🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,188 in Grand Bay versus $1,681 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,272 in Grand Bay versus $2,445 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,356 in Grand Bay versus $3,210 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Grand Bay costs roughly 29% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Grand Bay is 13% below, Medellin is 23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Grand Bay
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.01MUR 283
$8.02COP 25.0K
-25.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.0MUR 2,971
$47.87COP 149.4K
31.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.18MUR 339
$9.89COP 30.8K
-27.40%
Cappuccino
$2.72MUR 128
$3.13COP 9,767
-13.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MUR 53.3
$1.91COP 5,954
-40.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65MUR 30.72
$1.51COP 4,712
-56.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.61MUR 123
$3.12COP 9,747
-16.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69MUR 221
$5.75COP 17.9K
-18.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Grand Bay
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.35MUR 63.6
$1.44COP 4,509
-6.25%
White Bread(500g)
$0.73MUR 34.64
$2.49COP 7,759
-70.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.11MUR 52.5
$1.77COP 5,535
-37.29%
Eggs
$2.45MUR 115
$2.96COP 9,235
-17.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.77MUR 979
$10.07COP 31.4K
106.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.20MUR 292
$10.12COP 31.6K
-38.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.47MUR 1,012
$14.30COP 44.6K
50.14%
Apples(1kg)
$1.95MUR 91.9
$4.14COP 12.9K
-52.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.98MUR 93.5
$1.61COP 5,019
22.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.44MUR 67.8
$2.25COP 7,007
-36.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.87MUR 135
$2.25COP 7,028
27.56%
Potato(1kg)
$1.00MUR 47.00
$2.04COP 6,375
-50.98%
Onion(1kg)
$1.03MUR 48.31
$1.54COP 4,790
-33.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.70MUR 32.82
$1.17COP 3,651
-40.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52MUR 24.71
$1.31COP 4,077
-60.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.37MUR 300
$3.90COP 12.2K
63.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.70MUR 410
$14.01COP 43.7K
-37.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70MUR 80.0
$1.74COP 5,439
-2.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99MUR 93.7
$2.87COP 8,956
-30.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Grand Bay
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.05MUR 49.31
$1.22COP 3,792
-13.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$80.5COP 251.1K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.28MUR 202
$1.31COP 4,084
226.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.54MUR 120
$2.19COP 6,825
15.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.41MUR 1,009
$8.71COP 27.2K
145.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.40MUR 65.8
$1.37COP 4,260
2.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5KMUR 1.6M
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
23.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.9KMUR 1.7M
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
3.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Grand Bay
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$45.57MUR 2,148
$177COP 553.2K
-74.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.76MUR 743
$13.88COP 43.3K
13.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.56MUR 1,393
$29.72COP 92.8K
-0.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Grand Bay
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0MUR 2,734
$44.88COP 140.1K
29.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.12COP 53.4K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.22MUR 293
$6.65COP 20.7K
-6.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Grand Bay
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$126MUR 5,932
$813COP 2.5M
-84.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,665MUR 361.2K
$9,187COP 28.7M
-16.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Grand Bay
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5MUR 2,804
$89.5COP 279.3K
-33.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.4MUR 2,988
$59.0COP 184.0K
7.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108MUR 5,097
$138COP 431.2K
-21.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.4MUR 4,118
$102COP 318.7K
-14.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Grand Bay
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$592MUR 27.9K
$1,062COP 3.3M
-44.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$442MUR 20.8K
$663COP 2.1M
-33.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,066MUR 97.4K
$1,888COP 5.9M
9.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,514MUR 71.4K
$1,027COP 3.2M
47.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,183COP 13.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,675COP 5.2M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Grand Bay
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,284MUR 60.5K
$678COP 2.1M
89.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6
10.94
-45.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Grand Bay: September 13, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $592 in Grand Bay and $1,062 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Grand Bay pays 89% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Grand Bay vs $48.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $279 vs $305, with Grand Bay cheaper for home cooking.
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?
Grand Bay is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around. The 41% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Grand Bay or Medellin?
Average pay runs 89% 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: $592 in Grand Bay versus $1,062 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $126 in Grand Bay versus $813 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 Grand Bay – a meal for two runs $63.0 versus $48.00 in Medellin. 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 $1,188 in Grand Bay versus $1,681 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Grand Bay but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Grand Bay the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Grand Bay or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Grand Bay is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, 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 Grand Bay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.