😐A single person spends $4,005 per month in London vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $5,688 per month in London vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $7,371 per month in London vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.
😐London costs about 287% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊London sits 199% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
London
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.10£20.08
$5.92COP 21.4K
357.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$109£80.6
$32.75COP 118.2K
232.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.05£8.19
$7.20COP 26.0K
53.47%
Cappuccino
$5.16£3.83
$1.70COP 6,140
203.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73£2.02
$1.10COP 3,966
148.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86£1.38
$0.72COP 2,605
158.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.88£6.58
$1.67COP 6,022
431.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.15£6.04
$3.10COP 11.2K
162.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
London
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.75£1.30
$1.06COP 3,809
65.09%
White Bread(500g)
$2.19£1.62
$1.25COP 4,497
75.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.58£1.91
$1.39COP 5,022
85.61%
Eggs
$4.84£3.59
$2.26COP 8,168
114.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.16£8.27
$4.33COP 15.6K
157.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.03£6.69
$5.84COP 21.1K
54.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.73£10.92
$8.83COP 31.9K
66.82%
Apples(1kg)
$3.43£2.54
$2.24COP 8,099
53.12%
Banana(1kg)
$1.94£1.44
$1.08COP 3,882
79.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.10£2.29
$1.53COP 5,522
102.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.45£2.56
$1.37COP 4,950
151.82%
Potato(1kg)
$1.74£1.29
$1.13COP 4,078
53.98%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85£1.37
$1.12COP 4,036
65.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39£1.03
$0.85COP 3,057
63.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.98£1.47
$0.91COP 3,281
117.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$23.08£17.10
$2.33COP 8,414
890.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.32£9.87
$11.13COP 40.2K
19.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.30£2.45
$1.19COP 4,309
177.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.02£2.98
$2.37COP 8,553
69.62%
🚌 Getting Around
London
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.84£2.85
$0.79COP 2,838
386.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$246£182
$41.13COP 148.5K
498.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.85£4.33
$1.44COP 5,184
306.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.34£2.47
$1.91COP 6,901
74.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$40.12£29.73
$8.02COP 28.9K
400.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.90£1.41
$0.94COP 3,385
102.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.9K£28.9K
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
117.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.6K£28.6K
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
44.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
London
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$318£236
$84.0COP 303.1K
279.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.99£14.81
$9.60COP 34.7K
108.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.42£32.17
$24.16COP 87.2K
79.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
London
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$64.6£47.85
$25.88COP 93.4K
149.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.02£17.06
$19.04COP 68.7K
20.90%
Cinema Ticket
$20.17£14.94
$3.92COP 14.1K
414.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
London
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,552£1,891
$306COP 1.1M
733.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$27.9K£20.7K
$5,919COP 21.4M
371.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
London
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$119£88.3
$57.9COP 209.1K
105.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.4£37.33
$31.82COP 114.9K
58.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$127£94.0
$99.9COP 360.6K
26.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$159£118
$107COP 386.8K
48.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
London
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,034£2,249
$487COP 1.8M
523.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,294£1,700
$368COP 1.3M
523.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$5,634£4,175
$826COP 3.0M
582.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,693£2,737
$716COP 2.6M
415.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$19.2K£14.2K
$2,925COP 10.6M
555.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$10.5K£7,791
$1,407COP 5.1M
647.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
London
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,023£3,722
$546COP 2.0M
820.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.05
13.43
-62.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for London: April 27, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $3,034 in London versus $487 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 821% higher in London, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $109 in London versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $340 vs $190 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
London vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in London and Medellin compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $4,005 in London, $1,034 in Medellin – roughly 287% apart. London costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in London compared to Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,007 per month in London and $1,550 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between London and Medellin?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 79% more in London, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $109 in London and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,034, than in London at $4,005. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in London it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between London and Medellin?
It depends on your priorities. London has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,034 in Medellin to $4,005 in London. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between London and Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, London makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.