Cost of Living Comparison Between Birmingham, AL and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Birmingham, AL and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,490 per month in Birmingham, AL vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,867 per month in Birmingham, AL vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,245 per month in Birmingham, AL vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Birmingham, AL costs about 142% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Birmingham, AL sits 86% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.19 $18.19

$6.16 COP 20.1K

195.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.9 $58.9

$32.60 COP 106.1K

80.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.04 $10.04

$7.34 COP 23.9K

36.78%

Cappuccino

$5.62 $5.62

$1.72 COP 5,600

226.74%

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

$2.17 $2.17

$1.05 COP 3,420

106.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$0.77 COP 2,515

209.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$1.69 COP 5,488

253.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.33 $7.33

$3.17 COP 10.3K

131.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.05 COP 3,423

4.76%

White Bread (500g)

$3.50 $3.50

$1.30 COP 4,236

169.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.99 $3.99

$1.40 COP 4,544

185.00%

Eggs

$4.27 $4.27

$2.16 COP 7,047

97.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.23 $11.23

$4.39 COP 14.3K

155.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.24 $11.24

$5.88 COP 19.1K

91.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.62 $14.62

$8.64 COP 28.1K

69.21%

Apples (1kg)

$6.13 $6.13

$2.28 COP 7,426

168.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.11 COP 3,604

72.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.38 $7.38

$1.53 COP 4,983

382.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.13 $5.13

$1.35 COP 4,410

280.00%

Potato (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$1.13 COP 3,674

262.83%

Onion (1kg)

$4.98 $4.98

$1.13 COP 3,692

340.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.54 $2.54

$0.85 COP 2,753

198.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 $2.74

$0.91 COP 2,975

201.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.93 $6.93

$2.34 COP 7,630

196.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.74 $14.74

$12.37 COP 40.3K

19.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.20 COP 3,909

87.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 $3.52

$2.49 COP 8,104

41.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.46 $1.46

$0.84 COP 2,728

73.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.6 $54.6

$40.57 COP 132.1K

34.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.97 $3.97

$1.42 COP 4,623

179.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.92 COP 6,235

-18.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.60 $30.60

$7.66 COP 24.9K

299.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$0.99 COP 3,223

-18.18%

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

$31.0K $31.0K

$18.0K COP 58.7M

71.84%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.6K COP 86.7M

-1.73%

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

$211 $211

$80.8 COP 263.1K

160.97%

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

$49.11 $49.11

$9.95 COP 32.4K

393.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.3 $53.3

$24.18 COP 78.7K

120.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.98 $46.98

$25.08 COP 81.7K

87.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.32 $20.32

$19.15 COP 62.3K

6.11%

Cinema Ticket

$13.52 $13.52

$3.98 COP 13.0K

239.70%

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

$1,214 $1,214

$305 COP 993.5K

297.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.1K $18.1K

$6,059 COP 19.7M

199.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.5 $63.5

$58.1 COP 189.2K

9.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.62 $27.62

$32.20 COP 104.8K

-14.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$106 $106

$101 COP 327.9K

5.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.0 $99.0

$108 COP 350.8K

-8.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,524 $1,524

$477 COP 1.6M

219.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,137 $1,137

$376 COP 1.2M

202.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,622 $2,622

$845 COP 2.7M

210.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,316 $2,316

$730 COP 2.4M

217.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,934 $2,934

$3,215 COP 10.5M

-8.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,871 $1,871

$1,372 COP 4.5M

36.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,162 $3,162

$617 COP 2.0M

412.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

13.43

-51.68%

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

Last update for Birmingham, AL: July 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,524 in Birmingham, AL versus $477 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 413% higher in Birmingham, AL, 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 $59.0 in Birmingham, AL versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $423 vs $193 – 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

Birmingham, AL vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,490 in Birmingham, AL, $1,031 in Medellin – roughly 142% apart. Birmingham, AL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,735 per month in Birmingham, AL and $1,546 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,490 in Birmingham, AL and $1,031 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 35% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Birmingham, AL at $2,490. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Birmingham, AL 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 $1,031 in Medellin to $2,490 in Birmingham, AL. 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, Birmingham, AL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.