Cost of Living Comparison Between Bel Air, MD and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Bel Air, MD and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,662 per month in Bel Air, MD vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,842 per month in Bel Air, MD vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,021 per month in Bel Air, MD vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Bel Air, MD costs about 166% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Bel Air, MD sits 100% above the global median, while Medellin is 25% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.27 $16.27

$5.91 COP 18.6K

175.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.5 $66.5

$32.96 COP 103.8K

101.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 $9.89

$7.43 COP 23.4K

33.11%

Cappuccino

$5.24 $5.24

$1.65 COP 5,207

217.58%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 $1.79

$1.10 COP 3,468

62.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 $1.73

$0.78 COP 2,458

121.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.31 $6.31

$1.72 COP 5,412

266.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.42 $6.42

$3.18 COP 10.0K

101.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.10 COP 3,474

-5.45%

White Bread (500g)

$3.46 $3.46

$1.26 COP 3,962

174.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

$1.38 COP 4,349

221.01%

Eggs

$4.28 $4.28

$2.18 COP 6,858

96.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.09 $12.09

$4.49 COP 14.1K

169.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.58 $11.58

$5.79 COP 18.2K

100.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.15 $15.15

$8.97 COP 28.2K

68.90%

Apples (1kg)

$4.81 $4.81

$2.32 COP 7,308

107.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.06 COP 3,352

53.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.31 $4.31

$1.52 COP 4,774

183.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.62 $4.62

$1.36 COP 4,270

239.71%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$1.13 COP 3,552

146.02%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.17 COP 3,689

146.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.00 $2.00

$0.90 COP 2,838

122.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$0.90 COP 2,823

145.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.84 $9.84

$2.23 COP 7,034

341.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.23 $15.23

$12.12 COP 38.2K

25.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.19 COP 3,743

53.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.48 COP 7,815

33.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$0.85 COP 2,687

131.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.1 $98.1

$41.62 COP 131.0K

135.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 $3.45

$1.42 COP 4,459

142.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.95 COP 6,141

-15.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.37 $29.37

$7.89 COP 24.8K

272.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$0.99 COP 3,118

-10.10%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.3K $29.3K

$17.6K COP 55.4M

66.37%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.4K $25.4K

$26.8K COP 84.4M

-5.36%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$187 $187

$83.0 COP 261.4K

125.56%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$51.9 $51.9

$9.70 COP 30.5K

434.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.8 $66.8

$23.52 COP 74.1K

183.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.35 $43.35

$25.26 COP 79.5K

71.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

Cinema Ticket

$13.42 $13.42

$3.95 COP 12.4K

239.75%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,304 $1,304

$316 COP 994.2K

312.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.1K $23.1K

$5,975 COP 18.8M

285.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.8 $51.8

$60.0 COP 188.9K

-13.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.29 $40.29

$31.82 COP 100.2K

26.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.4 $85.4

$102 COP 320.1K

-15.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$107 COP 338.3K

3.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$475 COP 1.5M

233.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,353 $1,353

$374 COP 1.2M

261.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,598 $2,598

$849 COP 2.7M

205.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,233 $2,233

$719 COP 2.3M

210.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,089 $3,089

$3,265 COP 10.3M

-5.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,247 $2,247

$1,441 COP 4.5M

55.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,093 $5,093

$624 COP 2.0M

715.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

13.43

-51.53%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bel Air, MD: July 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,584 in Bel Air, MD versus $475 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 716% higher in Bel Air, MD, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $67.0 in Bel Air, MD versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $388 vs $193 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Bel Air, MD vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,662 in Bel Air, MD, $1,003 in Medellin – roughly 166% apart. Bel Air, MD costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,993 per month in Bel Air, MD and $1,504 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,662 in Bel Air, MD and $1,003 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 136% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Bel Air, MD at $2,662. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bel Air, MD it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,003 in Medellin to $2,662 in Bel Air, MD. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bel Air, MD makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.