Cost of living in Medellín in 2026: rent, everyday costs and the minimum wage

The cost of living in Medellín is one of the reasons people who come for a week of treatment start looking at apartments. The numbers below are in Colombian pesos, because exchange rates move and a dollar figure goes stale within weeks. They come from the government’s wage decrees, Numbeo’s crowd-sourced data and — for neighborhood rents — a single secondary source we flag as indicative.

01What does it cost to live in Medellín per month?

Numbeo’s Medellín page, updated September 12, 2026 from 661 entries by 52 contributors, estimates:³

Put together, a single person renting an average one-bedroom outside the center would spend about COP 4.7 million a month; in the center, about COP 6 million.

02Colombia’s 2026 minimum wage

The minimum wage — the salario mínimo mensual legal vigente, or SMMLV — is COP 1,750,905 a month in 2026, up 23.7% from COP 1,423,500 in 2025, plus a transport allowance of COP 249,095.²

Its legal history this year is unusual. It was set by Decrees 1469 and 1470 of December 29, 2025. The Consejo de Estado, Colombia’s highest administrative court, provisionally suspended the decree; the government then reissued the same figure as a transitional decree, Decree 0159 of February 19, 2026, while the court reaches a final decision.¹

Why it matters to a visitor: many Colombian fees and thresholds are set in multiples of the SMMLV — including the income requirement for the digital nomad visa (three times the SMMLV).

03Rent in Medellín: center, outside, and by neighborhood

Numbeo’s averages — COP 3.33 million for a one-bedroom in the center, COP 2.06 million outside it — are city-wide. It has no neighborhood breakdown. For that we found only one secondary source, a relocation blog, which gives:⁴

• El Poblado — premium one-bedroom, COP 5–7 million a month
• Laureles — furnished one-bedroom, COP 2.2–3.8 million a month

Treat those as indicative, not market data: one source, and “premium” and “furnished” describe different products. Check live listings for the exact building and length of stay you want.

04Long term rentals: Medellín’s two markets

Long term rentals in Medellín fall into two markets:

Practical rules that apply to both: see the apartment — or a live video walk-through — before you pay anything; get a written contract that states the rent, deposit, what’s included and the notice period; and pay through traceable channels. Check the building’s elevator, water pressure and street noise at night, and how far it is from a metro station.

Which neighborhood is best for a long-term rental?

There’s no single answer, and no official ranking of neighborhoods. El Poblado has the most services in English and is hilly; Laureles is flatter and more residential; Envigado, just south of El Poblado, is quieter still. Our Medellín safety guide covers the precautions that apply everywhere.

05Transport and everyday costs

Public transport is cheap. A metro ride costs COP 3,820 with a rechargeable Cívica Frecuente card or COP 4,400 on an Eventual ticket in 2026; Metrocable lines connecting to the metro use the same fare.⁵ The Cable Arví (Line L) is priced separately at COP 26,700 for foreigners. Many longer-term residents rely on the metro plus app-booked taxis — the US State Department advises against hailing taxis on the street.

06How long can you stay?

US citizens can enter Colombia without a visa for up to 90 days, with a cumulative limit of 180 days per calendar year. You can ask Migración Colombia for a 90-day extension before the first 90 days run out; overstaying brings a fine.⁶

For a longer stay working remotely, Colombia offers the Visa V – Nómada Digital for up to two years.⁷ Details, fees and the income test are in our Colombia digital nomad visa guide.

07Costs for a treatment stay

If you’re staying for treatment rather than living here, the cost of living in Medellín matters less than lodging close to your clinic for two or three weeks. A furnished monthly apartment can cost less than a hotel for longer recoveries — but check the elevator and distance to the clinic first.

Having treatment in Medellín? Compare lodging options in recovery stays in Medellín, and see what the procedure itself costs in our guides to dental implants in Colombia and plastic surgery in Colombia.