🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,023 in Bel Air versus $1,034 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,709 in Bel Air versus $1,577 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,395 in Bel Air versus $2,120 in Medellin.
🙂Living in Bel Air costs roughly 1% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Bel Air24% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bel Air
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.72MUR 314
$5.92COP 21.5K
13.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.62MUR 2,039
$32.75COP 119.1K
33.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.31MUR 342
$7.20COP 26.2K
1.53%
Cappuccino
$1.13MUR 52.7
$1.70COP 6,186
-33.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04MUR 48.43
$1.10COP 3,996
-5.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56MUR 26.33
$0.72COP 2,625
-22.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68MUR 78.3
$1.67COP 6,067
0.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21MUR 150
$3.10COP 11.3K
3.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bel Air
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64MUR 76.8
$1.06COP 3,837
54.72%
White Bread(500g)
$0.71MUR 33.30
$1.25COP 4,531
-43.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.27MUR 59.4
$1.39COP 5,060
-8.63%
Eggs
$2.31MUR 108
$2.26COP 8,229
2.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.68MUR 546
$4.33COP 15.8K
169.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.12MUR 286
$5.84COP 21.2K
4.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.70MUR 594
$8.83COP 32.1K
43.83%
Apples(1kg)
$1.97MUR 92.1
$2.24COP 8,159
-12.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.96MUR 91.6
$1.08COP 3,911
81.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50MUR 70.3
$1.53COP 5,563
-1.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.62MUR 123
$1.37COP 4,987
91.24%
Potato(1kg)
$1.03MUR 48.07
$1.13COP 4,109
-8.85%
Onion(1kg)
$0.92MUR 43.16
$1.12COP 4,067
-17.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.78MUR 36.54
$0.85COP 3,080
-8.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76MUR 35.69
$0.91COP 3,305
-16.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76MUR 316
$2.33COP 8,477
190.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.61MUR 403
$11.13COP 40.5K
-22.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MUR 80.5
$1.19COP 4,342
44.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15MUR 100
$2.37COP 8,617
-9.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Bel Air
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.04MUR 48.56
$0.79COP 2,859
31.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.13COP 149.6K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.48MUR 210
$1.44COP 5,223
211.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.64MUR 123
$1.91COP 6,952
38.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.76MUR 924
$8.02COP 29.2K
146.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.46MUR 68.5
$0.94COP 3,410
55.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4KMUR 1.7M
$17.9KCOP 65.2M
97.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.6KMUR 1.3M
$26.8KCOP 97.4M
6.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bel Air
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$50.4MUR 2,354
$84.0COP 305.4K
-40.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.45MUR 863
$9.60COP 34.9K
92.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.73MUR 1,577
$24.16COP 87.9K
39.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bel Air
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.42MUR 1,796
$25.88COP 94.1K
48.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.04COP 69.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.07MUR 284
$3.92COP 14.2K
54.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bel Air
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$153MUR 7,153
$306COP 1.1M
-50.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,956MUR 184.9K
$5,919COP 21.5M
-33.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bel Air
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.4MUR 4,039
$57.9COP 210.6K
49.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$80.2MUR 3,751
$31.82COP 115.7K
152.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$131MUR 6,141
$99.9COP 363.3K
31.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.7MUR 4,473
$107COP 389.7K
-10.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bel Air
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$512MUR 23.9K
$487COP 1.8M
5.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$355MUR 16.6K
$368COP 1.3M
-3.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$950MUR 44.4K
$826COP 3.0M
15.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$719MUR 33.6K
$716COP 2.6M
0.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,925COP 10.6M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,407COP 5.1M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bel Air
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$546COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.67
13.43
-50.34%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bel Air: April 26, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $512 in Bel Air and $487 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $44.00 in Bel Air vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $230 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
Bel Air vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bel Air or Medellin?
Bel Air wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bel Air the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Bel Air vs Medellin?
You'd need roughly $1,534 in Bel Air and $1,550 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Bel Air vs Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $512 in Bel Air versus $487 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Bel Air or Medellin?
Shoppers in Medellin pay roughly 21% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How much does it cost to live in Bel Air compared to Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $1,023 per month in Bel Air versus $1,034 in Medellin – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Bel Air or Medellin?
At $1,023 in Bel Air versus $1,034 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Bel Air but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Bel Air the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bel Air or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bel Air delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,023 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bel Air hard to pass up.
How safe is Bel Air compared to Medellin?
Safety-wise, Bel Air 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Bel Air gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.