Monthly budgets by household

Housing by city

• Furnished 2-bed, El Poblado (Medellín): US$650–950
• Furnished 2-bed, Laureles / Envigado: US$500–850
• Furnished 2-bed, Sabaneta / Belén: US$400–700
• Furnished 2-bed, Chapinero Alto (Bogotá): US$800–1,300
• Furnished 2-bed, Cartagena Bocagrande: US$700–1,400
• Furnished 2-bed, Pereira / Armenia: US$350–650
• Utilities (electric, water, gas): US$50–100 Medellín/Bogotá (mild climate, minimal AC)
• Fiber internet (100+ Mbps): US$20–40

Food & groceries

• Groceries, couple cooking at home: US$250–450/mo
• Plaza de mercado produce for a couple: US$12–20/week
• Almuerzo ejecutivo (fixed-price local lunch): US$3–6
• Sit-down dinner for two, mid-range: US$18–40
• Coffee at a specialty café: US$1.50–3
• Domestic beer at a bar: US$1.50–3

Healthcare

• EPS (mandatory for residents): ~12% of declared income
• Medicina prepagada (Colsanitas, Sura): US$60–150/person/mo
• GP visit private (walk-in): US$25–50
• Specialist visit private: US$40–90
• Dental cleaning: US$20–40
• Dental implant (medical tourism): US$600–1,200

Transport

• Medellín metro + cable-car fare: US$0.85
• Uber, cross-city Medellín: US$3–7
• Gasoline: US$3.20–3.60/gallon
• Intercity bus (Medellín → Cartagena): US$40–70
• Domestic flight (Bogotá → Medellín): US$30–90 one-way

What costs more than you'd expect

• Cars and electronics — 30–60% import duty; often more expensive than the US
• US-brand groceries — 40–80% markup
• Wine and imported liquor — heavy excise; a $15 US wine can be $30+
• Long-term Airbnb tax — many buildings now enforce a 19% VAT on short-stay rentals since 2023
• Cartagena tourist-district rents — approach Panama City levels in high season