Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Belvaux Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Belvaux
Monthly Cost of Living
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,034 in Medellin versus $1,337 in Belvaux.
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,577 in Medellin versus $788 in Belvaux.
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,120 in Medellin versus $239 in Belvaux.
Living in Medellin costs roughly 23% less than in Belvaux, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% below, Belvaux is 0% above.
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Belvaux
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92 COP 21.4K
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75 COP 118.2K
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.20 COP 26.0K
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.70 COP 6,140
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,966
-
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 COP 2,605
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.67 COP 6,022
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 COP 11.2K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Belvaux
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 COP 3,809
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 COP 4,497
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 COP 5,022
-
-
Eggs
$2.26 COP 8,168
-
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.33 COP 15.6K
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.84 COP 21.1K
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.83 COP 31.9K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COP 8,099
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 COP 3,882
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 5,522
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,950
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 4,078
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,036
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 3,057
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 3,281
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33 COP 8,414
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$11.13 COP 40.2K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 4,309
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 8,553
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Belvaux
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,838
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.13 COP 148.5K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 COP 5,184
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,901
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.02 COP 28.9K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 COP 3,385
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COP 64.7M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 96.7M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Belvaux
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.0 COP 303.1K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60 COP 34.7K
$35.04 €29.99
-72.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16 COP 87.2K
$91.1 €78.0
-73.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Belvaux
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.88 COP 93.4K
$40.04 €34.28
-35.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04 COP 68.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.92 COP 14.1K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Belvaux
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COP 1.1M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,919 COP 21.4M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Belvaux
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 209.1K
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 114.9K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.9 COP 360.6K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 386.8K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Belvaux
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$487 COP 1.8M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$368 COP 1.3M
$1,172 €1,003
-68.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$826 COP 3.0M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 COP 2.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,925 COP 10.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,407 COP 5.1M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Belvaux
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$546 COP 2.0M
$6,095 €5,218
-91.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Last update for Belvaux: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
Belvaux pays 1017% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
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 Belvaux: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Belvaux?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 29% lower than in Belvaux. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or Belvaux?
On paper, Belvaux earns 1017% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Medellin or Belvaux?
At $1,034 in Medellin versus $1,337 in Belvaux, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Belvaux. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Belvaux?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,034 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
How safe is Medellin compared to Belvaux?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Belvaux 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Belvaux. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Medellin vs other spots: cost of living compared
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,034
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,227
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,034
/mo nomad
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,484
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,034
/mo nomad
Johannesburg
🇿🇦 South Africa
$1,141
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,034
/mo nomad
Bogota
🇨🇴 Colombia
$951
/mo nomad
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