😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,377 in Exeter versus $1,028 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,895 in Exeter versus $1,586 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,414 in Exeter versus $2,144 in Medellin.
😐Living in Exeter is roughly 131% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Exeter is 78% above, Medellin is 23% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Exeter
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.56£15.32
$6.00COP 20.6K
242.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.9£64.8
$32.84COP 112.5K
164.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.09£7.51
$7.42COP 25.4K
35.98%
Cappuccino
$4.42£3.29
$1.65COP 5,659
167.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05£2.27
$1.07COP 3,663
185.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74£1.30
$0.76COP 2,607
128.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.52£5.60
$1.72COP 5,908
337.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.97£4.45
$3.20COP 11.0K
86.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Exeter
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.78£1.33
$1.05COP 3,597
69.52%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90£1.42
$1.31COP 4,479
45.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.72£1.28
$1.34COP 4,591
28.36%
Eggs
$4.88£3.64
$2.19COP 7,521
122.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28£6.16
$4.41COP 15.1K
87.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.79£5.05
$5.69COP 19.5K
19.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.18£14.29
$8.52COP 29.2K
125.12%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34£1.74
$2.34COP 8,023
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.24£0.92
$1.11COP 3,804
11.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.31£1.72
$1.52COP 5,210
51.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.15£2.35
$1.37COP 4,680
129.93%
Potato(1kg)
$1.09£0.81
$1.15COP 3,950
-5.22%
Onion(1kg)
$1.29£0.96
$1.18COP 4,043
9.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.05£0.78
$0.84COP 2,885
25.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40£1.04
$0.86COP 2,931
62.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$21.57£16.07
$2.26COP 7,753
854.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.65£7.19
$11.60COP 39.8K
-16.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.66£1.98
$1.20COP 4,109
121.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59£1.93
$2.48COP 8,484
4.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Exeter
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.78£2.07
$0.79COP 2,721
251.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$105£78.5
$40.83COP 139.9K
158.02%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.75£5.02
$1.47COP 5,023
359.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.64£1.22
$1.92COP 6,568
-14.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.97£16.37
$7.77COP 26.6K
182.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.98£1.47
$1.01COP 3,464
96.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7K£28.8K
$17.7KCOP 60.5M
119.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.8K£28.9K
$26.5KCOP 90.7M
46.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Exeter
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$346£258
$81.1COP 277.9K
326.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.03£11.94
$9.43COP 32.3K
69.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.36£33.79
$23.86COP 81.8K
90.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Exeter
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.65£29.53
$25.99COP 89.1K
52.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.29£10.64
$18.71COP 64.1K
-23.62%
Cinema Ticket
$12.00£8.94
$4.09COP 14.0K
193.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Exeter
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,499£1,116
$315COP 1.1M
376.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$21.1K£15.8K
$6,022COP 20.6M
251.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Exeter
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.6£57.1
$59.7COP 204.6K
28.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.22£25.49
$31.97COP 109.6K
7.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102£75.9
$101COP 346.9K
0.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112£83.1
$105COP 360.3K
6.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Exeter
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,343£1,000
$485COP 1.7M
176.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$998£744
$365COP 1.3M
173.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,533£1,886
$827COP 2.8M
206.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,455£1,828
$730COP 2.5M
236.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,365£3,996
$2,992COP 10.3M
79.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,696£4,987
$1,314COP 4.5M
409.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Exeter
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,070£2,287
$551COP 1.9M
457.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.72
13.43
-57.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Exeter: June 13, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,343 in Exeter and $485 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Exeter pays 457% 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: $87.0 in Exeter vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 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
Exeter vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Exeter and Medellin?
Exeter and Medellin differ by about 131% in total monthly costs ($2,377 vs $1,028 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Exeter or Medellin?
Exeter pays 457% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Exeter and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,343 in Exeter versus $485 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $87.0 in Exeter. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Exeter or Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $2,377 per month in Exeter versus $1,028 in Medellin – a 131% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,028 in Medellin versus $2,377 in Exeter, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Exeter. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Exeter and Medellin?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Exeter or Medellin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Exeter 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.
Where should expats move: Exeter or Medellin?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 131% less than in Exeter. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.