Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Billings, MT and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,639 a month against $2,349 in Billings, MT, rent and utilities included – about $8,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Billings, MT, United States
Medellin, Colombia
Billings, MT
🇺🇸 United States
$2,349
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Billings, MT and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Billings, MT and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,349 per month in Billings, MT vs $1,639 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Billings, MT $2,349
  • Medellin $1,639

A couple spends around $3,546 per month in Billings, MT vs $2,413 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Billings, MT $3,546
  • Medellin $2,413

A family of three spends $4,743 per month in Billings, MT vs $3,186 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Billings, MT $4,743
  • Medellin $3,186

Billings, MT costs about 43% more than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Billings, MT and Medellin sit above the global median – Billings, MT by 73%, Medellin by 20%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Billings, MT
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.68 $25.68
$8.09 COP 26.1K
217.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.4 $76.4
$47.05 COP 151.9K
62.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.63 $13.63
$9.50 COP 30.7K
43.47%
Cappuccino
$6.44 $6.44
$3.01 COP 9,735
113.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 $2.38
$1.80 COP 5,809
32.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.41 COP 4,561
17.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.14 $4.14
$3.18 COP 10.3K
30.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.91 $4.91
$5.75 COP 18.6K
-14.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Billings, MT
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.01 $1.01
$1.51 COP 4,876
-33.11%
White Bread (500g)
$3.53 $3.53
$2.38 COP 7,678
48.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.27 $3.27
$1.77 COP 5,720
84.75%
Eggs
$3.09 $3.09
$2.89 COP 9,333
6.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.20 $12.20
$10.19 COP 32.9K
19.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.56 $11.56
$9.87 COP 31.9K
17.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.29 $17.29
$13.99 COP 45.2K
23.59%
Apples (1kg)
$3.68 $3.68
$3.97 COP 12.8K
-7.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 $1.44
$1.55 COP 5,012
-7.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.87 $2.87
$2.18 COP 7,048
31.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.66 $4.66
$2.18 COP 7,051
113.76%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.96 COP 6,337
-42.86%
Onion (1kg)
$2.01 $2.01
$1.59 COP 5,132
26.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.39 $2.39
$1.15 COP 3,699
107.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.49 $1.49
$1.24 COP 4,014
20.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.59 $9.59
$3.96 COP 12.8K
142.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.91 $10.91
$13.68 COP 44.2K
-20.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20 $2.20
$1.66 COP 5,359
32.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.20 $5.20
$2.26 COP 7,291
130.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Billings, MT
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.95 $1.95
$1.17 COP 3,771
66.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.95 $27.95
$77.4 COP 249.8K
-63.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.46 $2.46
$1.27 COP 4,094
93.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.39 $1.39
$2.05 COP 6,612
-32.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$59.6 $59.6
$8.55 COP 27.6K
597.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 $1.01
$1.35 COP 4,349
-25.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K $29.7K
$34.1K COP 110.0M
-12.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9K $23.9K
$34.7K COP 111.9M
-31.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Billings, MT
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$171 $171
$170 COP 547.8K
0.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.63 $49.63
$13.55 COP 43.8K
266.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$83.1 $83.1
$28.07 COP 90.6K
196.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Billings, MT
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.40 $41.40
$43.70 COP 141.1K
-5.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.25 $15.25
$17.19 COP 55.5K
-11.29%
Cinema Ticket
$13.89 $13.89
$6.91 COP 22.3K
101.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Billings, MT
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,074 $1,074
$797 COP 2.6M
34.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.4K $19.4K
$9,112 COP 29.4M
112.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Billings, MT
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.1 $61.1
$84.7 COP 273.5K
-27.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.3 $66.3
$58.0 COP 187.2K
14.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.7 $96.7
$135 COP 435.8K
-28.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 $122
$97.9 COP 316.0K
24.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Billings, MT
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,183 $1,183
$1,208 COP 3.9M
-2.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,049 $1,049
$642 COP 2.1M
63.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,894 $1,894
$2,028 COP 6.5M
-6.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,834 $1,834
$1,012 COP 3.3M
81.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,472 $2,472
$4,170 COP 13.5M
-40.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,073 $2,073
$1,910 COP 6.2M
8.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Billings, MT
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,926 $3,926
$657 COP 2.1M
497.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.4
10.94
-41.50%

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

Last update for Billings, MT: October 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Billings, MT
$1K
Medellin
$642 38.8% $407
Eating Out
Billings, MT
$370
Medellin
$170 54.2% $201
Groceries & Markets
Billings, MT
$357
Medellin
$297 16.8% $60
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Billings, MT
$303
Medellin
$211 30.4% $92
Clothing & Footwear
Billings, MT
$156
Medellin
$169 8.6% $13
Sport & Entertainment
Billings, MT
$69
Medellin
$58 16.9% $12
Getting Around
Billings, MT
$45
Medellin
$94 107% $48

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,183 in Billings, MT versus $1,208 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 in Billings, MT are about 6 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $76 in Billings, MT versus $47 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $357 vs $297 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Billings, MT
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
17:02 5:02 PM
19:02 7:02 PM
2 h ahead of Billings, MT
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
117,116
2,486,723
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.896 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 3,229 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,605 COP (10,000 COP = 2.77 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Billings, MT Medellin 5,410 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Billings, MT
  • Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Billings, MT vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Billings, MT or Medellin?
Billings, MT costs about 43% more than Medellin, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Billings, MT and in Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,524 per month in Billings, MT and $2,459 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Billings, MT compared to Medellin?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $1,183 in Billings, MT and $1,208 in Medellin. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
How expensive is transport in Billings, MT compared to Medellin?
Public transport costs about 64% less in Billings, MT. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Billings, MT and in Medellin?
Kindergarten costs $1,074 per month in Billings, MT and $797 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Billings, MT or Medellin?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,639 in Medellin to $2,349 in Billings, MT. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Should I move to Billings, MT or to Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Billings, MT makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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