😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,546 in Freeport versus $1,716 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,074 in Freeport versus $2,527 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,602 in Freeport versus $3,338 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Freeport is roughly 48% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Freeport85% above, Medellin25% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Freeport
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$46.85BSD 46.85
$8.03COP 25.3K
483.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102BSD 102
$48.26COP 152.0K
110.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.28BSD 12.28
$9.77COP 30.8K
25.69%
Cappuccino
$6.85BSD 6.85
$2.91COP 9,167
135.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09BSD 3.09
$1.94COP 6,122
59.28%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85BSD 2.85
$1.52COP 4,792
87.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.80BSD 4.80
$3.09COP 9,740
55.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.81BSD 6.81
$5.74COP 18.1K
18.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Freeport
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.50BSD 2.50
$1.36COP 4,296
83.82%
White Bread(500g)
$3.24BSD 3.24
$2.39COP 7,519
35.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$6.70BSD 6.70
$1.70COP 5,356
294.12%
Eggs
$10.10BSD 10.10
$2.87COP 9,038
251.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.54BSD 12.54
$9.94COP 31.3K
26.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$10.78COP 34.0K
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$14.73COP 46.4K
-
Apples(1kg)
-
$4.09COP 12.9K
-
Banana(1kg)
$4.29BSD 4.29
$1.57COP 4,950
173.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$13.02BSD 13.02
$2.13COP 6,695
511.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$11.04BSD 11.04
$2.21COP 6,972
399.55%
Potato(1kg)
-
$2.05COP 6,447
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$1.50COP 4,737
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$4.94BSD 4.94
$1.19COP 3,747
315.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$3.46BSD 3.46
$1.16COP 3,647
198.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.01BSD 15.01
$3.90COP 12.3K
284.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.32BSD 20.32
$14.44COP 45.5K
40.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.58COP 4,987
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.83COP 8,905
-
🚌 Getting Around
Freeport
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.17COP 3,679
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$77.7COP 244.8K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.28COP 4,045
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$2.09COP 6,589
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$8.62COP 27.1K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54BSD 1.54
$1.30COP 4,088
18.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$27.7KCOP 87.1M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5KBSD 35.5K
$35.5KCOP 111.8M
0.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Freeport
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$348BSD 348
$176COP 554.5K
97.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.8BSD 63.8
$13.37COP 42.1K
377.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.3BSD 74.3
$29.89COP 94.1K
148.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Freeport
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$63.2BSD 63.2
$44.76COP 141.0K
41.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$50.8BSD 50.8
$17.06COP 53.7K
198.01%
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.20COP 19.5K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Freeport
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$630BSD 630
$793COP 2.5M
-20.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,528BSD 8,528
$9,019COP 28.4M
-5.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Freeport
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.87BSD 49.87
$85.6COP 269.6K
-41.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$58.5COP 184.1K
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.5BSD 89.5
$136COP 429.3K
-34.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.4BSD 60.4
$103COP 324.7K
-41.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Freeport
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$983BSD 983
$1,060COP 3.3M
-7.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$911BSD 911
$680COP 2.1M
34.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,219BSD 2,219
$2,012COP 6.3M
10.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,988BSD 1,988
$1,169COP 3.7M
70.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,111COP 12.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,701COP 5.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Freeport
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$665COP 2.1M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
15
10.94
37.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Freeport: August 29, 2026
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $983 in Freeport and $1,060 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $102 in Freeport vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $397 vs $303 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
Freeport vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Freeport and in Medellin?
Freeport and Medellin differ by about 48% in total monthly costs ($2,546 vs $1,716 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Freeport compared to Medellin?
You'd need roughly $3,818 in Freeport and $2,574 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Freeport and in Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $983 in Freeport versus $1,060 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Freeport and Medellin?
Childcare runs $630 in Freeport versus $793 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $48.00 versus $102 in Freeport. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $1,716 in Medellin versus $2,546 in Freeport, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Freeport. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Freeport 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.
Where should expats move: Freeport or Medellin?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 48% less than in Freeport. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.