What's the Cost of Living in Medellin Colombia for Expats?

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A common question when relocating to a medelin is whats the cost of living in Medellin Colombia. The cost will vary based on your lifestyle but in this video we will discuss the cost of living in medellin colombia as an expat from the USA.

Hello, I'm Karl Pierre and I recently moved to Medellin, Colombia. As someone who has been living here for a while, I feel qualified to talk about the true cost of living as an expat in Medellin. In this video, we'll cover whether Colombia is really a cheap country to live in and what you can expect to pay for housing, utilities, food, and entertainment.

First, let's talk about housing, which is typically the biggest expense for most people. In the Poblado area, where I live, prices are the highest in the city. You can expect to pay anywhere from $500 to $700 per month for a two to three bedroom apartment in a newer building with amenities like a doorman, pool, indoor gym, and more. Most of these buildings are well-maintained and secure, with security at the front desk and gatekeepers for parking facilities. Utilities are calculated based on your wealth class, which is determined by the strata system. However, even in the highest class neighborhoods, the cost of living is still relatively cheap compared to the US. For electricity, internet, water, and building fees, I pay less than $200 per month.

Next up is food, which is relatively cheap compared to the US. You can expect to pay around $3 to $4 for a full meal at a typical restaurant, which includes rice, beans, a protein source, a soup, salad, and even a juice. Breakfast is even cheaper, usually costing less than $2. If you prefer mid-grade to higher-end dining, you'll be looking at $10 to $15 for a sit-down restaurant with two courses. For top-tier restaurants, you can expect to pay up to $100 for a seven-course tasting menu with wine pairing. If you're eating out for every meal, you can budget around $10 to $15 per day, or $300 to $450 per month.

As for entertainment, the cost varies depending on your preferences. Movie tickets usually cost between $5 to $7, and there are plenty of local parks, museums, and outdoor adventures that you can do for free or at a low cost. If you prefer going out to eat and drinking with friends, you can expect to spend around $50 to $60 for a nice restaurant once a month. Overall, you should budget around $200 to $250 per month for entertainment.

In conclusion, as a single person living in Medellin, you can get the equivalent of a US lifestyle for around $1,500 to $2,000 per month. This is equivalent to making around $75,000 per year in the US. For families, a spend of around $3,500 to $5,000 per month will afford a lifestyle that would cost $8,000 to $15,000 per month in most US cities. This will cover housing, a nanny, a housekeeper, a cook, private education for your kids, groceries, entertainment, and savings for travel.

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The more I see and hear about Medellin, the more I am convinced I want to eventually live there. As a native New Yorker I'm drained and disheartened by everything here. Your video covering the financial logistics has enhanced my decision. I will be in Colombia in January to test the lifestyle.

PaulCoughlan
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It seems like every expat has done a version of this video on Youtube, but I really appreciate the professionalism and succinctness of your videos. You can tell that a good amount of preparation goes into your videos and it shows in the final product. Keep up the good work 🇨🇴 🇺🇸🤘🏽

QPalou
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I'm a Massage Therapist and legally blind living on SSDI in central Florida.
The cost of living here in Florida has skyrocketed, a studio apartment cost around $1, 800 now.
I only receive $1, 700 a month (ssdi), but I'm also debt free.
I have family that have lived in Medellin their entire life.
I'm contemplating giving this expat thing a try.

J.D.Vision
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We think we may like Manizales, which we believe has cooler temps and about 25% less expensive.
We recently retired at 55 and 60, and will spend the next 4-5 years traveling between Mexico and Argentina, in search of our favorite retirement city.
We are currently living in Matagalpa, Nicaragua and our TOTAL bills run $1000-$1100/month with no budget…that’s just what we spend.
We really are excited about getting to Manizales eventually.

therehastobesomethingmoore
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I appreciate you sharing this info. I'm moving my family to Medellin in two years. I lived in Bogota from 2013-2017 by myself and loved it. Can't wait to get back to mi hogar!

henleyvarnerii
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Wow your video was very informative!! I would love to just come and visit first!!!

darlenewright
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Great video, I just came from a vacation in Medellin. I love my country Colombia, I’m thinking about moving back to Colombia. This video helps a lot

DCANOTXZ
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Regarding high end restaurant prices- I've eaten at most of the top restaurants in Medellín and Bogotá with a date and with multiple courses and several drinks each I rarely hit a hundred dollars and averaged about $70. Way better than in the states/Europe

rckptt
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You forgot an important detail that I think most Americans fail to think about, and that to learn Spanish. Most people in Colombia don't speak English.

kiutpi
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Went on a short visit a few years ago and fell in love with it. Thanks for the info. Even before watching this it was on my top 5 countries for retirement.

andregayle
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Excellent video!

Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

New subscriber.

I’m from the US. My wife is Colombian. She still has her passport and cedula. We’re planning to retire in Colombia soon. Your videos are very helpful as we try ti decide in which city. She has always liked Medellin - that’s where we’re leaning. Also considering Manizales or Pereira.

Will keep your info handy.

Thanks again.

fjohn
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I respect your mission here. I just might consider the path your on. Just starting to educate myself on Columbia

jbryant
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Headed there this week to explore the possibilities Staying at The Charlee and happy to trade cocktails for your wisdom. Great vid!

pbowlin
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Thank you for your post, very good video.

RobotsCanDoAnything
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I love your content and appreciate your grounded, wise energy and kindness. I love Medellin! Have you also explored Armenia and Manezales? Also, your work is fascinating. I would love to see a video on how to work through medical insurance, especially for those older than 65? (I am thinking of my parents.) I am going to be eligible to get my cedula, however, they are Canadian citizens. Thank you so much!

SashaLipskaia
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I'm sold! Currently living in Mexico but looking forward to visiting Medellin and Santa Marta.

ginnaguity
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Can you recommend me any remote jobs to apply for? I’m 27 and I live in Florida with no kids lol. I visited Cartagena five months ago and I love it. I’m aiming towards Medellin now. Hopefully by April of next year, I’ll be over there for good.

MangoTeaJay
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Can you do a vlog on 1bedroom and larger bachelor suite the cost for those nice areas not a dumpy area. Is middle income neighborhoods fairly safe not sketchy there

acaciomadeira
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Thank you for this wonderful information. How about schools and the level of education ? you mentioned you also have kids so I wonder how families with kids manage the day to day in that sense. Thank you!

rocolo
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I’m Italian and I’ve been living in Uk for four years. I’d like to be a digital nomad and move to Medellín but I don’t know where to start from. I’ve already been in Medellin on holiday and I loved it.
I don’t have any kind of degree or experience in remote job. I’m fluent in Italian, English and Spanish. And also have a good level of French.
Where would you start from if you were me? Thanks

francescomurtas