Cost of Living Comparison Between Geel and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Geel and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,060 in Geel versus $1,034 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,912 in Geel versus $1,577 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,765 in Geel versus $2,120 in Medellin.

Living in Geel is roughly 99% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Geel is 54% above, Medellin is 23% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Geel
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.34 €14.84
$5.92 COP 21.4K
192.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9 €53.9
$32.75 COP 118.2K
92.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.21 €9.59
$7.20 COP 26.0K
55.69%
Cappuccino
$3.86 €3.30
$1.70 COP 6,140
127.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93 €2.51
$1.10 COP 3,966
166.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 €2.44
$0.72 COP 2,605
297.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.52 €3.87
$1.67 COP 6,022
170.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55 €3.04
$3.10 COP 11.2K
14.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Geel
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.48 €1.27
$1.06 COP 3,809
39.62%
White Bread (500g)
$3.00 €2.57
$1.25 COP 4,497
140.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.93 €2.50
$1.39 COP 5,022
110.79%
Eggs
$4.84 €4.15
$2.26 COP 8,168
114.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.31 €13.96
$4.33 COP 15.6K
276.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.63 €11.67
$5.84 COP 21.1K
133.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.93 €16.20
$8.83 COP 31.9K
114.38%
Apples (1kg)
$3.00 €2.57
$2.24 COP 8,099
33.93%
Banana (1kg)
$2.58 €2.21
$1.08 COP 3,882
138.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.77 €2.37
$1.53 COP 5,522
81.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.29 €2.82
$1.37 COP 4,950
140.15%
Potato (1kg)
$2.68 €2.29
$1.13 COP 4,078
137.17%
Onion (1kg)
$2.56 €2.19
$1.12 COP 4,036
128.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.71 €1.46
$0.85 COP 3,057
101.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 €0.65
$0.91 COP 3,281
-16.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.60 €10.79
$2.33 COP 8,414
440.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.27 €7.93
$11.13 COP 40.2K
-16.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.53 €2.17
$1.19 COP 4,309
112.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 €2.74
$2.37 COP 8,553
35.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Geel
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.97 €2.54
$0.79 COP 2,838
275.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$57.2 €48.92
$41.13 COP 148.5K
38.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.40 €6.33
$1.44 COP 5,184
413.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.44 €2.09
$1.91 COP 6,901
27.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.47 €29.51
$8.02 COP 28.9K
329.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.91 €1.63
$0.94 COP 3,385
103.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8K €21.2K
$17.9K COP 64.7M
38.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5K €30.4K
$26.8K COP 96.7M
32.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Geel
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 €151
$84.0 COP 303.1K
109.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.35 €18.27
$9.60 COP 34.7K
122.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.1 €48.05
$24.16 COP 87.2K
132.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Geel
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.08 €35.17
$25.88 COP 93.4K
58.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.26 €14.78
$19.04 COP 68.7K
-9.35%
Cinema Ticket
$15.18 €12.99
$3.92 COP 14.1K
287.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Geel
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$605 €518
$306 COP 1.1M
97.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.6K €11.6K
$5,919 COP 21.4M
129.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Geel
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$106 €90.6
$57.9 COP 209.1K
82.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.61 €42.47
$31.82 COP 114.9K
55.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$114 €97.6
$99.9 COP 360.6K
14.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$152 €130
$107 COP 386.8K
42.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Geel
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$933 €799
$487 COP 1.8M
91.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$815 €697
$368 COP 1.3M
121.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,119 €958
$826 COP 3.0M
35.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$969 €830
$716 COP 2.6M
35.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,601 €3,083
$2,925 COP 10.6M
23.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,465 €2,110
$1,407 COP 5.1M
75.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Geel
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,540 €2,174
$546 COP 2.0M
365.64%
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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $933 in Geel and $487 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Geel pays 366% 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: $63.0 in Geel vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 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
Geel vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Geel and Medellin?
Geel and Medellin differ by about 99% in total monthly costs ($2,060 vs $1,034 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?
Geel pays 366% 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 Geel and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $933 in Geel versus $487 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 $63.0 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 $2,060 per month in Geel versus $1,034 in Medellin – a 99% 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 $1,034 in Medellin versus $2,060 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 99% less than in Geel. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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