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: $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 Air 24% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bel Air
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.72 MUR 314
$5.92 COP 21.5K
13.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.62 MUR 2,039
$32.75 COP 119.1K
33.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.31 MUR 342
$7.20 COP 26.2K
1.53%
Cappuccino
$1.13 MUR 52.7
$1.70 COP 6,186
-33.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04 MUR 48.43
$1.10 COP 3,996
-5.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 MUR 26.33
$0.72 COP 2,625
-22.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.68 MUR 78.3
$1.67 COP 6,067
0.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 MUR 150
$3.10 COP 11.3K
3.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bel Air
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 MUR 76.8
$1.06 COP 3,837
54.72%
White Bread (500g)
$0.71 MUR 33.30
$1.25 COP 4,531
-43.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.27 MUR 59.4
$1.39 COP 5,060
-8.63%
Eggs
$2.31 MUR 108
$2.26 COP 8,229
2.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.68 MUR 546
$4.33 COP 15.8K
169.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.12 MUR 286
$5.84 COP 21.2K
4.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.70 MUR 594
$8.83 COP 32.1K
43.83%
Apples (1kg)
$1.97 MUR 92.1
$2.24 COP 8,159
-12.05%
Banana (1kg)
$1.96 MUR 91.6
$1.08 COP 3,911
81.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.50 MUR 70.3
$1.53 COP 5,563
-1.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.62 MUR 123
$1.37 COP 4,987
91.24%
Potato (1kg)
$1.03 MUR 48.07
$1.13 COP 4,109
-8.85%
Onion (1kg)
$0.92 MUR 43.16
$1.12 COP 4,067
-17.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.78 MUR 36.54
$0.85 COP 3,080
-8.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 MUR 35.69
$0.91 COP 3,305
-16.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76 MUR 316
$2.33 COP 8,477
190.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.61 MUR 403
$11.13 COP 40.5K
-22.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 MUR 80.5
$1.19 COP 4,342
44.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 MUR 100
$2.37 COP 8,617
-9.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Bel Air
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.04 MUR 48.56
$0.79 COP 2,859
31.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$41.13 COP 149.6K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.48 MUR 210
$1.44 COP 5,223
211.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.64 MUR 123
$1.91 COP 6,952
38.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.76 MUR 924
$8.02 COP 29.2K
146.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 MUR 68.5
$0.94 COP 3,410
55.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K MUR 1.7M
$17.9K COP 65.2M
97.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.6K MUR 1.3M
$26.8K COP 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)
$50.4 MUR 2,354
$84.0 COP 305.4K
-40.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.45 MUR 863
$9.60 COP 34.9K
92.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.73 MUR 1,577
$24.16 COP 87.9K
39.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bel Air
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.42 MUR 1,796
$25.88 COP 94.1K
48.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.04 COP 69.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.07 MUR 284
$3.92 COP 14.2K
54.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bel Air
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$153 MUR 7,153
$306 COP 1.1M
-50.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,956 MUR 184.9K
$5,919 COP 21.5M
-33.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bel Air
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.4 MUR 4,039
$57.9 COP 210.6K
49.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$80.2 MUR 3,751
$31.82 COP 115.7K
152.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$131 MUR 6,141
$99.9 COP 363.3K
31.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.7 MUR 4,473
$107 COP 389.7K
-10.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bel Air
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$512 MUR 23.9K
$487 COP 1.8M
5.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$355 MUR 16.6K
$368 COP 1.3M
-3.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$950 MUR 44.4K
$826 COP 3.0M
15.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$719 MUR 33.6K
$716 COP 2.6M
0.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,925 COP 10.6M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,407 COP 5.1M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bel Air
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$546 COP 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.

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