Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bethlehem Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bethlehem

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $1,630 in Bethlehem, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $2,493 in Bethlehem, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $3,356 in Bethlehem, rent included.

Medellin costs about 3% more than Bethlehem, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Bethlehem sit above the global median – Medellin by 23%, Bethlehem by 19%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.02 COP 25.3K

$11.32 ₪34.20

-29.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.87 COP 151.0K

$49.93 ₪151

-4.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 COP 31.2K

$13.97 ₪42.20

-29.21%

Cappuccino

$3.13 COP 9,873

$4.64 ₪14.00

-32.54%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 COP 6,019

$1.29 ₪3.89

48.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 COP 4,763

$0.96 ₪2.89

57.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 COP 9,853

$6.32 ₪19.08

-50.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 COP 18.1K

$7.99 ₪24.13

-28.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,558

$2.03 ₪6.13

-29.06%

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 COP 7,843

$0.88 ₪2.66

182.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 COP 5,595

$2.26 ₪6.81

-21.68%

Eggs

$2.96 COP 9,336

$2.66 ₪8.02

11.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 COP 31.8K

$10.77 ₪32.53

-6.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.12 COP 31.9K

$10.11 ₪30.53

0.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 COP 45.1K

$20.57 ₪62.1

-30.48%

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 COP 13.0K

$3.81 ₪11.52

8.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 COP 5,073

$2.08 ₪6.29

-22.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,083

$1.65 ₪4.99

36.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,104

$2.44 ₪7.38

-7.79%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 COP 6,444

$1.46 ₪4.40

39.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,842

$1.68 ₪5.07

-8.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 COP 3,691

$1.59 ₪4.82

-26.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 COP 4,121

$0.96 ₪2.90

36.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.3K

$10.20 ₪30.80

-61.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 44.2K

$14.88 ₪44.94

-5.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 COP 5,498

$2.23 ₪6.73

-21.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 COP 9,053

$2.34 ₪7.08

22.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 COP 3,834

$2.42 ₪7.32

-49.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 253.9K

$147 ₪444

-45.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,129

$3.31 ₪10.01

-60.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 COP 6,899

$3.30 ₪9.96

-33.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.5K

$3.23 ₪9.75

169.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 COP 4,306

$2.39 ₪7.23

-42.68%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.8K COP 87.8M

$40.6K ₪122.5K

-31.36%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$35.8K COP 112.8M

$48.7K ₪147.2K

-26.60%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$177 COP 559.3K

$197 ₪596

-10.15%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.88 COP 43.8K

$39.82 ₪120

-65.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.72 COP 93.8K

$32.86 ₪99.3

-9.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.88 COP 141.6K

$64.6 ₪195

-30.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 54.0K

$32.56 ₪98.4

-47.42%

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 21.0K

$8.34 ₪25.18

-20.26%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$813 COP 2.6M

$99.5 ₪301

716.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 29.0M

$9,657 ₪29.2K

-4.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.5 COP 282.3K

$49.70 ₪150

80.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 COP 186.0K

$97.1 ₪293

-39.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 COP 435.9K

$116 ₪349

19.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 322.1K

$165 ₪498

-38.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 COP 3.3M

$493 ₪1,488

115.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 COP 2.1M

$334 ₪1,009

98.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,888 COP 6.0M

$892 ₪2,696

111.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 COP 3.2M

$646 ₪1,953

58.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.2M

$1,624 ₪4,906

157.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.3M

$1,148 ₪3,468

45.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$678 COP 2.1M

$1,303 ₪3,936

-47.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

9.40%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Bethlehem: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $493 in Bethlehem. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 92% higher in Bethlehem, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $50.0 in Bethlehem. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $315 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Bethlehem: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 3% more than Bethlehem, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $2,445 in Bethlehem. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bethlehem, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,681 in Medellin and $1,630 in Bethlehem. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 83% less in Bethlehem. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Bethlehem, where all-in costs run around $1,630, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Bethlehem it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bethlehem – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bethlehem. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.