaning you keep more of your gross salary in Medellín.
Cost of living indices (COLI) are benchmarked to New York City = 100 and derived from Numbeo and Expatistan crowd-sourced price surveys, cross-referenced with national statistics agencies. Rent data from Numbeo Property Prices.
Salary ranges are compiled from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OES), Glassdoor, and PayScale. Tax rates are approximate effective rates for mid-range earners based on OECD Taxing Wages and national tax authorities. Exchange rates from the European Central Bank. Neighborhood multipliers are estimated from local rental indices and property data.
Last updated: 2026-02-28. Data is refreshed periodically. All figures are estimates for informational purposes only.