😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,681 in Medellin versus $630 in Albion.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,445 in Medellin versus $1,585 in Albion.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,210 in Medellin versus $2,539 in Albion.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 167% more expensive than in Albion, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, Albion is 54% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Albion
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.0K
$5.91MUR 279
35.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 149.4K
$38.39MUR 1,810
24.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 30.8K
$6.46MUR 305
53.10%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,767
$1.51MUR 71.2
107.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 5,954
$1.13MUR 53.3
69.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,712
$0.66MUR 31.26
128.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,747
$2.03MUR 95.8
53.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 17.9K
$2.69MUR 127
113.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Albion
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,509
$1.48MUR 69.8
-2.70%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,759
$0.52MUR 24.47
378.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,535
$1.10MUR 51.8
60.91%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,235
$2.45MUR 116
20.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.4K
$5.36MUR 252
87.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.6K
$5.26MUR 248
92.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 44.6K
$8.27MUR 390
72.91%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 12.9K
$1.57MUR 74.2
163.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,019
$1.39MUR 65.4
15.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,007
$1.45MUR 68.4
55.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,028
$1.94MUR 91.5
15.98%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,375
$0.82MUR 38.57
148.78%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,790
$0.66MUR 30.98
133.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,651
$0.66MUR 31.27
77.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,077
$0.31MUR 14.40
322.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$6.01MUR 283
-35.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.7K
$8.22MUR 388
70.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,439
$1.70MUR 80.4
2.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 8,956
$2.34MUR 110
22.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Albion
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,792
$1.04MUR 49.15
17.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 251.1K
$42.07MUR 1,983
91.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,084
$4.25MUR 200
-69.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,825
$3.19MUR 151
-31.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.2K
$21.60MUR 1,018
-59.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,260
$1.28MUR 60.3
7.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
$36.6KMUR 1.7M
-23.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
$31.0KMUR 1.5M
15.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Albion
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 553.2K
$45.47MUR 2,143
289.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.3K
$10.52MUR 496
31.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 92.8K
$29.25MUR 1,379
1.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Albion
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 140.1K
$67.4MUR 3,177
-33.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 53.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.7K
$6.18MUR 291
7.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Albion
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.5M
$128MUR 6,054
532.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 28.7M
$7,776MUR 366.5K
18.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Albion
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 279.3K
$53.0MUR 2,497
68.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 184.0K
$43.17MUR 2,034
36.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 431.2K
$73.3MUR 3,452
88.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 318.7K
$76.5MUR 3,606
33.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Albion
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 5.9M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
$1,072MUR 50.5K
-4.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.2M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Albion
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
6.67
64.02%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Albion: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $38.00 in Albion for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $305 vs $173 per month, with Albion 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 167% in total monthly costs ($1,681 vs $630 including rent). Albion 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 $2,521 in Medellin and $945 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 commuting costs compare in Medellin and in Albion?
A monthly transit pass in Albion runs roughly 91% less than in Medellin. 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 $813 in Medellin versus $128 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 $2,000 per month?
At $630 in Albion versus $1,681 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Albion but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Albion 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 Albion gentler on the wallet – expenses run 167% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.