😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,264 in Lisburn versus $1,031 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,414 in Lisburn versus $1,599 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,565 in Lisburn versus $2,167 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Lisburn is roughly 120% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisburn is 69% above, Medellin is 23% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisburn
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.19£18.75
$6.16COP 20.1K
308.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.5£63.7
$32.60COP 106.1K
162.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.86£6.59
$7.34COP 23.9K
20.71%
Cappuccino
$4.81£3.58
$1.72COP 5,599
179.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01£1.50
$1.05COP 3,420
91.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81£1.35
$0.77COP 2,515
135.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.20£6.10
$1.69COP 5,487
385.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.15£5.32
$3.17COP 10.3K
125.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisburn
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.85£1.38
$1.05COP 3,423
76.19%
White Bread(500g)
$2.24£1.67
$1.30COP 4,236
72.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.18£3.11
$1.40COP 4,544
198.57%
Eggs
$4.00£2.98
$2.16COP 7,046
85.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.87£7.35
$4.39COP 14.3K
124.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.91£6.63
$5.88COP 19.1K
51.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.96£10.39
$8.64COP 28.1K
61.57%
Apples(1kg)
$3.14£2.34
$2.28COP 7,425
37.72%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59£1.18
$1.11COP 3,603
43.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.83£2.11
$1.53COP 4,982
84.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.52£2.62
$1.35COP 4,410
160.74%
Potato(1kg)
$1.69£1.26
$1.13COP 3,674
49.56%
Onion(1kg)
$1.49£1.11
$1.13COP 3,692
31.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07£0.80
$0.85COP 2,753
25.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.50£1.12
$0.91COP 2,975
64.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$18.76£13.96
$2.34COP 7,629
701.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.07£8.24
$12.37COP 40.3K
-10.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.80£2.08
$1.20COP 3,909
133.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22£2.39
$2.49COP 8,104
29.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisburn
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.36£2.50
$0.84COP 2,727
300.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$90.3£67.2
$40.57COP 132.1K
122.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.27£3.92
$1.42COP 4,623
271.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59£1.19
$1.92COP 6,235
-17.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.75£16.94
$7.66COP 24.9K
197.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.42£1.80
$0.99COP 3,223
144.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2K£28.4K
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
111.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.9K£31.2K
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
57.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisburn
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$296£220
$80.8COP 263.1K
266.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.00£12.65
$9.95COP 32.4K
70.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.31£32.24
$24.18COP 78.7K
79.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisburn
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.32£34.49
$25.08COP 81.6K
84.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.15COP 62.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.52£10.07
$3.98COP 13.0K
239.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisburn
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,614£1,202
$305COP 993.4K
428.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.3K£13.7K
$6,059COP 19.7M
202.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisburn
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.1£62.6
$58.1COP 189.2K
44.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.74£31.82
$32.20COP 104.8K
32.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.3£69.5
$101COP 327.9K
-7.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100£74.7
$108COP 350.8K
-6.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisburn
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,208£900
$477COP 1.6M
153.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$908£676
$376COP 1.2M
141.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,005£1,493
$845COP 2.7M
137.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,711£1,274
$730COP 2.4M
134.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,437£3,303
$3,215COP 10.5M
37.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,372COP 4.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisburn
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$617COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.63
13.43
-58.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisburn: July 12, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,208 in Lisburn and $477 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $86.0 in Lisburn vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $317 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
Lisburn vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisburn or Medellin?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 120% lower than in Lisburn. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Lisburn and in Medellin?
You'd need roughly $3,396 in Lisburn and $1,546 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lisburn compared to Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,208 in Lisburn versus $477 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Lisburn and in Medellin?
Childcare runs $1,614 in Lisburn versus $305 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Lisburn or in Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 64% higher in Lisburn. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Lisburn or in Medellin?
At $1,031 in Medellin versus $2,264 in Lisburn, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Lisburn. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisburn 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.
How safe is Lisburn compared to Medellin?
Safety-wise, Lisburn 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 Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 120% less than in Lisburn. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.