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