πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $203 in Lelydorp versus $1,017 in Medellin.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $404 in Lelydorp versus $1,602 in Medellin.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $606 in Lelydorp versus $2,188 in Medellin.
πLiving in Lelydorp costs roughly 80% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Lelydorp85% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Lelydorp
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.98SRDΒ 185
$5.95COPΒ 20.8K
-16.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.32SRDΒ 1,313
$33.33COPΒ 116.3K
5.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.86SRDΒ 218
$7.23COPΒ 25.2K
-18.95%
Cappuccino
-
$1.63COPΒ 5,687
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23SRDΒ 45.59
$1.09COPΒ 3,821
12.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47SRDΒ 17.55
$0.73COPΒ 2,548
-35.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.98SRDΒ 73.8
$1.74COPΒ 6,065
13.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08SRDΒ 114
$3.23COPΒ 11.3K
-4.64%
π Groceries & Markets
Lelydorp
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.22SRDΒ 45.30
$1.05COPΒ 3,662
16.19%
White Bread(500g)
$1.02SRDΒ 38.05
$1.29COPΒ 4,515
-20.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.22SRDΒ 45.38
$1.32COPΒ 4,617
-7.58%
Eggs
$2.78SRDΒ 104
$2.27COPΒ 7,927
22.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$4.35COPΒ 15.2K
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.89SRDΒ 144
$5.88COPΒ 20.5K
-33.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.95SRDΒ 296
$8.61COPΒ 30.0K
-7.67%
Apples(1kg)
-
$2.25COPΒ 7,844
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.53SRDΒ 56.8
$1.07COPΒ 3,733
42.99%
Oranges(1kg)
-
$1.52COPΒ 5,322
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$1.42COPΒ 4,964
-
Potato(1kg)
$0.98SRDΒ 36.28
$1.17COPΒ 4,084
-16.24%
Onion(1kg)
$0.97SRDΒ 36.23
$1.17COPΒ 4,077
-17.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$0.89COPΒ 3,096
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82SRDΒ 30.61
$0.90COPΒ 3,146
-8.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$2.25COPΒ 7,837
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$11.04COPΒ 38.5K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04SRDΒ 75.9
$1.14COPΒ 3,977
78.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.38COPΒ 8,301
-
π Getting Around
Lelydorp
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.49SRDΒ 18.21
$0.84COPΒ 2,916
-41.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.95COPΒ 146.4K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.41COPΒ 4,912
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.90COPΒ 6,634
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$7.75COPΒ 27.0K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.93SRDΒ 34.54
$1.01COPΒ 3,509
-7.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$17.6KCOPΒ 61.4M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$26.5KCOPΒ 92.5M
-
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lelydorp
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$83.7COPΒ 292.1K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$9.45COPΒ 33.0K
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$24.11COPΒ 84.1K
-
π Sport & Entertainment
Lelydorp
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$25.31COPΒ 88.3K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.14COPΒ 66.8K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.10COPΒ 14.3K
-
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Lelydorp
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$312COPΒ 1.1M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,993COPΒ 20.9M
-
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Lelydorp
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$58.0COPΒ 202.6K
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$32.56COPΒ 113.6K
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$99.6COPΒ 347.7K
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$109COPΒ 378.8K
-
π Accommodation & Living
Lelydorp
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$482COPΒ 1.7M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$379COPΒ 1.3M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$837COPΒ 2.9M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$723COPΒ 2.5M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,840COPΒ 9.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,223COPΒ 4.3M
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Lelydorp
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$302SRDΒ 11.2K
$541COPΒ 1.9M
-44.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17
13.43
26.58%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lelydorp: June 8, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π°Medellin pays 79% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $35.00 in Lelydorp vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $116 vs $190, with Lelydorp 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
Lelydorp vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lelydorp or Medellin?
Lelydorp wins on cost β living expenses run 401% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lelydorp the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lelydorp or Medellin?
On paper, Medellin earns 79% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does it cost to live in Lelydorp compared to Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $203 per month in Lelydorp versus $1,017 in Medellin β a 401% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Are groceries more expensive in Lelydorp or Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 64% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Lelydorp or Medellin?
At $203 in Lelydorp versus $1,017 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Lelydorp but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Lelydorp the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lelydorp or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lelydorp delivers better value β similar infrastructure at $203 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lelydorp hard to pass up.
How safe is Lelydorp compared to Medellin?
Safety-wise, Lelydorp 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Lelydorp gentler on the wallet β expenses run 401% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.