All Comparisons
Medellín vs Cartagena FIRE Retirement Cost Comparison
Which city is better for FIRE retirement? A data-driven comparison of portfolio requirements, monthly costs, and lifestyle factors.
🇨🇴
Medellín
Colombia
Lean FIRE $311K
FIRE Number $606K
Fat FIRE $2.7M
Monthly Cost $2,020/mo
Warm Good Common Exercise caution Easy
🇨🇴
Cartagena
Colombia
Lean FIRE $305K
FIRE Number $696K
Fat FIRE $2.92M
Monthly Cost $2,320/mo
Tropical Adequate Limited Exercise caution Easy
More affordable: Medellín (saves $90K in required portfolio)
Better healthcare: Medellín (Good)
Visa: Even - both rated Easy
Safety: Even - both rated Exercise caution
Detailed Comparison
| Category | 🇨🇴 Medellín | 🇨🇴 Cartagena |
|---|---|---|
| Lean FIRE Number | $311K | $305K 👑 |
| FIRE Number | $606K 👑 | $696K |
| Fat FIRE Number | $2.7M 👑 | $2.92M |
| Monthly Cost (FIRE) | $2,020/mo 👑 | $2,320/mo |
| Safety | Exercise caution Tie | Exercise caution Tie |
| Healthcare | Good 👑 | Adequate |
| Climate | Warm | Tropical |
| English | Common | Limited |
| Visa | Easy Tie | Easy Tie |
Which City Is Right for Your FIRE Goals?
Choose Medellín if: you want to minimize your FIRE Number. At $606K, it's $90K cheaper to reach comfortable FIRE here compared to Cartagena.
Choose Medellín if: healthcare access is a priority — it has Good healthcare infrastructure.
Choose Medellín if: you want easier residency access — visa difficulty is rated "Easy" (both cities have similar visa requirements).