😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,061 in Bel Ombre versus $1,034 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,744 in Bel Ombre versus $1,577 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,428 in Bel Ombre versus $2,120 in Medellin.
😐Living in Bel Ombre is roughly 3% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Bel Ombre21% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bel Ombre
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.58MUR 308
$5.92COP 21.4K
11.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.60MUR 2,040
$32.75COP 118.2K
33.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.28MUR 341
$7.20COP 26.0K
1.11%
Cappuccino
$2.54MUR 119
$1.70COP 6,140
49.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01MUR 47.03
$1.10COP 3,966
-8.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60MUR 27.90
$0.72COP 2,605
-16.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.23MUR 104
$1.67COP 6,022
33.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35MUR 157
$3.10COP 11.2K
8.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bel Ombre
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MUR 78.5
$1.06COP 3,809
58.49%
White Bread(500g)
$0.66MUR 30.83
$1.25COP 4,497
-47.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.28MUR 59.8
$1.39COP 5,022
-7.91%
Eggs
$2.35MUR 110
$2.26COP 8,168
3.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.79MUR 551
$4.33COP 15.6K
172.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.03MUR 282
$5.84COP 21.1K
3.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.76MUR 597
$8.83COP 31.9K
44.51%
Apples(1kg)
$2.07MUR 96.9
$2.24COP 8,099
-7.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.93MUR 90.5
$1.08COP 3,882
78.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.44MUR 67.4
$1.53COP 5,522
-5.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.72MUR 127
$1.37COP 4,950
98.54%
Potato(1kg)
$1.00MUR 46.64
$1.13COP 4,078
-11.50%
Onion(1kg)
$0.94MUR 44.02
$1.12COP 4,036
-16.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.84MUR 39.38
$0.85COP 3,057
-1.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82MUR 38.23
$0.91COP 3,281
-9.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.56MUR 307
$2.33COP 8,414
181.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.65MUR 405
$11.13COP 40.2K
-22.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.81MUR 84.6
$1.19COP 4,309
52.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19MUR 102
$2.37COP 8,553
-7.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Bel Ombre
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.99MUR 46.33
$0.79COP 2,838
25.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.13COP 148.5K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.51MUR 211
$1.44COP 5,184
213.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.61MUR 122
$1.91COP 6,901
36.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.19MUR 945
$8.02COP 28.9K
151.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.46MUR 68.5
$0.94COP 3,385
55.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.7KMUR 1.7M
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
99.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4KMUR 1.3M
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
5.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bel Ombre
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$48.57MUR 2,272
$84.0COP 303.1K
-42.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.54MUR 867
$9.60COP 34.7K
93.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.96MUR 1,589
$24.16COP 87.2K
40.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bel Ombre
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.85MUR 1,818
$25.88COP 93.4K
50.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.04COP 68.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.21MUR 291
$3.92COP 14.1K
58.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bel Ombre
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$155MUR 7,236
$306COP 1.1M
-49.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,951MUR 184.9K
$5,919COP 21.4M
-33.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bel Ombre
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.1MUR 3,981
$57.9COP 209.1K
46.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$78.2MUR 3,661
$31.82COP 114.9K
145.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$130MUR 6,090
$99.9COP 360.6K
30.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.5MUR 4,373
$107COP 386.8K
-12.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bel Ombre
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$510MUR 23.8K
$487COP 1.8M
4.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$353MUR 16.5K
$368COP 1.3M
-4.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$966MUR 45.2K
$826COP 3.0M
17.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$725MUR 33.9K
$716COP 2.6M
1.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,925COP 10.6M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,407COP 5.1M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bel Ombre
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 Ombre: April 26, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $510 in Bel Ombre and $487 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $44.00 in Bel Ombre vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 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 Ombre vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bel Ombre or Medellin?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Bel Ombre. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Bel Ombre vs Medellin?
You'd need roughly $1,591 in Bel Ombre 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 Ombre vs Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $510 in Bel Ombre versus $487 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Bel Ombre and Medellin?
Childcare runs $155 in Bel Ombre versus $306 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Bel Ombre vs Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $44.00 in Bel Ombre. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Bel Ombre or Medellin?
At $1,034 in Medellin versus $1,061 in Bel Ombre, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Bel Ombre. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bel Ombre or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,034 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
How safe is Bel Ombre compared to Medellin?
Safety-wise, Bel Ombre 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 Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Bel Ombre. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.