Cost of Living Comparison Between Long Island, NY and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Long Island, NY and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,552 per month in Long Island, NY vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,146 per month in Long Island, NY vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,739 per month in Long Island, NY vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Long Island, NY costs about 254% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Long Island, NY sits 167% above the global median, while Medellin is 25% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.91 $19.91

$5.91 COP 18.9K

236.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.2 $99.2

$32.96 COP 105.2K

200.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.36 $13.36

$7.43 COP 23.7K

79.81%

Cappuccino

$4.69 $4.69

$1.65 COP 5,276

184.24%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.10 COP 3,514

122.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$0.78 COP 2,491

120.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.83 $6.83

$1.72 COP 5,484

297.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.80 $7.80

$3.18 COP 10.1K

145.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.10 COP 3,521

9.09%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$1.26 COP 4,015

195.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.01 $5.01

$1.38 COP 4,407

263.04%

Eggs

$4.71 $4.71

$2.18 COP 6,950

116.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.37 $17.37

$4.49 COP 14.3K

286.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.94 $11.94

$5.79 COP 18.5K

106.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.63 $15.63

$8.97 COP 28.6K

74.25%

Apples (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$2.32 COP 7,405

108.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.06 COP 3,397

61.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.03 $4.03

$1.52 COP 4,838

165.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.09 $4.09

$1.36 COP 4,327

200.74%

Potato (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.13 COP 3,599

142.48%

Onion (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$1.17 COP 3,738

235.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$0.90 COP 2,876

146.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$0.90 COP 2,861

158.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.20 $12.20

$2.23 COP 7,128

447.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.30 $15.30

$12.12 COP 38.7K

26.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$1.19 COP 3,793

47.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 $3.96

$2.48 COP 7,920

59.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.88 $2.88

$0.85 COP 2,723

238.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$129 $129

$41.62 COP 132.8K

209.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.07 $3.07

$1.42 COP 4,518

116.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.95 COP 6,223

4.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.37 $24.37

$7.89 COP 25.2K

208.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$0.99 COP 3,160

-11.11%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$23.6K $23.6K

$17.6K COP 56.2M

34.02%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.5K $24.5K

$26.8K COP 85.5M

-8.54%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$127 $127

$83.0 COP 264.9K

53.16%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$45.45 $45.45

$9.70 COP 30.9K

368.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.6 $60.6

$23.52 COP 75.0K

157.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.68 $33.68

$25.26 COP 80.6K

33.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.9K

Cinema Ticket

$13.12 $13.12

$3.95 COP 12.6K

232.15%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,288 $2,288

$316 COP 1.0M

624.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.0K $24.0K

$5,975 COP 19.1M

302.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.43 $39.43

$60.0 COP 191.4K

-34.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.3 $63.3

$31.82 COP 101.5K

98.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.7 $73.7

$102 COP 324.4K

-27.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 $130

$107 COP 342.8K

21.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,298 $2,298

$475 COP 1.5M

383.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,224 $2,224

$374 COP 1.2M

494.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,021 $4,021

$849 COP 2.7M

373.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,494 $3,494

$719 COP 2.3M

385.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,249 $4,249

$3,265 COP 10.4M

30.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,271 $4,271

$1,441 COP 4.6M

196.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,059 $5,059

$624 COP 2.0M

710.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

13.43

-52.05%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Long Island, NY: July 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,298 in Long Island, NY versus $475 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 710% higher in Long Island, NY, 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 $99.0 in Long Island, NY versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $418 vs $193 – 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

Long Island, NY vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,552 in Long Island, NY, $1,003 in Medellin – roughly 254% apart. Long Island, NY costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,329 per month in Long Island, NY and $1,504 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $2,288 per month in Long Island, NY and $316 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 116% more in Long Island, NY, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Long Island, NY at $3,552. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Long Island, NY it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Long Island, NY has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,003 in Medellin to $3,552 in Long Island, NY. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Long Island, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.