🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $196 in Lelydorp versus $1,681 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $401 in Lelydorp versus $2,445 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $605 in Lelydorp versus $3,210 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Lelydorp costs roughly 88% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lelydorp is 86% below, Medellin is 23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lelydorp
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.04SRD 190
$8.02COP 25.0K
-37.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.69SRD 1,307
$47.87COP 149.4K
-27.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.98SRD 225
$9.89COP 30.8K
-39.53%
Cappuccino
-
$3.13COP 9,767
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29SRD 48.48
$1.91COP 5,954
-32.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47SRD 17.61
$1.51COP 4,712
-68.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.05SRD 77.4
$3.12COP 9,747
-34.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95SRD 111
$5.75COP 17.9K
-48.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lelydorp
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18SRD 44.42
$1.44COP 4,509
-18.06%
White Bread(500g)
$1.02SRD 38.40
$2.49COP 7,759
-59.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18SRD 44.63
$1.77COP 5,535
-33.33%
Eggs
$2.88SRD 108
$2.96COP 9,235
-2.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$10.07COP 31.4K
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.10SRD 155
$10.12COP 31.6K
-59.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.15SRD 307
$14.30COP 44.6K
-43.01%
Apples(1kg)
-
$4.14COP 12.9K
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.52SRD 57.3
$1.61COP 5,019
-5.59%
Oranges(1kg)
-
$2.25COP 7,007
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$2.25COP 7,028
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.01SRD 38.07
$2.04COP 6,375
-50.49%
Onion(1kg)
$1.02SRD 38.58
$1.54COP 4,790
-33.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$1.17COP 3,651
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83SRD 31.19
$1.31COP 4,077
-36.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$3.90COP 12.2K
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$14.01COP 43.7K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98SRD 74.6
$1.74COP 5,439
13.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.87COP 8,956
-
🚌 Getting Around
Lelydorp
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52SRD 19.70
$1.22COP 3,792
-57.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$80.5COP 251.1K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.31COP 4,084
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$2.19COP 6,825
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$8.71COP 27.2K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.93SRD 35.16
$1.37COP 4,260
-32.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lelydorp
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$177COP 553.2K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$13.88COP 43.3K
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$29.72COP 92.8K
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lelydorp
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$44.88COP 140.1K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.12COP 53.4K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.65COP 20.7K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lelydorp
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$813COP 2.5M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$9,187COP 28.7M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lelydorp
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$89.5COP 279.3K
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$59.0COP 184.0K
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$138COP 431.2K
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$102COP 318.7K
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lelydorp
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,062COP 3.3M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$663COP 2.1M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,888COP 5.9M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,027COP 3.2M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,183COP 13.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,675COP 5.2M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lelydorp
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$302SRD 11.4K
$678COP 2.1M
-55.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17
10.94
55.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lelydorp: September 14, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Medellin pays 124% 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: $35.00 in Lelydorp vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $117 vs $305 per month, with Lelydorp 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
Lelydorp vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lelydorp or Medellin?
Lelydorp wins on cost – living expenses run 758% 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 in Medellin?
On paper, salaries run 124% lower in Medellin. 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 $196 per month in Lelydorp versus $1,681 in Medellin – a 758% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Are groceries more expensive in Lelydorp or in Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 160% 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 in Medellin?
At $196 in Lelydorp versus $1,681 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 – similar infrastructure at $196 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 – expenses run 758% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.