Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Brookhaven, NY and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,625 a month against $2,722 in Brookhaven, NY, rent and utilities included – about $13,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Brookhaven, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$2,722
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,625
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Brookhaven, NY 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 Brookhaven, NY and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,722 in Brookhaven, NY versus $1,625 in Medellin.

  • Brookhaven, NY $2,722
  • Medellin $1,625

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,065 in Brookhaven, NY versus $2,412 in Medellin.

  • Brookhaven, NY $4,065
  • Medellin $2,412

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,408 in Brookhaven, NY versus $3,199 in Medellin.

  • Brookhaven, NY $5,408
  • Medellin $3,199

Living in Brookhaven, NY is roughly 68% more expensive than in Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Brookhaven, NY 101% above, Medellin 20% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brookhaven, NY
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.74 $24.74
$8.30 COP 26.3K
198.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$98.9 $98.9
$46.91 COP 148.7K
110.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.20 $11.20
$9.24 COP 29.3K
21.21%
Cappuccino
$5.35 $5.35
$3.05 COP 9,676
75.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 $2.24
$1.80 COP 5,707
24.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 $1.54
$1.38 COP 4,382
11.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.01 $8.01
$3.24 COP 10.3K
147.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.20 $8.20
$5.56 COP 17.6K
47.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brookhaven, NY
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.26 $1.26
$1.50 COP 4,760
-16.00%
White Bread (500g)
$4.31 $4.31
$2.37 COP 7,508
81.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.76 $7.76
$1.70 COP 5,377
356.47%
Eggs
$5.75 $5.75
$2.96 COP 9,379
94.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.61 $12.61
$10.22 COP 32.4K
23.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.62 $11.62
$9.74 COP 30.9K
19.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.07 $17.07
$13.90 COP 44.1K
22.81%
Apples (1kg)
$5.54 $5.54
$4.13 COP 13.1K
34.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 $1.73
$1.53 COP 4,839
13.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.16 $6.16
$2.22 COP 7,052
177.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.14 $6.14
$2.27 COP 7,194
170.48%
Potato (1kg)
$5.47 $5.47
$1.99 COP 6,311
174.87%
Onion (1kg)
$3.77 $3.77
$1.67 COP 5,285
125.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.79 $2.79
$1.18 COP 3,742
136.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.94 $2.94
$1.24 COP 3,919
137.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.50 $11.50
$3.87 COP 12.3K
197.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$24.08 $24.08
$13.78 COP 43.7K
74.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.66 COP 5,256
3.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.49 $5.49
$2.40 COP 7,615
128.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Brookhaven, NY
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.86 $1.86
$1.24 COP 3,944
50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$78.2 COP 248.0K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.93 $2.93
$1.28 COP 4,044
128.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.15 COP 6,803
-5.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.54 $23.54
$8.37 COP 26.5K
181.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 $1.10
$1.35 COP 4,288
-18.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6K $27.6K
$34.8K COP 110.2M
-20.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K $26.7K
$34.7K COP 110.0M
-22.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brookhaven, NY
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$211 $211
$167 COP 528.4K
26.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$75.6 $75.6
$13.62 COP 43.2K
454.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.3 $64.3
$29.12 COP 92.3K
120.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brookhaven, NY
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.96 $40.96
$45.09 COP 143.0K
-9.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.18 COP 54.5K
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.76 $14.76
$6.97 COP 22.1K
111.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brookhaven, NY
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,237 $2,237
$790 COP 2.5M
183.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.6K $23.6K
$9,041 COP 28.7M
160.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brookhaven, NY
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.13 $41.13
$87.8 COP 278.4K
-53.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.5 $56.5
$58.2 COP 184.4K
-2.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.1 $76.1
$139 COP 440.7K
-45.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$158 $158
$98.9 COP 313.5K
59.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brookhaven, NY
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,587 $1,587
$1,028 COP 3.3M
54.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,275 $1,275
$620 COP 2.0M
105.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,527 $2,527
$1,881 COP 6.0M
34.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,118 $2,118
$1,008 COP 3.2M
110.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,099 $3,099
$3,988 COP 12.6M
-22.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,127 $2,127
$1,702 COP 5.4M
24.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brookhaven, NY
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$663 COP 2.1M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.75
10.94
-38.30%

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

Last update for Brookhaven, NY: October 18, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Brookhaven, NY
$1.3K
Medellin
$619 51.4% $656
Groceries & Markets
Brookhaven, NY
$489
Medellin
$298 39% $191
Eating Out
Brookhaven, NY
$367
Medellin
$171 53.5% $196
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brookhaven, NY
$351
Medellin
$209 40.3% $141
Clothing & Footwear
Brookhaven, NY
$149
Medellin
$173 15.7% $23
Sport & Entertainment
Brookhaven, NY
$70
Medellin
$59 16.3% $11
Getting Around
Brookhaven, NY
$21 *
Medellin
$95 364% $75

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,587 in Brookhaven, NY and $1,028 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $99.0 in Brookhaven, NY vs $47.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $489 vs $298 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Brookhaven, NY
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
09:17 9:17 AM
08:17 8:17 AM
1 h behind Brookhaven, NY
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
11,674
2,486,723
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Brookhaven, NY Medellin 3,850 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Brookhaven, NY
  • 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
Brookhaven, NY vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Brookhaven, NY?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and utilities. The 68% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $4,083 in Brookhaven, NY and $2,437 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Brookhaven, NY and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,587 in Brookhaven, NY versus $1,028 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Brookhaven, NY and in Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 64% higher in Brookhaven, NY. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Brookhaven, NY and in Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $2,722 per month in Brookhaven, NY versus $1,625 in Medellin – a 68% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Brookhaven, NY or in Medellin?
At $1,625 in Medellin versus $2,722 in Brookhaven, NY, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Brookhaven, NY. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Brookhaven, NY or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Brookhaven, NY, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Brookhaven, NY or Medellin?
Safety-wise, Brookhaven, NY and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 68% less than in Brookhaven, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Brookhaven, NY vs other spots: cost of living compared

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