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 $2,723 per month in Birmingham, AL vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,973 per month in Birmingham, AL vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,222 per month in Birmingham, AL vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.

Birmingham, AL costs about 66% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Birmingham, AL and Medellin sit above the global median – Birmingham, AL by 97%, Medellin by 19%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.81 $17.81

$8.04 COP 24.8K

121.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.0 $70.0

$48.29 COP 148.6K

45.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.85 $8.85

$9.42 COP 29.0K

-6.05%

Cappuccino

$5.72 $5.72

$2.94 COP 9,040

94.56%

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

$2.75 $2.75

$1.86 COP 5,735

47.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.46 COP 4,479

56.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.05 $5.05

$3.21 COP 9,882

57.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.89 $5.89

$5.71 COP 17.6K

3.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.44 COP 4,428

-25.69%

White Bread (500g)

$3.11 $3.11

$2.40 COP 7,389

29.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$1.70 COP 5,228

180.59%

Eggs

$4.05 $4.05

$2.89 COP 8,896

40.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.78 $9.78

$10.06 COP 30.9K

-2.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.89 $10.89

$9.97 COP 30.7K

9.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.94 $15.94

$14.20 COP 43.7K

12.25%

Apples (1kg)

$6.53 $6.53

$3.98 COP 12.3K

64.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.32 $1.32

$1.58 COP 4,878

-16.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.87 $7.87

$2.15 COP 6,624

266.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.40 $5.40

$2.30 COP 7,078

134.78%

Potato (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$2.00 COP 6,169

116.00%

Onion (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$1.51 COP 4,646

240.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.20 COP 3,701

125.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.28 COP 3,946

123.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.60 $9.60

$3.84 COP 11.8K

150.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.15 $15.15

$14.01 COP 43.1K

8.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.71 COP 5,256

37.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 $3.60

$2.74 COP 8,440

31.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.25 COP 3,834

19.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.6 $79.6

$77.9 COP 239.7K

2.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.98 $2.98

$1.31 COP 4,016

127.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.61 $1.61

$2.17 COP 6,680

-25.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.34 $30.34

$8.29 COP 25.5K

265.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.36 COP 4,172

-33.82%

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

$34.0K $34.0K

$27.5K COP 84.5M

23.65%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$36.5K COP 112.4M

-31.90%

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

$287 $287

$169 COP 519.2K

69.86%

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

$76.4 $76.4

$13.57 COP 41.8K

463.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.0 $71.0

$28.32 COP 87.2K

150.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.26 $40.26

$45.71 COP 140.7K

-11.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.23 $20.23

$17.22 COP 53.0K

17.48%

Cinema Ticket

$16.07 $16.07

$6.65 COP 20.5K

141.65%

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

$1,359 $1,359

$803 COP 2.5M

69.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.9K $17.9K

$9,190 COP 28.3M

94.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.0 $59.0

$87.4 COP 268.8K

-32.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.42 $38.42

$59.4 COP 182.7K

-35.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 $107

$139 COP 427.5K

-22.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$135 $135

$102 COP 314.0K

32.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,719 $1,719

$1,071 COP 3.3M

60.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,208 $1,208

$653 COP 2.0M

85.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,927 $2,927

$1,925 COP 5.9M

52.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,114 $2,114

$1,048 COP 3.2M

101.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,016 $3,016

$4,123 COP 12.7M

-26.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,860 $1,860

$1,697 COP 5.2M

9.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,102 $3,102

$655 COP 2.0M

373.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.18

10.94

-43.51%

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

Last update for Birmingham, AL: September 7, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,719 in Birmingham, AL versus $1,071 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 374% 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 $70.0 in Birmingham, AL versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $425 vs $300 – 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: $2,723 in Birmingham, AL, $1,641 in Medellin – roughly 66% apart. Birmingham, AL costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,085 per month in Birmingham, AL and $2,462 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 $2,723 in Birmingham, AL and $1,641 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 2% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,641, than in Birmingham, AL at $2,723. 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 $1,641 in Medellin to $2,723 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.