😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,681 in Medellin versus $1,257 in Belišće.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,445 in Medellin versus $1,869 in Belišće.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,210 in Medellin versus $2,481 in Belišće.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 34% more expensive than in Belišće, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, Belišće is 8% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Belišće
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.0K
$6.88€6.00
16.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 149.4K
$40.11€34.97
19.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 30.8K
$7.11€6.19
39.10%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,767
$1.81€1.58
72.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 5,954
$2.35€2.04
-18.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,712
$1.75€1.53
-13.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,747
$2.36€2.05
32.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 17.9K
$2.26€1.97
154.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Belišće
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,509
$0.88€0.76
63.64%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,759
$0.66€0.58
277.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,535
$2.91€2.54
-39.18%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,235
$3.55€3.09
-16.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.4K
$12.00€10.46
-16.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.6K
$8.91€7.76
13.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 44.6K
$12.10€10.55
18.18%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 12.9K
$1.15€1.00
260.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,019
$1.35€1.18
19.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,007
$1.92€1.68
17.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,028
$2.77€2.41
-18.77%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,375
$1.29€1.13
58.14%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,790
$1.23€1.07
25.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,651
$1.21€1.06
-3.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,077
$1.23€1.07
6.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$6.04€5.27
-35.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.7K
$8.08€7.05
73.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,439
$1.19€1.04
46.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 8,956
$2.04€1.78
40.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Belišće
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,792
$1.53€1.33
-20.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 251.1K
$40.33€35.16
99.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,084
$2.36€2.05
-44.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,825
$0.56€0.49
291.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.2K
$14.97€13.05
-41.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,260
$1.73€1.51
-20.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
$26.8K€23.3K
4.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
$25.3K€22.0K
41.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Belišće
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 553.2K
$121€106
46.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.3K
$18.03€15.71
-23.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 92.8K
$26.54€23.13
11.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Belišće
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 140.1K
$26.17€22.81
71.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 53.4K
$15.36€13.39
11.46%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.7K
$5.05€4.41
31.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Belišće
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.5M
$409€356
98.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 28.7M
$4,430€3,862
107.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Belišće
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 279.3K
$108€93.8
-16.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 184.0K
$39.75€34.65
48.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 431.2K
$46.03€40.13
200.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 318.7K
$58.6€51.0
74.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Belišće
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
$191€166
457.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$541€472
22.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 5.9M
$340€297
455.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
$851€742
20.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.1M
$4,253€3,707
-1.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.2M
$1,206€1,052
38.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Belišće
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.1M
$1,866€1,626
-63.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
3.2
241.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Belišće: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,062 in Medellin and $191 in Belišće. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Belišće pays 175% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $40.00 in Belišće for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $305 vs $246 per month, with Belišće 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 Belišće: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and in Belišće?
Medellin and Belišće differ by about 34% in total monthly costs ($1,681 vs $1,257 including rent). Belišće is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 175% lower in Belišće. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and in Belišće?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,062 in Medellin versus $191 in Belišće. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Medellin and Belišće?
Childcare runs $813 in Medellin versus $409 in Belišće. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 24% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,257 in Belišće versus $1,681 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Belišće but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Belišće the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Belišće?
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 Belišće safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Belišće 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 Belišće?
Expats usually find Belišće gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.