🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $992 in Byblos versus $1,681 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,626 in Byblos versus $2,445 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,261 in Byblos versus $3,210 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Byblos costs roughly 41% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Byblos is 28% below, Medellin is 23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Byblos
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.24LBP 827.3K
$8.02COP 24.9K
15.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.14LBP 3.9M
$47.87COP 148.7K
-9.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.06LBP 631.7K
$9.89COP 30.7K
-28.61%
Cappuccino
$3.08LBP 275.2K
$3.13COP 9,724
-1.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97LBP 87.0K
$1.91COP 5,928
-49.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98LBP 87.7K
$1.51COP 4,692
-35.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.12COP 9,705
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.75COP 17.9K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Byblos
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.26LBP 112.3K
$1.44COP 4,489
-12.50%
White Bread(500g)
$0.61LBP 54.6K
$2.49COP 7,725
-75.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55LBP 139.1K
$1.77COP 5,510
-12.43%
Eggs
$2.16LBP 193.0K
$2.96COP 9,195
-27.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.78LBP 785.9K
$10.07COP 31.3K
-12.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29LBP 741.7K
$10.12COP 31.4K
-18.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.77LBP 1.1M
$14.30COP 44.4K
-17.69%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97LBP 265.4K
$4.14COP 12.8K
-28.26%
Banana(1kg)
$2.03LBP 181.7K
$1.61COP 4,997
26.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.99LBP 88.4K
$2.25COP 6,976
-56.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.98LBP 176.8K
$2.25COP 6,997
-12.00%
Potato(1kg)
$0.99LBP 88.2K
$2.04COP 6,347
-51.47%
Onion(1kg)
$0.99LBP 88.4K
$1.54COP 4,769
-35.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99LBP 88.3K
$1.17COP 3,635
-15.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.98LBP 87.6K
$1.31COP 4,059
-25.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$3.90COP 12.1K
-
Wine(Bottle)
$3.94LBP 352.2K
$14.01COP 43.5K
-71.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.56LBP 139.8K
$1.74COP 5,415
-10.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95LBP 174.5K
$2.87COP 8,917
-32.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Byblos
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.01LBP 90.4K
$1.22COP 3,776
-17.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$80.5COP 250.0K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.31COP 4,066
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.98LBP 87.8K
$2.19COP 6,796
-55.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$8.71COP 27.1K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.90LBP 81.0K
$1.37COP 4,241
-34.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KLBP 2.0B
$27.8KCOP 86.5M
-17.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.6KLBP 2.0B
$35.8KCOP 111.1M
-36.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Byblos
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$101LBP 9.0M
$177COP 550.8K
-43.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.88LBP 2.0M
$13.88COP 43.1K
64.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.04LBP 2.2M
$29.72COP 92.4K
-15.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Byblos
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.03LBP 3.4M
$44.88COP 139.4K
-15.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$39.82LBP 3.6M
$17.12COP 53.2K
132.59%
Cinema Ticket
$10.08LBP 902.2K
$6.65COP 20.6K
51.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Byblos
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$402LBP 36.0M
$813COP 2.5M
-50.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,973LBP 266.1M
$9,187COP 28.5M
-67.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Byblos
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101LBP 9.0M
$89.5COP 278.0K
12.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$99.8LBP 8.9M
$59.0COP 183.2K
69.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$121LBP 10.8M
$138COP 429.4K
-12.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$149LBP 13.3M
$102COP 317.3K
45.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Byblos
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$294LBP 26.3M
$1,062COP 3.3M
-72.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$226LBP 20.3M
$663COP 2.1M
-65.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$815LBP 72.9M
$1,888COP 5.9M
-56.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$397LBP 35.5M
$1,027COP 3.2M
-61.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,340LBP 119.9M
$4,183COP 13.0M
-67.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$849LBP 76.0M
$1,675COP 5.2M
-49.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Byblos
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$991LBP 88.7M
$678COP 2.1M
46.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8
10.94
-26.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Byblos: September 13, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $294 in Byblos and $1,062 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Byblos pays 46% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Byblos vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $218 vs $305 per month, with Byblos 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 Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around. The 70% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Byblos or Medellin?
Average pay runs 46% higher in Byblos, 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: $294 in Byblos versus $1,062 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 $813 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 in Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Byblos – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $48.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Byblos or in Medellin?
At $992 in Byblos versus $1,681 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 70% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.