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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $609 in Bel Air versus $1,681 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,009 in Bel Air versus $2,445 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,410 in Bel Air versus $3,210 in Medellin.

Living in Bel Air costs roughly 64% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Bel Air is 56% below, Medellin is 23% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bel Air
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.71 MUR 271
$8.02 COP 25.3K
-28.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.67 MUR 1,837
$47.87 COP 151.0K
-19.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.22 MUR 343
$9.89 COP 31.2K
-27.00%
Cappuccino
$1.08 MUR 51.5
$3.13 COP 9,873
-65.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08 MUR 51.3
$1.91 COP 6,019
-43.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 MUR 27.64
$1.51 COP 4,763
-61.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.56 MUR 74.2
$3.12 COP 9,853
-50.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09 MUR 147
$5.75 COP 18.1K
-46.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bel Air
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 MUR 73.9
$1.44 COP 4,558
8.33%
White Bread (500g)
$0.78 MUR 37.18
$2.49 COP 7,843
-68.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 MUR 52.7
$1.77 COP 5,595
-37.29%
Eggs
$2.58 MUR 122
$2.96 COP 9,336
-12.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.46 MUR 259
$10.07 COP 31.8K
-45.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.47 MUR 307
$10.12 COP 31.9K
-36.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.27 MUR 535
$14.30 COP 45.1K
-21.19%
Apples (1kg)
$2.74 MUR 130
$4.14 COP 13.0K
-33.82%
Banana (1kg)
$2.61 MUR 124
$1.61 COP 5,073
62.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.40 MUR 66.6
$2.25 COP 7,083
-37.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.91 MUR 138
$2.25 COP 7,104
29.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.00 MUR 47.49
$2.04 COP 6,444
-50.98%
Onion (1kg)
$0.99 MUR 47.14
$1.54 COP 4,842
-35.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.69 MUR 32.86
$1.17 COP 3,691
-41.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 MUR 43.37
$1.31 COP 4,121
-30.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.32 MUR 300
$3.90 COP 12.3K
62.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.34 MUR 396
$14.01 COP 44.2K
-40.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 MUR 80.3
$1.74 COP 5,498
-2.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 MUR 110
$2.87 COP 9,053
-19.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Bel Air
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.22 COP 3,834
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$80.5 COP 253.9K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.34 MUR 206
$1.31 COP 4,129
231.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.14 MUR 149
$2.19 COP 6,899
43.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.29 MUR 1,011
$8.71 COP 27.5K
144.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 MUR 63.9
$1.37 COP 4,306
-1.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.1K MUR 1.8M
$27.8K COP 87.8M
33.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1K MUR 1.5M
$35.8K COP 112.8M
-13.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bel Air
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$45.51 MUR 2,162
$177 COP 559.3K
-74.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.67 MUR 507
$13.88 COP 43.8K
-23.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.21 MUR 1,388
$29.72 COP 93.8K
-1.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bel Air
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$44.88 COP 141.6K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.12 COP 54.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.48 MUR 308
$6.65 COP 21.0K
-2.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bel Air
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$129 MUR 6,114
$813 COP 2.6M
-84.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,597 MUR 360.9K
$9,187 COP 29.0M
-17.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bel Air
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.1 MUR 3,664
$89.5 COP 282.3K
-13.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$74.4 MUR 3,533
$59.0 COP 186.0K
26.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$119 MUR 5,668
$138 COP 435.9K
-13.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.5 MUR 3,726
$102 COP 322.1K
-23.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bel Air
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,062 COP 3.3M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$663 COP 2.1M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,888 COP 6.0M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,027 COP 3.2M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,183 COP 13.2M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,675 COP 5.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bel Air
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$678 COP 2.1M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.67
10.94
-39.03%

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

Last update for Bel Air: September 14, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $39.00 in Bel Air vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $219 vs $305 per month, with Bel Air 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 176% 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 and in Medellin?
You'd need roughly $913 in Bel Air and $2,521 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.
Are groceries more expensive in Bel Air or in Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 39% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Bel Air compared to Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $609 per month in Bel Air versus $1,681 in Medellin – a 176% 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 in Medellin?
At $609 in Bel Air versus $1,681 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 $609 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 176% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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