πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,034 in Medellin versus $1,864 in Bangor.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,577 in Medellin versus $2,948 in Bangor.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,120 in Medellin versus $4,033 in Bangor.
πLiving in Medellin costs roughly 45% less than in Bangor, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% below, Bangor is 39% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Bangor
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COPΒ 21.4K
$24.42Β£18.10
-75.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COPΒ 118.2K
$84.4Β£62.5
-61.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COPΒ 26.0K
$10.01Β£7.42
-28.07%
Cappuccino
$1.70COPΒ 6,140
$4.32Β£3.20
-60.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,966
$2.02Β£1.50
-45.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COPΒ 2,605
$1.97Β£1.46
-63.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COPΒ 6,022
$6.63Β£4.91
-74.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COPΒ 11.2K
$7.37Β£5.46
-57.94%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Bangor
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COPΒ 3,809
$1.94Β£1.44
-45.36%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COPΒ 4,497
$2.26Β£1.67
-44.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COPΒ 5,022
$2.28Β£1.69
-39.04%
Eggs
$2.26COPΒ 8,168
$3.81Β£2.82
-40.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COPΒ 15.6K
$10.09Β£7.48
-57.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COPΒ 21.1K
$10.85Β£8.04
-46.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COPΒ 31.9K
$13.94Β£10.33
-36.66%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COPΒ 8,099
$3.02Β£2.24
-25.83%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COPΒ 3,882
$1.65Β£1.22
-34.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COPΒ 5,522
$2.94Β£2.18
-47.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COPΒ 4,950
$3.57Β£2.64
-61.62%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COPΒ 4,078
$1.62Β£1.20
-30.25%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COPΒ 4,036
$1.53Β£1.13
-26.80%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COPΒ 3,057
$1.07Β£0.79
-20.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COPΒ 3,281
$1.48Β£1.09
-38.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COPΒ 8,414
$19.37Β£14.35
-87.97%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COPΒ 40.2K
$9.34Β£6.92
19.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COPΒ 4,309
$2.79Β£2.07
-57.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COPΒ 8,553
$3.08Β£2.28
-23.05%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Bangor
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COPΒ 2,838
$4.16Β£3.08
-81.01%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COPΒ 148.5K
$90.2Β£66.9
-54.42%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COPΒ 5,184
$4.68Β£3.47
-69.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COPΒ 6,901
$1.89Β£1.40
1.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COPΒ 28.9K
$23.24Β£17.22
-65.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COPΒ 3,385
$1.99Β£1.48
-52.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOPΒ 64.7M
$38.2KΒ£28.3K
-53.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOPΒ 96.7M
$41.6KΒ£30.8K
-35.55%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Bangor
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COPΒ 303.1K
$300Β£222
-71.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COPΒ 34.7K
$24.11Β£17.87
-60.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COPΒ 87.2K
$40.15Β£29.75
-39.83%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Bangor
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COPΒ 93.4K
$44.87Β£33.25
-42.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COPΒ 68.7K
$20.76Β£15.38
-8.29%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COPΒ 14.1K
$10.90Β£8.08
-64.04%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Bangor
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COPΒ 1.1M
$1,610Β£1,193
-80.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COPΒ 21.4M
$18.1KΒ£13.4K
-67.25%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Bangor
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COPΒ 209.1K
$82.6Β£61.2
-29.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COPΒ 114.9K
$43.29Β£32.08
-26.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COPΒ 360.6K
$105Β£77.9
-4.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COPΒ 386.8K
$123Β£91.1
-12.87%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Bangor
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COPΒ 1.8M
$601Β£445
-18.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COPΒ 1.3M
$502Β£372
-26.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COPΒ 3.0M
$1,280Β£948
-35.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COPΒ 2.6M
$1,107Β£820
-35.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COPΒ 10.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COPΒ 5.1M
-
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Bangor
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COPΒ 2.0M
$2,441Β£1,809
-77.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
5.5
144.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Last update for Bangor: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $487 in Medellin and $601 in Bangor. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Bangor pays 347% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $84.0 in Bangor for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $316 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 Bangor: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bangor cheaper than Medellin?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 80% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Bangor?
On paper, Bangor earns 347% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Bangor?
Rent for a central apartment: $487 in Medellin versus $601 in Bangor. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or Bangor?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin β a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $84.0 in Bangor. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Bangor?
All in, you'll spend $1,034 per month in Medellin versus $1,864 in Bangor β a 80% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Bangor?
At $1,034 in Medellin versus $1,864 in Bangor, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Bangor. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Bangor more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Bangor, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Bangor?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Bangor are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet β expenses run 80% less than in Bangor. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.