😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,386 in Exeter versus $1,003 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,893 in Exeter versus $1,573 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,400 in Exeter versus $2,143 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Exeter is roughly 138% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Exeter is 79% above, Medellin is 25% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Exeter
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.34£15.08
$5.91COP 18.6K
244.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$88.1£65.3
$32.96COP 103.9K
167.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.30£7.64
$7.43COP 23.4K
38.63%
Cappuccino
$4.46£3.31
$1.65COP 5,212
170.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14£2.33
$1.10COP 3,472
185.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69£1.25
$0.78COP 2,461
116.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.56£5.60
$1.72COP 5,417
339.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.94£4.41
$3.18COP 10.0K
86.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Exeter
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68£1.25
$1.10COP 3,478
52.73%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90£1.41
$1.26COP 3,966
50.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.67£1.24
$1.38COP 4,354
21.01%
Eggs
$4.72£3.50
$2.18COP 6,866
116.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.22£6.09
$4.49COP 14.2K
83.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.91£5.12
$5.79COP 18.3K
19.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.20£14.23
$8.97COP 28.3K
114.05%
Apples(1kg)
$2.42£1.80
$2.32COP 7,315
4.31%
Banana(1kg)
$1.28£0.95
$1.06COP 3,356
20.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.32£1.72
$1.52COP 4,779
52.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.09£2.29
$1.36COP 4,274
127.21%
Potato(1kg)
$1.14£0.85
$1.13COP 3,555
0.88%
Onion(1kg)
$1.32£0.98
$1.17COP 3,692
12.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99£0.73
$0.90COP 2,841
10.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.46£1.08
$0.90COP 2,826
62.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$21.94£16.27
$2.23COP 7,041
883.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.54£7.07
$12.12COP 38.2K
-21.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.69£1.99
$1.19COP 3,747
126.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53£1.88
$2.48COP 7,823
2.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Exeter
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.68£1.98
$0.85COP 2,690
215.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$106£78.9
$41.62COP 131.2K
155.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.65£4.93
$1.42COP 4,463
368.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.72£1.27
$1.95COP 6,147
-11.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.98£16.30
$7.89COP 24.9K
178.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.94£1.44
$0.99COP 3,122
95.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.9K£28.8K
$17.6KCOP 55.5M
120.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.1K£29.0K
$26.8KCOP 84.5M
45.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Exeter
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$335£249
$83.0COP 261.6K
304.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.41£12.17
$9.70COP 30.6K
69.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.34£33.62
$23.52COP 74.1K
92.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Exeter
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.84£29.54
$25.26COP 79.6K
57.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.43£10.70
$19.10COP 60.2K
-24.45%
Cinema Ticket
$12.37£9.17
$3.95COP 12.4K
213.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Exeter
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,495£1,109
$316COP 995.3K
373.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$20.9K£15.5K
$5,975COP 18.8M
250.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Exeter
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.0£56.3
$60.0COP 189.1K
26.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.52£25.60
$31.82COP 100.3K
8.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103£76.7
$102COP 320.4K
1.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109£80.7
$107COP 338.7K
1.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Exeter
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,336£991
$475COP 1.5M
181.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$995£738
$374COP 1.2M
166.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,588£1,919
$849COP 2.7M
204.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,454£1,819
$719COP 2.3M
241.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,424£4,022
$3,265COP 10.3M
66.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,446£4,780
$1,441COP 4.5M
347.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Exeter
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,124£2,317
$624COP 2.0M
400.35%
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: July 28, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,336 in Exeter and $475 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Exeter pays 400% 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: $88.0 in Exeter vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $193 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 in Medellin?
Exeter and Medellin differ by about 138% in total monthly costs ($2,386 vs $1,003 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?
Average pay runs 400% higher in Exeter, 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 in Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,336 in Exeter versus $475 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 $88.0 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 $2,386 per month in Exeter versus $1,003 in Medellin – a 138% 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 $1,003 in Medellin versus $2,386 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 138% less than in Exeter. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.