🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,681 in Medellin versus $2,616 in Belton, SC.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,445 in Medellin versus $3,773 in Belton, SC.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,210 in Medellin versus $4,931 in Belton, SC.
🌍Living in Medellin costs roughly 36% less than in Belton, SC, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medellin23% above, Belton, SC91% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Belton, SC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.0K
$19.88$19.88
-59.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 149.4K
$73.6$73.6
-34.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 30.8K
$11.39$11.39
-13.17%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,767
$5.39$5.39
-41.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 5,954
$2.73$2.73
-30.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,712
$1.99$1.99
-24.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,747
$6.06$6.06
-48.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 17.9K
$7.04$7.04
-18.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Belton, SC
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,509
$0.99$0.99
45.45%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,759
$3.45$3.45
-27.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,535
$4.47$4.47
-60.40%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,235
$4.26$4.26
-30.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.4K
$12.56$12.56
-19.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.6K
$11.35$11.35
-10.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 44.6K
$17.14$17.14
-16.57%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 12.9K
$5.00$5.00
-17.20%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,019
$1.64$1.64
-1.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,007
$4.46$4.46
-49.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,028
$4.80$4.80
-53.13%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,375
$2.73$2.73
-25.27%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,790
$3.01$3.01
-48.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,651
$2.12$2.12
-44.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,077
$2.29$2.29
-42.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$10.16$10.16
-61.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.7K
$14.86$14.86
-5.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,439
$1.78$1.78
-2.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 8,956
$3.28$3.28
-12.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Belton, SC
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,792
$2.27$2.27
-46.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 251.1K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,084
$2.74$2.74
-52.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,825
$1.53$1.53
43.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.2K
$31.60$31.60
-72.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,260
$0.87$0.87
57.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
$37.4K$37.4K
-25.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
$27.7K$27.7K
29.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Belton, SC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 553.2K
$202$202
-12.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.3K
$56.6$56.6
-75.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 92.8K
$68.8$68.8
-56.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Belton, SC
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 140.1K
$47.19$47.19
-4.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 53.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.7K
$12.16$12.16
-45.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Belton, SC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.5M
$1,552$1,552
-47.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 28.7M
$22.4K$22.4K
-59.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Belton, SC
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 279.3K
$52.8$52.8
69.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 184.0K
$41.74$41.74
41.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 431.2K
$86.3$86.3
60.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 318.7K
$114$114
-10.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Belton, SC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
$1,571$1,571
-32.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$1,297$1,297
-48.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 5.9M
$2,529$2,529
-25.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
$2,134$2,134
-51.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.1M
$2,811$2,811
48.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.2M
$2,606$2,606
-35.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Belton, SC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
6.12
78.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Belton, SC: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,062 in Medellin and $1,571 in Belton, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $74.0 in Belton, SC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $305 vs $397 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 Belton, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Belton, SC cheaper than Medellin?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 56% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,521 in Medellin and $3,924 in Belton, SC 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.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Belton, SC?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,062 in Medellin versus $1,571 in Belton, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Belton, SC?
Supermarket bills run roughly 30% higher in Belton, SC. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Belton, SC?
All in, you'll spend $1,681 per month in Medellin versus $2,616 in Belton, SC – a 56% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Belton, SC?
At $1,681 in Medellin versus $2,616 in Belton, SC, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Belton, SC. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Belton, SC more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Belton, SC, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Belton, SC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.