😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,542 in Ijmuiden versus $1,589 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,719 in Ijmuiden versus $2,364 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,897 in Ijmuiden versus $3,139 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Ijmuiden is roughly 60% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ijmuiden90% above, Medellin19% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ijmuiden
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.82€17.66
$8.01COP 25.6K
147.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.4€60.1
$46.55COP 149.1K
44.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.43€11.08
$9.43COP 30.2K
31.81%
Cappuccino
$4.52€4.03
$2.91COP 9,326
55.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.93€3.50
$1.75COP 5,614
124.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14€2.79
$1.32COP 4,241
137.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.33€2.97
$3.13COP 10.0K
6.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.23€4.66
$5.55COP 17.8K
-5.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ijmuiden
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.13
$1.41COP 4,519
-9.93%
White Bread(500g)
$2.53€2.25
$2.44COP 7,818
3.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.76€2.46
$1.63COP 5,218
69.33%
Eggs
$4.76€4.24
$2.82COP 9,038
68.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.89€13.27
$9.69COP 31.1K
53.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.01€12.48
$9.32COP 29.8K
50.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.07€14.32
$13.46COP 43.1K
19.39%
Apples(1kg)
$2.62€2.34
$4.00COP 12.8K
-34.50%
Banana(1kg)
$2.49€2.22
$1.48COP 4,744
68.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96€1.75
$2.12COP 6,804
-7.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.62€4.11
$2.25COP 7,216
105.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.90€1.70
$1.91COP 6,124
-0.52%
Onion(1kg)
$2.43€2.17
$1.62COP 5,188
50.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.35€1.21
$1.15COP 3,677
17.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80€0.71
$1.26COP 4,043
-36.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.35€12.79
$3.82COP 12.2K
275.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.67€5.94
$13.11COP 42.0K
-49.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.53€1.37
$1.60COP 5,110
-4.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68€2.39
$2.26COP 7,226
18.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Ijmuiden
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.55€3.17
$1.17COP 3,751
203.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$89.2€79.5
$75.0COP 240.3K
18.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.17€3.71
$1.27COP 4,077
228.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.27€2.92
$2.05COP 6,566
59.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.95€25.80
$8.20COP 26.3K
253.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.33€2.08
$1.27COP 4,067
83.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.4K€36.9K
$26.8KCOP 85.8M
54.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€35.0K
$34.4KCOP 110.2M
14.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ijmuiden
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$306€273
$162COP 519.6K
88.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.48€15.58
$13.12COP 42.0K
33.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.97€44.54
$28.09COP 90.0K
77.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ijmuiden
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.11€37.53
$44.33COP 142.0K
-5.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.88€21.28
$16.33COP 52.3K
46.23%
Cinema Ticket
$15.71€14.01
$6.09COP 19.5K
157.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ijmuiden
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,275€1,137
$764COP 2.4M
66.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.6K€10.3K
$8,904COP 28.5M
30.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ijmuiden
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.0€74.0
$85.0COP 272.2K
-2.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.07€34.83
$57.5COP 184.1K
-32.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115€102
$132COP 422.1K
-12.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129€115
$95.8COP 306.7K
34.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ijmuiden
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,446€1,289
$1,028COP 3.3M
40.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,159€1,033
$604COP 1.9M
91.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,392€2,132
$1,802COP 5.8M
32.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,950€1,738
$993COP 3.2M
96.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,508€4,910
$3,921COP 12.6M
40.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,473€3,987
$1,639COP 5.2M
172.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ijmuiden
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,329€3,859
$626COP 2.0M
591.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.5
10.94
-68.01%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ijmuiden: October 6, 2026
Last update for Medellin: October 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,446 in Ijmuiden and $1,028 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ijmuiden pays 591% 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: $67.0 in Ijmuiden vs $47.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $342 vs $288 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
Ijmuiden vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ijmuiden and in Medellin?
Ijmuiden and Medellin differ by about 60% in total monthly costs ($2,542 vs $1,589 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Ijmuiden or Medellin?
Average pay runs 591% higher in Ijmuiden, 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 Ijmuiden and in Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,446 in Ijmuiden versus $1,028 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 $47.00 versus $67.0 in Ijmuiden. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ijmuiden or Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $2,542 per month in Ijmuiden versus $1,589 in Medellin – a 60% 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 $1,589 in Medellin versus $2,542 in Ijmuiden, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Ijmuiden. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ijmuiden 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 Ijmuiden or Medellin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ijmuiden 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: Ijmuiden or Medellin?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 60% less than in Ijmuiden. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.