🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,031 in Medellin versus $1,042 in Albion.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,599 in Medellin versus $1,867 in Albion.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,167 in Medellin versus $2,692 in Albion.
🌍Living in Medellin costs roughly 1% less than in Albion, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin23% lower, Albion22% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Albion
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 20.1K
$6.66MUR 313
-7.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 106.1K
$44.86MUR 2,107
-27.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.9K
$6.56MUR 308
11.89%
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,599
$1.53MUR 71.6
12.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,420
$1.00MUR 47.16
5.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,515
$0.60MUR 28.15
28.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,487
$2.01MUR 94.2
-15.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.3K
$2.61MUR 123
21.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Albion
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,423
$1.51MUR 70.8
-30.46%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,236
$0.53MUR 24.84
145.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,544
$1.31MUR 61.7
6.87%
Eggs
$2.16COP 7,046
$2.26MUR 106
-4.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.3K
$11.85MUR 557
-62.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 19.1K
$5.46MUR 256
7.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 28.1K
$8.38MUR 394
3.10%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,425
$1.60MUR 75.2
42.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,603
$1.37MUR 64.4
-18.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,982
$1.43MUR 67.2
6.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,410
$2.03MUR 95.4
-33.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,674
$0.89MUR 41.88
26.97%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,692
$0.64MUR 30.18
76.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,753
$0.65MUR 30.35
30.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,975
$0.32MUR 14.93
184.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,629
$6.23MUR 293
-62.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 40.3K
$7.99MUR 375
54.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,909
$1.79MUR 84.1
-32.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,104
$2.24MUR 105
11.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Albion
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,727
$1.12MUR 52.8
-25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 132.1K
$44.79MUR 2,104
-9.42%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,623
$4.45MUR 209
-68.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,235
$2.66MUR 125
-27.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.9K
$19.58MUR 920
-60.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,223
$1.44MUR 67.5
-31.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
$35.3KMUR 1.7M
-48.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
$29.4KMUR 1.4M
-9.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Albion
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8COP 263.1K
$49.88MUR 2,343
62.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.4K
$18.37MUR 863
-45.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 78.7K
$34.18MUR 1,605
-29.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Albion
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 81.6K
$71.7MUR 3,368
-65.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 62.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 13.0K
$6.13MUR 288
-35.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Albion
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 993.4K
$157MUR 7,377
94.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.7M
$4,017MUR 188.7K
50.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Albion
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 189.2K
$54.3MUR 2,548
7.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 104.8K
$43.73MUR 2,054
-26.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 327.9K
$77.8MUR 3,653
29.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 350.8K
$88.8MUR 4,169
21.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Albion
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.6M
$507MUR 23.8K
-6.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
$355MUR 16.7K
5.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
$964MUR 45.3K
-12.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.4M
$1,085MUR 50.9K
-32.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Albion
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
6.67
101.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Last update for Albion: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $477 in Medellin and $507 in Albion. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $45.00 in Albion for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $195 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
Medellin vs Albion: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and in Albion?
Medellin and Albion differ by about 1% in total monthly costs ($1,031 vs $1,042 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Albion?
You'd need roughly $1,546 in Medellin and $1,563 in Albion 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 do apartment prices compare in Medellin and in Albion?
Rent for a central apartment: $477 in Medellin versus $507 in Albion. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Medellin and in Albion?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 10% less than in Albion. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Medellin and Albion?
Childcare runs $305 in Medellin versus $157 in Albion. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,031 in Medellin versus $1,042 in Albion, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Albion. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Albion?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Medellin or Albion safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Albion are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Medellin or Albion?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Albion. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.