Cost of Living Comparison Between Geel and MedellinCost of Living Comparison Between Geel and Medellin
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,078 in Geel versus $1,003 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,944 in Geel versus $1,573 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,810 in Geel versus $2,143 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Geel is roughly 107% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Geel is 56% above, Medellin is 25% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Geel
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.15€14.95
$5.91COP 18.9K
190.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.0€55.8
$32.96COP 105.2K
94.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.18€9.75
$7.43COP 23.7K
50.47%
Cappuccino
$3.83€3.34
$1.65COP 5,276
132.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84€2.48
$1.10COP 3,514
158.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82€2.46
$0.78COP 2,491
261.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.75€4.14
$1.72COP 5,484
176.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.51€3.06
$3.18COP 10.1K
10.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Geel
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.50€1.30
$1.10COP 3,521
36.36%
White Bread(500g)
$2.87€2.51
$1.26COP 4,015
127.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.84€2.47
$1.38COP 4,407
105.80%
Eggs
$4.98€4.34
$2.18COP 6,950
128.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.46€14.35
$4.49COP 14.3K
266.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.72€11.96
$5.79COP 18.5K
136.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.52€16.14
$8.97COP 28.6K
106.47%
Apples(1kg)
$3.00€2.62
$2.32COP 7,405
29.31%
Banana(1kg)
$2.44€2.13
$1.06COP 3,397
130.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.68€2.33
$1.52COP 4,838
76.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.14€2.74
$1.36COP 4,327
130.88%
Potato(1kg)
$2.62€2.28
$1.13COP 3,599
131.86%
Onion(1kg)
$2.45€2.14
$1.17COP 3,738
109.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.70€1.48
$0.90COP 2,876
88.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77€0.67
$0.90COP 2,861
-14.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.51€10.91
$2.23COP 7,128
460.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.15€7.98
$12.12COP 38.7K
-24.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.59€2.26
$1.19COP 3,793
117.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23€2.81
$2.48COP 7,920
30.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Geel
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.84€2.47
$0.85COP 2,723
234.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$56.7€49.45
$41.62COP 132.8K
36.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.39€6.45
$1.42COP 4,518
420.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40€2.10
$1.95COP 6,223
23.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.22€29.83
$7.89COP 25.2K
333.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.86€1.62
$0.99COP 3,160
87.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K€21.4K
$17.6KCOP 56.2M
39.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.4K€31.7K
$26.8KCOP 85.5M
35.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Geel
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$176€154
$83.0COP 264.9K
112.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.40€18.65
$9.70COP 30.9K
120.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.3€49.08
$23.52COP 75.0K
139.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Geel
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.07€34.93
$25.26COP 80.6K
58.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.02€14.84
$19.10COP 60.9K
-10.89%
Cinema Ticket
$15.30€13.34
$3.95COP 12.6K
287.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Geel
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$624€544
$316COP 1.0M
97.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.5K€11.7K
$5,975COP 19.1M
125.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Geel
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€91.4
$60.0COP 191.4K
74.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.91€42.64
$31.82COP 101.5K
53.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115€100
$102COP 324.4K
12.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$153€134
$107COP 342.8K
42.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Geel
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$928€809
$475COP 1.5M
95.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$808€704
$374COP 1.2M
115.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,112€970
$849COP 2.7M
30.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$966€842
$719COP 2.3M
34.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,995€3,483
$3,265COP 10.4M
22.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,371€2,939
$1,441COP 4.6M
134.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Geel
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,473€2,156
$624COP 2.0M
296.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3
13.43
-77.66%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Geel: July 27, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $928 in Geel and $475 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Geel pays 296% 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: $64.0 in Geel vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $371 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
Geel vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Geel and in Medellin?
Geel and Medellin differ by about 107% in total monthly costs ($2,078 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: Geel or Medellin?
Average pay runs 296% higher in Geel, 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 Geel and in Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $928 in Geel 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 $64.0 in Geel. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Geel or Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $2,078 per month in Geel versus $1,003 in Medellin – a 107% 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 $2,078 in Geel, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Geel. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Geel 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 Geel or Medellin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Geel 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: Geel or Medellin?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 107% less than in Geel. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.