😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,149 in Grand Bay versus $1,031 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,332 in Grand Bay versus $1,599 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,515 in Grand Bay versus $2,167 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Grand Bay is roughly 11% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Grand Bay14% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Grand Bay
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.10MUR 381
$6.16COP 20.1K
31.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.4MUR 2,368
$32.60COP 106.1K
54.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.42MUR 302
$7.34COP 23.9K
-12.53%
Cappuccino
$2.55MUR 120
$1.72COP 5,600
48.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95MUR 44.68
$1.05COP 3,420
-9.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55MUR 25.95
$0.77COP 2,515
-28.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.24MUR 152
$1.69COP 5,488
91.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26MUR 153
$3.17COP 10.3K
2.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Grand Bay
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28MUR 60.4
$1.05COP 3,423
21.90%
White Bread(500g)
$0.65MUR 30.64
$1.30COP 4,236
-50.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.33MUR 62.6
$1.40COP 4,544
-5.00%
Eggs
$2.27MUR 107
$2.16COP 7,047
5.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$33.41MUR 1,570
$4.39COP 14.3K
661.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.31MUR 297
$5.88COP 19.1K
7.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.99MUR 1,033
$8.64COP 28.1K
154.51%
Apples(1kg)
$1.78MUR 83.5
$2.28COP 7,426
-21.93%
Banana(1kg)
$1.93MUR 90.5
$1.11COP 3,604
73.87%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.45MUR 68.2
$1.53COP 4,983
-5.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.72MUR 128
$1.35COP 4,410
101.48%
Potato(1kg)
$1.00MUR 46.86
$1.13COP 3,674
-11.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.00MUR 46.83
$1.13COP 3,692
-11.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.80MUR 37.44
$0.85COP 2,753
-5.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43MUR 20.25
$0.91COP 2,975
-52.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.51MUR 306
$2.34COP 7,630
178.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.26MUR 388
$12.37COP 40.3K
-33.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MUR 80.5
$1.20COP 3,909
42.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61MUR 75.7
$2.49COP 8,104
-35.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Grand Bay
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.09MUR 51.0
$0.84COP 2,728
29.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$40.57COP 132.1K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.49MUR 211
$1.42COP 4,623
216.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.70MUR 127
$1.92COP 6,235
40.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.14MUR 946
$7.66COP 24.9K
162.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.41MUR 66.4
$0.99COP 3,223
42.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5KMUR 1.7M
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
96.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.5KMUR 1.3M
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
7.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Grand Bay
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$50.1MUR 2,353
$80.8COP 263.1K
-38.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.43MUR 725
$9.95COP 32.4K
55.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.51MUR 1,480
$24.18COP 78.7K
30.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Grand Bay
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.5MUR 2,844
$25.08COP 81.7K
141.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.15COP 62.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.90MUR 277
$3.98COP 13.0K
48.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Grand Bay
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$154MUR 7,242
$305COP 993.5K
-49.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,053MUR 378.3K
$6,059COP 19.7M
32.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Grand Bay
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.0MUR 2,539
$58.1COP 189.2K
-7.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$77.8MUR 3,655
$32.20COP 104.8K
141.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116MUR 5,457
$101COP 327.9K
15.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.1MUR 3,902
$108COP 350.8K
-22.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Grand Bay
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$634MUR 29.8K
$477COP 1.6M
33.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$359MUR 16.9K
$376COP 1.2M
-4.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,295MUR 60.8K
$845COP 2.7M
53.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,519MUR 71.4K
$730COP 2.4M
108.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,215COP 10.5M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,372COP 4.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Grand Bay
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,319MUR 61.9K
$617COP 2.0M
113.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.5
13.43
-51.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Grand Bay: July 11, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $634 in Grand Bay and $477 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Grand Bay pays 114% 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: $50.0 in Grand Bay vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $313 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
Grand Bay vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Grand Bay?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Grand Bay or Medellin?
Average pay runs 114% higher in Grand Bay, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Grand Bay and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $634 in Grand Bay versus $477 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $154 in Grand Bay versus $305 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Grand Bay or in Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $50.0 in Grand Bay. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Grand Bay or in Medellin?
At $1,031 in Medellin versus $1,149 in Grand Bay, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Grand Bay. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Grand Bay or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Grand Bay, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Grand Bay or Medellin?
Safety-wise, Grand Bay 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Grand Bay. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.