๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,235 in Beliลกฤe versus $1,017 in Medellin.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,834 in Beliลกฤe versus $1,602 in Medellin.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,433 in Beliลกฤe versus $2,188 in Medellin.
๐Living in Beliลกฤe is roughly 21% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Both cities sit below the global median: Beliลกฤe8% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Beliลกฤe
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.31โฌ7.16
$5.95COPย 20.8K
39.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.17โฌ34.61
$33.33COPย 116.3K
20.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.84โฌ5.90
$7.23COPย 25.2K
-5.39%
Cappuccino
$2.05โฌ1.77
$1.63COPย 5,687
25.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36โฌ2.03
$1.09COPย 3,821
116.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01โฌ1.73
$0.73COPย 2,548
175.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.38โฌ2.05
$1.74COPย 6,065
36.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35โฌ2.03
$3.23COPย 11.3K
-27.24%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Beliลกฤe
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.92โฌ0.79
$1.05COPย 3,662
-12.38%
White Bread(500g)
$0.66โฌ0.57
$1.29COPย 4,515
-48.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.94โฌ2.53
$1.32COPย 4,617
122.73%
Eggs
$3.17โฌ2.73
$2.27COPย 7,927
39.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.79โฌ9.30
$4.35COPย 15.2K
148.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.43โฌ6.40
$5.88COPย 20.5K
26.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.26โฌ9.70
$8.61COPย 30.0K
30.78%
Apples(1kg)
$1.15โฌ0.99
$2.25COPย 7,844
-48.89%
Banana(1kg)
$1.43โฌ1.23
$1.07COPย 3,733
33.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.63โฌ1.41
$1.52COPย 5,322
7.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46โฌ2.12
$1.42COPย 4,964
73.24%
Potato(1kg)
$0.97โฌ0.84
$1.17COPย 4,084
-17.09%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18โฌ1.02
$1.17COPย 4,077
0.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20โฌ1.04
$0.89COPย 3,096
34.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.97โฌ0.84
$0.90COPย 3,146
7.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.50โฌ4.74
$2.25COPย 7,837
144.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.08โฌ6.10
$11.04COPย 38.5K
-35.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18โฌ1.02
$1.14COPย 3,977
3.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92โฌ1.66
$2.38COPย 8,301
-19.33%
๐ Getting Around
Beliลกฤe
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.72โฌ1.48
$0.84COPย 2,916
104.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$42.47โฌ36.59
$41.95COPย 146.4K
1.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.71โฌ3.19
$1.41COPย 4,912
163.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.15โฌ0.99
$1.90COPย 6,634
-39.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.76โฌ4.96
$7.75COPย 27.0K
-25.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.68โฌ1.44
$1.01COPย 3,509
66.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2Kโฌ27.7K
$17.6KCOPย 61.4M
83.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5Kโฌ23.7K
$26.5KCOPย 92.5M
3.65%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beliลกฤe
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123โฌ106
$83.7COPย 292.1K
47.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.63โฌ15.19
$9.45COPย 33.0K
86.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.57โฌ22.90
$24.11COPย 84.1K
10.20%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Beliลกฤe
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.03โฌ22.43
$25.31COPย 88.3K
2.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.48โฌ12.48
$19.14COPย 66.8K
-24.35%
Cinema Ticket
$5.22โฌ4.50
$4.10COPย 14.3K
27.32%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Beliลกฤe
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$349โฌ301
$312COPย 1.1M
11.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,796โฌ2,409
$5,993COPย 20.9M
-53.34%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Beliลกฤe
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$122โฌ105
$58.0COPย 202.6K
110.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.61โฌ36.71
$32.56COPย 113.6K
30.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$46.03โฌ39.66
$99.6COPย 347.7K
-53.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.4โฌ50.4
$109COPย 378.8K
-46.17%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Beliลกฤe
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$190โฌ164
$482COPย 1.7M
-60.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$469โฌ404
$379COPย 1.3M
23.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$343โฌ295
$837COPย 2.9M
-59.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$775โฌ668
$723COPย 2.5M
7.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,251โฌ3,663
$2,840COPย 9.9M
49.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,189โฌ1,024
$1,223COPย 4.3M
-2.80%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Beliลกฤe
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,818โฌ1,566
$541COPย 1.9M
236.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.2
13.43
-76.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Beliลกฤe: June 8, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $190 in Beliลกฤe and $482 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐBeliลกฤe pays 236% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $40.00 in Beliลกฤe vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $222 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
Beliลกฤe vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Beliลกฤe and Medellin?
Beliลกฤe and Medellin differ by about 21% in total monthly costs ($1,235 vs $1,017 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Beliลกฤe or Medellin?
Beliลกฤe pays 236% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Beliลกฤe and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $190 in Beliลกฤe versus $482 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Beliลกฤe and Medellin?
Childcare runs $349 in Beliลกฤe versus $312 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 17% higher in Beliลกฤe. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,017 in Medellin versus $1,235 in Beliลกฤe, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Beliลกฤe. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Beliลกฤe and Medellin?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Beliลกฤe or Medellin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Beliลกฤe 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.
Where should expats move: Beliลกฤe or Medellin?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 21% less than in Beliลกฤe. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.