Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Al Bayda Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Al Bayda

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,716 in Medellin versus $10.16 in Al Bayda.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,527 in Medellin versus $16.00 in Al Bayda.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,338 in Medellin versus $21.12 in Al Bayda.

Living in Medellin is roughly 16791% more expensive than in Al Bayda, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 25% above, Al Bayda is 99% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.03 COP 25.1K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.26 COP 151.0K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.77 COP 30.6K

Cappuccino

$2.91 COP 9,107

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

$1.94 COP 6,082

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 COP 4,760

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 COP 9,676

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.74 COP 18.0K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 COP 4,267

White Bread (500g)

$2.39 COP 7,470

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 COP 5,321

$1.61 LYD 10.21

5.59%

Eggs

$2.87 COP 8,979

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.94 COP 31.1K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.78 COP 33.7K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.73 COP 46.1K

Apples (1kg)

$4.09 COP 12.8K

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 COP 4,917

Oranges (1kg)

$2.13 COP 6,651

Tomato (1kg)

$2.21 COP 6,926

$0.30 LYD 1.87

636.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 COP 6,404

$0.46 LYD 2.89

345.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 COP 4,706

$0.49 LYD 3.12

206.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 COP 3,723

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 COP 3,623

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.2K

Wine (Bottle)

$14.44 COP 45.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 COP 4,955

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 COP 8,847

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.17 COP 3,655

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.7 COP 243.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.28 COP 4,019

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.09 COP 6,546

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.62 COP 27.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 COP 4,061

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

$27.7K COP 86.5M

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

$35.5K COP 111.1M

$14.0K LYD 88.7K

153.56%

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

$176 COP 550.9K

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

$13.37 COP 41.8K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.89 COP 93.5K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.76 COP 140.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.06 COP 53.4K

Cinema Ticket

$6.20 COP 19.4K

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

$793 COP 2.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,019 COP 28.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.6 COP 267.8K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.5 COP 182.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$136 COP 426.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 COP 322.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,060 COP 3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 COP 2.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,012 COP 6.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,169 COP 3.7M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,111 COP 12.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,701 COP 5.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$665 COP 2.1M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

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

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Last update for Al Bayda: August 31, 2026

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

Medellin vs Al Bayda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al Bayda is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 16791% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $2,574 in Medellin and $15.24 in Al Bayda 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 2848% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,716 per month in Medellin versus $10.16 in Al Bayda – a 16791% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $10.16 in Al Bayda versus $1,716 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al Bayda but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Al Bayda the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Al Bayda is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Al Bayda gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16791% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.