😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,346 in Cheltenham versus $1,716 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,549 in Cheltenham versus $2,527 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,752 in Cheltenham versus $3,338 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Cheltenham is roughly 37% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Cheltenham71% above, Medellin25% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cheltenham
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.91£17.68
$8.03COP 25.2K
197.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$106£78.6
$48.26COP 151.7K
120.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.75£8.69
$9.77COP 30.7K
20.27%
Cappuccino
$4.70£3.47
$2.91COP 9,149
61.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76£2.04
$1.94COP 6,110
42.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80£1.33
$1.52COP 4,783
18.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.76£5.74
$3.09COP 9,721
151.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.90£5.10
$5.74COP 18.1K
20.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cheltenham
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71£1.26
$1.36COP 4,287
25.74%
White Bread(500g)
$1.68£1.24
$2.39COP 7,505
-29.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.10£1.56
$1.70COP 5,346
23.53%
Eggs
$4.49£3.32
$2.87COP 9,021
56.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.33£6.16
$9.94COP 31.2K
-16.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.82£7.26
$10.78COP 33.9K
-8.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.42£9.92
$14.73COP 46.3K
-8.89%
Apples(1kg)
$3.26£2.41
$4.09COP 12.8K
-20.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51£1.11
$1.57COP 4,940
-3.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.95£1.44
$2.13COP 6,682
-8.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.43£2.53
$2.21COP 6,959
55.20%
Potato(1kg)
$1.63£1.21
$2.05COP 6,435
-20.49%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54£1.14
$1.50COP 4,728
2.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.29£0.95
$1.19COP 3,740
8.40%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.46£1.08
$1.16COP 3,640
25.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$23.75£17.56
$3.90COP 12.2K
508.97%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.03£8.15
$14.44COP 45.4K
-23.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.86£2.12
$1.58COP 4,978
81.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97£2.20
$2.83COP 8,889
4.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Cheltenham
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.46£2.56
$1.17COP 3,672
195.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$94.9£70.2
$77.7COP 244.3K
22.09%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.62£2.67
$1.28COP 4,038
182.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.64£1.21
$2.09COP 6,576
-21.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.20£20.11
$8.62COP 27.1K
215.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.86£1.38
$1.30COP 4,080
43.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K£28.8K
$27.7KCOP 86.9M
40.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.1K£31.1K
$35.5KCOP 111.6M
18.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cheltenham
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$345£255
$176COP 553.4K
95.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.09£12.63
$13.37COP 42.0K
27.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.9£37.63
$29.89COP 94.0K
70.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cheltenham
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.41£33.57
$44.76COP 140.7K
1.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.04£30.33
$17.06COP 53.6K
140.56%
Cinema Ticket
$14.00£10.35
$6.20COP 19.5K
125.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cheltenham
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,048£1,514
$793COP 2.5M
158.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$25.0K£18.5K
$9,019COP 28.4M
177.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cheltenham
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103£76.5
$85.6COP 269.1K
20.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.4£37.23
$58.5COP 183.8K
-13.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$110£81.6
$136COP 428.4K
-19.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.7£73.7
$103COP 324.1K
-3.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cheltenham
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,201£888
$1,060COP 3.3M
13.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$931£688
$680COP 2.1M
37.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,248£1,662
$2,012COP 6.3M
11.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,639£1,212
$1,169COP 3.7M
40.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,902£4,363
$4,111COP 12.9M
43.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,719£4,227
$1,701COP 5.3M
236.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cheltenham
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,877£3,605
$665COP 2.1M
633.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.54
10.94
-49.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cheltenham: August 29, 2026
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,201 in Cheltenham and $1,060 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cheltenham pays 633% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $106 in Cheltenham vs $48.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $298 vs $303, with Cheltenham cheaper for home cooking.
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
Cheltenham vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Cheltenham?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 37% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cheltenham or Medellin?
Average pay runs 633% higher in Cheltenham, 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 Cheltenham and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,201 in Cheltenham versus $1,060 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Cheltenham or in Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $48.00 versus $106 in Cheltenham. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Cheltenham and in Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $2,346 per month in Cheltenham versus $1,716 in Medellin – a 37% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Cheltenham or in Medellin?
At $1,716 in Medellin versus $2,346 in Cheltenham, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Cheltenham. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cheltenham or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cheltenham, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cheltenham or Medellin?
Safety-wise, Cheltenham 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 37% less than in Cheltenham. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Cheltenham vs other spots: cost of living compared