😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,162 in Grand Bay versus $1,013 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,277 in Grand Bay versus $1,602 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,391 in Grand Bay versus $2,192 in Medellin.
😐Living in Grand Bay is roughly 15% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Grand Bay13% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Grand Bay
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.11MUR 383
$5.99COP 21.4K
35.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.3MUR 2,376
$32.86COP 117.4K
53.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.44MUR 304
$7.09COP 25.3K
-9.17%
Cappuccino
$2.54MUR 120
$1.71COP 6,115
48.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96MUR 45.13
$1.10COP 3,924
-12.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57MUR 26.90
$0.78COP 2,781
-26.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.38MUR 160
$1.68COP 5,997
101.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37MUR 159
$3.07COP 11.0K
9.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Grand Bay
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.33MUR 62.6
$1.09COP 3,906
22.02%
White Bread(500g)
$0.67MUR 31.53
$1.26COP 4,508
-46.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.28MUR 60.5
$1.38COP 4,922
-7.25%
Eggs
$2.31MUR 109
$2.19COP 7,827
5.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$33.34MUR 1,575
$4.40COP 15.7K
657.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.05MUR 286
$5.63COP 20.1K
7.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.92MUR 1,036
$8.89COP 31.8K
146.57%
Apples(1kg)
$1.72MUR 81.2
$2.34COP 8,349
-26.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.96MUR 92.7
$1.06COP 3,777
84.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.44MUR 67.9
$1.50COP 5,374
-4.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76MUR 130
$1.38COP 4,924
100.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.03MUR 48.72
$1.15COP 4,111
-10.43%
Onion(1kg)
$0.93MUR 44.17
$1.16COP 4,155
-19.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.84MUR 39.57
$0.89COP 3,182
-5.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47MUR 21.97
$0.84COP 2,997
-44.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.51MUR 308
$2.28COP 8,145
185.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.37MUR 396
$10.64COP 38.0K
-21.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MUR 80.8
$1.20COP 4,284
42.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61MUR 75.9
$2.47COP 8,824
-34.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Grand Bay
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.04MUR 49.06
$0.86COP 3,056
20.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.40COP 147.9K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.30MUR 203
$1.47COP 5,264
192.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.64MUR 125
$1.96COP 7,009
34.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.73MUR 932
$7.74COP 27.6K
154.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.40MUR 66.3
$0.95COP 3,409
47.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.7KMUR 1.7M
$18.1KCOP 64.7M
96.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.2KMUR 1.4M
$26.5KCOP 94.6M
10.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Grand Bay
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$49.27MUR 2,328
$82.3COP 293.7K
-40.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.34MUR 725
$9.50COP 33.9K
61.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.04MUR 1,467
$24.23COP 86.5K
28.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Grand Bay
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.7MUR 2,867
$25.89COP 92.4K
134.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.00COP 67.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.92MUR 280
$3.93COP 14.0K
50.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Grand Bay
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$152MUR 7,201
$309COP 1.1M
-50.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,065MUR 381.1K
$5,965COP 21.3M
35.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Grand Bay
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.9MUR 2,642
$58.7COP 209.5K
-4.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$78.3MUR 3,702
$32.35COP 115.5K
142.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$119MUR 5,623
$103COP 366.4K
15.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.4MUR 3,987
$108COP 387.2K
-22.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Grand Bay
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$618MUR 29.2K
$476COP 1.7M
29.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$355MUR 16.8K
$379COP 1.4M
-6.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,317MUR 62.2K
$838COP 3.0M
57.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,537MUR 72.6K
$724COP 2.6M
112.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,791COP 10.0M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,211COP 4.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Grand Bay
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,296MUR 61.2K
$512COP 1.8M
153.18%
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $618 in Grand Bay and $476 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Grand Bay pays 153% 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 $188 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 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Grand Bay or Medellin?
Grand Bay pays 153% more on average, 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: $618 in Grand Bay versus $476 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $152 in Grand Bay versus $309 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 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 Grand Bay or Medellin?
At $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,162 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 15% less than in Grand Bay. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.