😐A single person spends $2,402 per month in Bolton vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,354 per month in Bolton vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,305 per month in Bolton vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Bolton costs about 137% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Bolton sits 79% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bolton
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.29£15.12
$5.99COP 21.3K
238.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.6£60.0
$32.86COP 116.9K
145.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.13£7.55
$7.09COP 25.2K
42.88%
Cappuccino
$4.80£3.57
$1.71COP 6,093
180.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34£1.74
$1.10COP 3,910
112.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54£1.15
$0.78COP 2,771
97.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.62£4.93
$1.68COP 5,976
294.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.54£4.13
$3.07COP 10.9K
80.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bolton
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64£1.22
$1.09COP 3,892
50.46%
White Bread(500g)
$1.76£1.31
$1.26COP 4,492
39.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.21£1.65
$1.38COP 4,905
60.14%
Eggs
$4.10£3.05
$2.19COP 7,799
87.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.58£7.88
$4.40COP 15.7K
140.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.48£6.32
$5.63COP 20.0K
50.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.02£12.68
$8.89COP 31.6K
91.45%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23£2.41
$2.34COP 8,319
38.03%
Banana(1kg)
$1.80£1.34
$1.06COP 3,764
69.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.18£2.37
$1.50COP 5,355
112.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.81£2.84
$1.38COP 4,906
176.09%
Potato(1kg)
$1.75£1.31
$1.15COP 4,097
52.17%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90£1.42
$1.16COP 4,141
63.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.31£0.98
$0.89COP 3,170
47.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.50£1.12
$0.84COP 2,986
78.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$18.61£13.86
$2.28COP 8,116
716.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.69£7.97
$10.64COP 37.9K
0.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.45£1.83
$1.20COP 4,268
104.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40£1.79
$2.47COP 8,793
-2.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Bolton
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.70£2.01
$0.86COP 3,045
213.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$85.3£63.5
$41.40COP 147.3K
105.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.57£4.15
$1.47COP 5,245
278.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.15£0.86
$1.96COP 6,984
-41.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.32£12.16
$7.74COP 27.5K
110.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.91£1.42
$0.95COP 3,397
101.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.4K£28.6K
$18.1KCOP 64.5M
111.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.1K£30.7K
$26.5KCOP 94.2M
55.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bolton
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$300£224
$82.3COP 292.7K
265.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.45£13.00
$9.50COP 33.8K
83.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.25£31.48
$24.23COP 86.2K
74.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bolton
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.78£35.60
$25.89COP 92.1K
84.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.21£20.27
$19.00COP 67.6K
43.21%
Cinema Ticket
$13.68£10.19
$3.93COP 14.0K
248.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bolton
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,584£1,180
$309COP 1.1M
412.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.6K£10.2K
$5,965COP 21.2M
128.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bolton
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.9£61.0
$58.7COP 208.7K
39.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.82£31.90
$32.35COP 115.1K
32.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.0£64.1
$103COP 365.1K
-16.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.4£61.4
$108COP 385.8K
-23.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bolton
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,170£872
$476COP 1.7M
145.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,120£834
$379COP 1.3M
195.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,693£1,262
$838COP 3.0M
102.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,449£1,080
$724COP 2.6M
100.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,791COP 9.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,211COP 4.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bolton
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,192£3,123
$512COP 1.8M
719.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.8
13.43
-56.81%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bolton: May 31, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,170 in Bolton versus $476 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 719% higher in Bolton, 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 $81.0 in Bolton versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $314 vs $188 – 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
Bolton vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Bolton?
Yes – Bolton is pricier by about 137%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,603 per month in Bolton and $1,519 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 106% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,584 per month in Bolton and $309 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Bolton or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Bolton at $2,402. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bolton it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Bolton or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Bolton or Medellin?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bolton makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.