Medellín Inflation October 2026: 7.11%, Third in Colombia

Medellín inflation in October 2026 reached 7.11% over the past twelve months, the third-highest of the cities tracked by DANE, Colombia’s national statistics agency. Nationally, annual inflation edged up to 6.30% from 6.29% in September, according to figures DANE published on November 9.

Quick answer: Medellín’s annual inflation was 7.11% in October 2026, about 0.8 points above the 6.30% national rate and behind only Armenia (7.29%) and Bucaramanga (7.15%).

Medellín inflation in October 2026: the numbers

Per La FM’s breakdown of the DANE release, the highest annual city readings were Armenia (7.29%), Bucaramanga (7.15%), Medellín (7.11%), Santa Marta (6.88%) and Pereira (6.82%). Barranquilla came in at 6.02% and the lowest was Valledupar at 4.02%.

Area	September 2026	October 2026
Armenia	7.00%	7.29%
Bucaramanga	6.98%	7.15%
Medellín	7.04%	7.11%
Bogotá	6.06%	5.89%
Colombia (national)	6.29%	6.30%

September figures are from Portafolio’s report on the DANE data; October figures from La FM and La Silla Vacía. Medellín led the country in September and slipped to third in October because its rate rose only slightly while Armenia and Bucaramanga rose faster. It has been among the highest-inflation cities all year; see our earlier report on Medellín’s July reading of 6.95%.

Medellín’s own category detail (latest available: September)

We could not find a Medellín category breakdown for October. For September, El Colombiano reported a monthly change of 0.34% in Medellín (national: 0.37%), food up 0.51% on the month, and the largest annual increases in restaurants and hotels (9.65%), health (8.65%), education (8.29%) and housing and utilities (7.56%). Treat these as September context, not October data.

The national figures, per La FM and La Silla Vacía, were:

• Monthly inflation: 0.20%.
• Year to date (January–October): 5.94%.
• A year earlier (October 2025): 5.51%.

The October reading came in slightly below analysts’ expectations, which mostly ranged from 6.30% to 6.41%, per La Silla Vacía and La FM.

Restaurants and hotels: the fastest-rising category

The biggest annual increase by spending division was restaurants and hotels at 9.39%, followed by education (7.44%), health (7.37%) and food and non-alcoholic drinks (7.31%), per El Tiempo.

One caveat: 9.39% is the national figure. The sources we reviewed do not break out Medellín’s own restaurant-and-hotel number, so don’t read it as a Medellín-specific price rise.

Other national line items from La FM’s reporting:

• Restaurant meals (table service and self-service): up 9.47% year on year.
• Urban transport: up 10.65%.
• Beef and derivatives: up 13.31%.
• Rent paid by tenants: up 5.12%, slower than overall inflation.
• Domestic air transport: down 2.91% month on month.

What it means for expats and visitors

If you budget in dollars, the peso’s exchange rate matters as much as the local price tags, and both move independently. Check a current rate before planning, since a stronger or weaker peso can offset or amplify price rises. Our recent coverage of the Banco de la República’s October rate hold at 12.25% explains how the central bank is weighing inflation against borrowing costs.

Practical takeaways, based on the categories above:

• Dining out and lodging are rising faster than the overall basket. If the trend holds, expect menus and hotel rates to keep creeping up.
• Renters have so far seen slower rises than prices in general (5.12% nationally), but rents are a separate story from inflation. See our guide to what Medellín’s new land-use plan means for renters and hosts.
• Cost of living overall: for longer-term budgeting, see our guide on how living costs have increased for expats in Medellín.
• Short-term hosts face their own cost pressure from the city’s tax push; see our report on the ICA review of 5,404 short-stay hosts.

What comes next: the 2027 minimum wage

Inflation is a core input to the 2027 minimum wage negotiation. La Silla Vacía reports that October’s figure is the second-to-last data point government, employers and unions will have before they meet, with the next meeting on November 18, 2026. La FM adds that November’s CPI will also be a reference.

Looking ahead, the Banco de la República’s technical team projects year-end 2026 inflation of 7.1%, while analysts surveyed by Fedesarrollo expect 6.87%, per El Tiempo. The central bank’s target range is 2% to 4%.

FAQ

Is Medellín’s inflation higher than Bogotá’s? Yes. In October 2026 Medellín was at 7.11% against 5.89% in Bogotá, per La FM.

Is Medellín’s inflation higher than the national rate? Yes, by roughly 0.8 points (7.11% vs 6.30%).

When is the next DANE inflation release? DANE publishes monthly; November’s CPI is expected in early December, but check DANE’s calendar for the exact date.

Figures are as reported by the cited outlets from DANE’s November 9, 2026 release. We did not access DANE’s own bulletin directly; check dane.gov.co for the official tables.