Cost of Living Comparison Between Bethlehem, PA and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Bethlehem, PA and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,673 per month in Bethlehem, PA vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,810 per month in Bethlehem, PA vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,946 per month in Bethlehem, PA vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

Bethlehem, PA costs about 56% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bethlehem, PA and Medellin sit above the global median – Bethlehem, PA by 95%, Medellin by 25%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.27 $18.27

$8.03 COP 25.3K

127.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.3 $50.3

$48.26 COP 152.3K

4.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.83 $12.83

$9.77 COP 30.8K

31.32%

Cappuccino

$5.28 $5.28

$2.91 COP 9,185

81.44%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 $2.97

$1.94 COP 6,134

53.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.52 COP 4,801

24.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.40 $5.40

$3.09 COP 9,759

74.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.14 $8.14

$5.74 COP 18.1K

41.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 $1.18

$1.36 COP 4,304

-13.24%

White Bread (500g)

$3.95 $3.95

$2.39 COP 7,534

65.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.22 $4.22

$1.70 COP 5,366

148.24%

Eggs

$4.16 $4.16

$2.87 COP 9,056

44.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.91 $11.91

$9.94 COP 31.4K

19.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.19 $16.19

$10.78 COP 34.0K

50.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.43 $18.43

$14.73 COP 46.5K

25.12%

Apples (1kg)

$12.73 $12.73

$4.09 COP 12.9K

211.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 $1.67

$1.57 COP 4,960

6.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.01 $6.01

$2.13 COP 6,708

182.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.48 $7.48

$2.21 COP 6,985

238.46%

Potato (1kg)

$5.59 $5.59

$2.05 COP 6,460

172.68%

Onion (1kg)

$3.05 $3.05

$1.50 COP 4,747

103.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.81 $2.81

$1.19 COP 3,755

136.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.16 COP 3,654

58.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.55 $9.55

$3.90 COP 12.3K

144.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.71 $17.71

$14.44 COP 45.6K

22.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.58 COP 4,997

22.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 $3.35

$2.83 COP 8,923

18.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.01 $2.01

$1.17 COP 3,686

71.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.7 COP 245.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.15 $3.15

$1.28 COP 4,054

146.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.09 COP 6,602

-12.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.71 $29.71

$8.62 COP 27.2K

244.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.30 COP 4,096

-20.77%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$37.7K $37.7K

$27.7K COP 87.3M

36.30%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.7K $26.7K

$35.5K COP 112.0M

-24.67%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$203 $203

$176 COP 555.6K

15.44%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$64.0 $64.0

$13.37 COP 42.2K

378.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.1 $77.1

$29.89 COP 94.3K

157.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.23 $36.23

$44.76 COP 141.2K

-19.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.06 COP 53.8K

Cinema Ticket

$15.16 $15.16

$6.20 COP 19.6K

144.52%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$997 $997

$793 COP 2.5M

25.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.6K $25.6K

$9,019 COP 28.5M

183.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 $53.5

$85.6 COP 270.1K

-37.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.02 $30.02

$58.5 COP 184.5K

-48.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.0 $68.0

$136 COP 430.1K

-50.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.6 $83.6

$103 COP 325.4K

-18.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,519 $1,519

$1,060 COP 3.3M

43.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,359 $1,359

$680 COP 2.1M

100.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,186 $2,186

$2,012 COP 6.3M

8.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,105 $2,105

$1,169 COP 3.7M

80.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,096 $2,096

$4,111 COP 13.0M

-49.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,128 $2,128

$1,701 COP 5.4M

25.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,488 $3,488

$665 COP 2.1M

424.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

10.94

-40.59%

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

Last update for Bethlehem, PA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,519 in Bethlehem, PA versus $1,060 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 424% higher in Bethlehem, PA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Bethlehem, PA versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $500 vs $303 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Bethlehem, PA vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,673 in Bethlehem, PA, $1,716 in Medellin – roughly 56% apart. Bethlehem, PA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,010 per month in Bethlehem, PA and $2,574 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Bethlehem, PA and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 65% more in Bethlehem, PA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,716, than in Bethlehem, PA at $2,673. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bethlehem, PA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,716 in Medellin to $2,673 in Bethlehem, PA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bethlehem, PA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.