Cost of Living in Medellin

Medellin is over priced and over hyped in general. Heavy polution and violence are the real offerings Medellin has to offer truth be known day or night.I lived in Medellin almost six years.I also lived in Ibague, and Perira for two years at each city as well.Only upside was cheaper to live and no polution to speak of.Although I've never used drugs in my life cocaine is prevelant outwardly never hidden day or night either even in the nicest neighborhoods where I lived.Although I never mentioned Pablo Escobar the locals filled me in on his history in Colombia.Cocaine was throughout Colombia before Pablo Escobar was born.This has nothing to do with prices but yet an honest overview.No matter where anyone is in the world there'll always be problems.Many men go to Colombia for the women, they're over hyped too unless you're into plastic butts etc.I retired in Eastern Europe instead not saying it doesn't have it's problems but at least it's not cocaine alley like the majority of Colombia is.

I'm currently going thru due diligence stage prior to locating in Medellin in 1 year. I would appreciate any current feedback on lifestyle, cost of living and healthcare as I am diabetic. Medicare and healthcare with meds in the U.S. has gotten ridiculous!

I am presently in Medellin and have been here 6 times. The items you choose to make comparisons are a bit crazy. Why would you for example be concerned about the price of Levis in Medellin when they manufacture their own blue jeans and are available for as low as $5? It is invalid to compare the price of a dozen eggs when they cost half as much per dozen when you buy a tray of 30 eggs. Rents vary tremendously. I am renting short term rental a furnished 2 bedroom apartment for $750 a month in Laureles. That includes electricity, internet, etc. Of course if you are staying for a long time you can save money by renting an unfinished apartment. About half I would imagine but you would have to buy furniture. The place I am renting even has a small automatic washing machine with a clothes rack above it to dry your clothes. Very handy. The supermarkets have specials. I bought a 6 pk of Tecate beer imported from Mexico for $2.50 in Exito for example. I have been living in Panama for the past 17 years and I can say for certain that Colombia is cheaper than Panama on most but not all items. Taxis, groceries and restaurants are definitely cheaper. The culture is better in Colombia. People are more educated. Being fluent in Spanish really helps a lot in Colombia.

The rent is way off. If you want to live like a low middle class colombian in a so so part of town then 300 dollars per month but i am sure you dont want that. For a westerner a two bedroom apartment in a middle class hood for 600 - 800 dollars but if you want the nice part of town in Poblado it will be at least 1000 dollars. And is AIRBNB then 1300 dollars and up. Been going there for 12 years so i know a little bit about Medellin. 600 - 1200 dollars per month should work.

Christopher and Raymond are both right. Raymond's comment was made in 2013, when the exchange rate was much less favorable. Since then, it has gone from about 1800 to 3200. Christopher's assessment of Poblado prices are correct in 2016. One bedroom furnished in Poblado for less than $600 US is very doable.

i'm gonna go ahead and disagree with Raymond. you can live in a high end neighbor hood for a very low price i paid 550USD a month to rent a one bedroom 1 bath that was furnished in El Poblado.it included wifi and cable and a land line. my building did not have a pool. and was a 10 min walk to parque llears with is the happening area with bars restaurants and clubs. i was only about 4 min walk to el carulla las palmas which has a ton of great restaurants in the plaza and it was where i ate most every day. really the best area of the city. there are however much nicer modern buildings with much higher price tags. in general the prices to own or rent are much lesser then anywhere in the USA and western Europe. and adminastartion fees are very inexpensive in comparison to the USA. also you don't really need air conditioning in Medellin because of the year round sping like weather so you dont incur large electricity bills. also on dining out for a steak dinner better then say the outback in the USA that would cost 30 dollars you will probably pay 12-18 dollars. they have a chain called pizza double that makes a higher quality pizza then say a papa johns or dominos more like pizza express in the UK and the deliver if you order off their cell phone app 2 medium pizzas with 1 topping for like 6 dollars 19900 cop. this is quality too not compareable to like crap little ceasers or something and delivery included although i usually tip the delivery man 2000 pesos like 60 cents. the only things that are not cheaper then the USA are name brand clothing and electronics. taxis to the airport in rionegro which is like a 35-40 min drinve are about 20$ usd. and short trips in a cab are like 4 dollars

if you want to live the high life best part of town and dinning out regularly i would say you need free and clear 1500 usd to 2000usd a month. if you don't mind not living in an exclusive area you can do it for much less. i have seen nice 2 and 3 bedroom places available for 200-300 usd a month but in areas i personally wouldn't enjoy living. however if the very simple things in life make you happy and you don't mid really noisy neighbors you can live well on like 600- 1000 usd in medellin but keep in mind its difficult to get a rental contract in medellin without having a cedula or nacional id of medellin also next to impossible to turn on utilities with out that. so with out a local friend or connection getting into a really low rent situation will be difficult but not impossible. the average colombian makes like 350 -450$usd working full time. so most are forced to live with family some of my friends live in small 3 bedroom apartments with 4 adults and 3 or 4 children.
i have been to many places in europe and all over north america also spent time in japan. there is no place that can match the quality of city living for the cost as medellin. most people are extremely polite and friendly. if ou like sports there is like 4 top league pro football/soccer teams in the area. they have many casinos if thats your thing endless amounts of restaurants , museums tons of events shows and concerts. plus year round perfect weather there is a huge park called parque arvi that you take the metro cable too and you are in wilderness heaven cost like 5 bucks to get there and in the park on the metro and includes an amazing ride up the mountain in the metro cable. there is not much golf most of the clubs are private you you have to pay annual fees to enjoy the greens. but it is available a few touristy places not from from the city. the main thing i would recommend if your planing on staying there more then just a sightseeing trip is that you know how to communicate in Spanish.

how strong is the US dollar in Columbia what can I buy for $1