🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $980 in Byblos versus $1,017 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,570 in Byblos versus $1,602 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,160 in Byblos versus $2,188 in Medellin.
🙂Living in Byblos costs roughly 4% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Byblos27% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Byblos
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.96LBP 712.4K
$5.95COP 20.8K
33.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.68LBP 3.7M
$33.33COP 116.3K
25.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.93LBP 709.5K
$7.23COP 25.2K
9.68%
Cappuccino
$2.98LBP 267.1K
$1.63COP 5,687
82.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98LBP 87.4K
$1.09COP 3,821
-10.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01LBP 90.8K
$0.73COP 2,548
38.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.74COP 6,065
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.23COP 11.3K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Byblos
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21LBP 108.2K
$1.05COP 3,662
15.24%
White Bread(500g)
$0.62LBP 55.5K
$1.29COP 4,515
-51.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61LBP 144.1K
$1.32COP 4,617
21.97%
Eggs
$2.14LBP 191.2K
$2.27COP 7,927
-5.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.20LBP 823.3K
$4.35COP 15.2K
111.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43LBP 754.5K
$5.88COP 20.5K
43.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.77LBP 1.1M
$8.61COP 30.0K
36.70%
Apples(1kg)
$3.04LBP 272.4K
$2.25COP 7,844
35.11%
Banana(1kg)
$2.05LBP 183.5K
$1.07COP 3,733
91.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.02LBP 90.9K
$1.52COP 5,322
-32.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.96LBP 175.6K
$1.42COP 4,964
38.03%
Potato(1kg)
$1.01LBP 90.7K
$1.17COP 4,084
-13.68%
Onion(1kg)
$0.97LBP 87.0K
$1.17COP 4,077
-17.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02LBP 90.9K
$0.89COP 3,096
14.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02LBP 91.2K
$0.90COP 3,146
13.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$2.25COP 7,837
-
Wine(Bottle)
$4.02LBP 359.5K
$11.04COP 38.5K
-63.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.53LBP 137.4K
$1.14COP 3,977
34.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95LBP 174.3K
$2.38COP 8,301
-18.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Byblos
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.98LBP 87.6K
$0.84COP 2,916
16.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.95COP 146.4K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.41COP 4,912
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.90COP 6,634
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$7.75COP 27.0K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.91LBP 81.5K
$1.01COP 3,509
-9.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9KLBP 2.1B
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
30.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5KLBP 2.0B
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
-15.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Byblos
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$99.2LBP 8.9M
$83.7COP 292.1K
18.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.48LBP 2.0M
$9.45COP 33.0K
137.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.19LBP 2.3M
$24.11COP 84.1K
4.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Byblos
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.84LBP 3.4M
$25.31COP 88.3K
49.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.81LBP 1.7M
$19.14COP 66.8K
-1.72%
Cinema Ticket
$10.07LBP 901.3K
$4.10COP 14.3K
145.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Byblos
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$402LBP 36.0M
$312COP 1.1M
28.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,047LBP 272.7M
$5,993COP 20.9M
-49.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Byblos
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.2LBP 8.9M
$58.0COP 202.6K
70.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$98.9LBP 8.9M
$32.56COP 113.6K
203.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$121LBP 10.8M
$99.6COP 347.7K
20.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$148LBP 13.3M
$109COP 378.8K
36.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Byblos
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$302LBP 27.0M
$482COP 1.7M
-37.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$221LBP 19.8M
$379COP 1.3M
-41.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$809LBP 72.4M
$837COP 2.9M
-3.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$397LBP 35.5M
$723COP 2.5M
-45.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,352LBP 121.0M
$2,840COP 9.9M
-52.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$839LBP 75.1M
$1,223COP 4.3M
-31.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Byblos
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$991LBP 88.7M
$541COP 1.9M
83.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8
13.43
-40.43%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Byblos: June 7, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $302 in Byblos and $482 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Byblos pays 83% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Byblos vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $221 vs $190 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.
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
Byblos vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Byblos?
Byblos is cheaper overall, especially in Getting Around. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Byblos or Medellin?
Byblos pays 83% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Byblos and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $302 in Byblos versus $482 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $402 in Byblos versus $312 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Byblos or Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Byblos – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Byblos or Medellin?
At $980 in Byblos versus $1,017 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Byblos but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Byblos the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Byblos or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Byblos is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Byblos gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.