😐A single person spends $3,064 per month in Croydon vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,071 per month in Croydon vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,077 per month in Croydon vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Croydon costs about 206% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Croydon sits 130% above the global median, while Medellin is 25% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Croydon
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.13£11.96
$5.91COP 18.6K
172.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.9£49.64
$32.96COP 103.9K
103.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.35£6.93
$7.43COP 23.4K
25.84%
Cappuccino
$5.01£3.72
$1.65COP 5,211
203.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39£1.78
$1.10COP 3,471
117.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40£1.04
$0.78COP 2,460
79.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.80£5.04
$1.72COP 5,416
295.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.45£4.04
$3.18COP 10.0K
71.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Croydon
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.92£1.43
$1.10COP 3,477
74.55%
White Bread(500g)
$1.53£1.14
$1.26COP 3,965
21.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.64£1.96
$1.38COP 4,353
91.30%
Eggs
$3.71£2.75
$2.18COP 6,864
70.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.32£5.43
$4.49COP 14.2K
63.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.11£6.02
$5.79COP 18.3K
40.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.00£11.12
$8.97COP 28.3K
67.22%
Apples(1kg)
$2.30£1.71
$2.32COP 7,314
-0.86%
Banana(1kg)
$1.35£1.00
$1.06COP 3,355
27.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.21£2.38
$1.52COP 4,778
111.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.91£1.42
$1.36COP 4,273
40.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38£1.03
$1.13COP 3,555
22.12%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17£0.87
$1.17COP 3,692
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55£1.15
$0.90COP 2,840
72.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.55£1.15
$0.90COP 2,826
72.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$20.53£15.23
$2.23COP 7,039
820.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.68£7.18
$12.12COP 38.2K
-20.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.39£1.77
$1.19COP 3,746
100.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15£2.34
$2.48COP 7,822
27.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Croydon
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.34£1.74
$0.85COP 2,690
175.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$121£89.8
$41.62COP 131.1K
190.73%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.71£4.98
$1.42COP 4,462
372.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19£1.62
$1.95COP 6,146
12.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$54.6£40.49
$7.89COP 24.8K
591.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.94£1.44
$0.99COP 3,121
95.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K£28.8K
$17.6KCOP 55.5M
120.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.9K£29.6K
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
48.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Croydon
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$364£270
$83.0COP 261.6K
338.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.55£12.28
$9.70COP 30.6K
70.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.42£32.95
$23.52COP 74.1K
88.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Croydon
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.72£26.50
$25.26COP 79.6K
41.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.33£9.88
$19.10COP 60.2K
-30.21%
Cinema Ticket
$11.56£8.57
$3.95COP 12.4K
192.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Croydon
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,577£1,170
$316COP 995.1K
399.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.0K£13.3K
$5,975COP 18.8M
201.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Croydon
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.5£53.0
$60.0COP 189.1K
19.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.0£37.09
$31.82COP 100.3K
57.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.2£61.0
$102COP 320.4K
-19.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$162£120
$107COP 338.6K
50.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Croydon
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,052£1,522
$475COP 1.5M
331.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,652£1,225
$374COP 1.2M
341.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,687£1,993
$849COP 2.7M
216.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,357£1,748
$719COP 2.3M
227.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,697£6,450
$3,265COP 10.3M
166.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,893£5,113
$1,441COP 4.5M
378.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Croydon
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,454£3,303
$624COP 2.0M
613.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.08
13.43
-54.73%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Croydon: July 28, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $2,052 in Croydon versus $475 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 613% higher in Croydon, 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 $67.0 in Croydon versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $278 vs $193 – 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
Croydon vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Croydon?
Yes – Croydon is pricier by about 206%, 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 $4,596 per month in Croydon and $1,504 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.
What are total monthly expenses in Croydon and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,064 in Croydon and $1,003 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 191% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Croydon or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Croydon at $3,064. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Croydon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Croydon 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 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, Croydon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.