😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,244 in Greenville, NC versus $1,031 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,965 in Greenville, NC versus $1,599 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,686 in Greenville, NC versus $2,167 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Greenville, NC is roughly 118% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Greenville, NC is 68% above, Medellin is 23% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Greenville, NC
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.18$10.18
$6.16COP 20.1K
65.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.8$75.8
$32.60COP 106.1K
132.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.85$9.85
$7.34COP 23.9K
34.20%
Cappuccino
$5.06$5.06
$1.72COP 5,599
194.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10$2.10
$1.05COP 3,420
100.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07$1.07
$0.77COP 2,515
38.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.42$3.42
$1.69COP 5,487
102.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.33$4.33
$3.17COP 10.3K
36.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Greenville, NC
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.92$0.92
$1.05COP 3,423
-12.38%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90$1.90
$1.30COP 4,236
46.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.52$5.52
$1.40COP 4,544
294.29%
Eggs
$3.63$3.63
$2.16COP 7,046
68.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.48$4.48
$4.39COP 14.3K
2.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.27$5.27
$5.88COP 19.1K
-10.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.66$15.66
$8.64COP 28.1K
81.25%
Apples(1kg)
$2.52$2.52
$2.28COP 7,425
10.53%
Banana(1kg)
$1.09$1.09
$1.11COP 3,603
-1.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.85$2.85
$1.53COP 4,982
86.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.28$4.28
$1.35COP 4,410
217.04%
Potato(1kg)
$2.33$2.33
$1.13COP 3,674
106.19%
Onion(1kg)
$3.23$3.23
$1.13COP 3,692
185.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.70$1.70
$0.85COP 2,753
100.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.52$1.52
$0.91COP 2,975
67.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.60$7.60
$2.34COP 7,629
224.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.13$12.13
$12.37COP 40.3K
-1.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78$1.78
$1.20COP 3,909
48.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11$2.11
$2.49COP 8,104
-15.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Greenville, NC
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.02$2.02
$0.84COP 2,727
140.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$40.57COP 132.1K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.74$4.74
$1.42COP 4,623
233.80%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59$1.59
$1.92COP 6,235
-17.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.90$19.90
$7.66COP 24.9K
159.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85$0.85
$0.99COP 3,223
-14.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K$27.2K
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
50.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K$22.5K
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
-15.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Greenville, NC
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$163$163
$80.8COP 263.1K
101.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.49$47.49
$9.95COP 32.4K
377.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.0$67.0
$24.18COP 78.7K
177.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Greenville, NC
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.63$42.63
$25.08COP 81.6K
69.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.15COP 62.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.06$12.06
$3.98COP 13.0K
203.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Greenville, NC
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,204$1,204
$305COP 993.4K
294.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K$15.8K
$6,059COP 19.7M
160.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Greenville, NC
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.77$44.77
$58.1COP 189.2K
-22.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.72$46.72
$32.20COP 104.8K
45.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$71.3$71.3
$101COP 327.9K
-29.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104$104
$108COP 350.8K
-3.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Greenville, NC
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,414$1,414
$477COP 1.6M
196.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,250$1,250
$376COP 1.2M
232.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,115$2,115
$845COP 2.7M
150.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,524$1,524
$730COP 2.4M
108.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,716$1,716
$3,215COP 10.5M
-46.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,741$1,741
$1,372COP 4.5M
26.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Greenville, NC
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,404$3,404
$617COP 2.0M
451.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.53
13.43
-51.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Greenville, NC: July 12, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,414 in Greenville, NC and $477 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Greenville, NC pays 452% 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: $76.0 in Greenville, NC vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $279 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
Greenville, NC vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Greenville, NC or Medellin?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 118% lower than in Greenville, NC. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Greenville, NC or in Medellin?
Average pay runs 452% higher in Greenville, NC, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Greenville, NC compared to Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,414 in Greenville, NC versus $477 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Greenville, NC or in Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 45% higher in Greenville, NC. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Greenville, NC compared to Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $2,244 per month in Greenville, NC versus $1,031 in Medellin – a 118% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Greenville, NC or in Medellin?
At $1,031 in Medellin versus $2,244 in Greenville, NC, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Greenville, NC. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Greenville, NC or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,031 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 118% less than in Greenville, NC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Greenville, NC vs other spots: cost of living compared