😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,885 in Bangor versus $1,017 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,986 in Bangor versus $1,602 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,086 in Bangor versus $2,188 in Medellin.
😐Living in Bangor is roughly 85% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Bangor is 40% above, Medellin is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bangor
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.01£17.85
$5.95COP 20.8K
303.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.1£63.3
$33.33COP 116.3K
155.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32£7.67
$7.23COP 25.2K
42.74%
Cappuccino
$4.53£3.37
$1.63COP 5,687
177.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94£1.44
$1.09COP 3,821
77.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89£1.41
$0.73COP 2,548
158.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.65£4.94
$1.74COP 6,065
282.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.54£5.61
$3.23COP 11.3K
133.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bangor
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.94£1.44
$1.05COP 3,662
84.76%
White Bread(500g)
$2.28£1.69
$1.29COP 4,515
76.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.18£1.62
$1.32COP 4,617
65.15%
Eggs
$3.89£2.89
$2.27COP 7,927
71.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.64£7.17
$4.35COP 15.2K
121.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.77£8.01
$5.88COP 20.5K
83.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.97£10.39
$8.61COP 30.0K
62.25%
Apples(1kg)
$3.15£2.34
$2.25COP 7,844
40.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65£1.22
$1.07COP 3,733
54.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.93£2.18
$1.52COP 5,322
92.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.53£2.63
$1.42COP 4,964
148.59%
Potato(1kg)
$1.62£1.21
$1.17COP 4,084
38.46%
Onion(1kg)
$1.47£1.09
$1.17COP 4,077
25.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.11£0.82
$0.89COP 3,096
24.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.51£1.13
$0.90COP 3,146
67.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$18.98£14.11
$2.25COP 7,837
743.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.90£8.85
$11.04COP 38.5K
7.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74£2.04
$1.14COP 3,977
140.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12£2.32
$2.38COP 8,301
31.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Bangor
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.20£3.12
$0.84COP 2,916
400.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$87.4£65.0
$41.95COP 146.4K
108.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.74£3.52
$1.41COP 4,912
236.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.86£1.39
$1.90COP 6,634
-2.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.96£17.07
$7.75COP 27.0K
196.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01£1.49
$1.01COP 3,509
99.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K£29.0K
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
122.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.8K£31.1K
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
57.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bangor
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$300£223
$83.7COP 292.1K
258.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.32£18.09
$9.45COP 33.0K
157.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.24£30.66
$24.11COP 84.1K
71.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bangor
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.49£32.33
$25.31COP 88.3K
71.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.67£15.37
$19.14COP 66.8K
7.99%
Cinema Ticket
$10.88£8.09
$4.10COP 14.3K
165.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bangor
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,594£1,185
$312COP 1.1M
411.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.1K£13.5K
$5,993COP 20.9M
202.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bangor
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.2£61.1
$58.0COP 202.6K
41.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.62£31.69
$32.56COP 113.6K
30.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103£76.8
$99.6COP 347.7K
3.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120£89.6
$109COP 378.8K
10.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bangor
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$600£446
$482COP 1.7M
24.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$509£378
$379COP 1.3M
34.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,306£971
$837COP 2.9M
55.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,067£793
$723COP 2.5M
47.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,091£3,785
$2,840COP 9.9M
79.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,223COP 4.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bangor
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,390£1,777
$541COP 1.9M
341.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.5
13.43
-59.05%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bangor: June 7, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $600 in Bangor and $482 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bangor pays 342% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $85.0 in Bangor vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $190 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Bangor vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Bangor?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 85% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Bangor or Medellin?
Bangor pays 342% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Bangor and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $600 in Bangor versus $482 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Bangor or Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $85.0 in Bangor. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Bangor vs Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $1,885 per month in Bangor versus $1,017 in Medellin – a 85% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Bangor or Medellin?
At $1,017 in Medellin versus $1,885 in Bangor, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Bangor. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Bangor or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Bangor, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Bangor or Medellin?
Safety-wise, Bangor and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 85% less than in Bangor. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.