😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,641 in Medellin versus $1,220 in Caernarfon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,447 in Medellin versus $2,734 in Caernarfon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,253 in Medellin versus $4,247 in Caernarfon.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 34% more expensive than in Caernarfon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 19% above, Caernarfon is 12% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Caernarfon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04COP 24.8K
$13.45£9.94
-40.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29COP 148.6K
$93.0£68.8
-48.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42COP 29.0K
$9.36£6.92
0.64%
Cappuccino
$2.94COP 9,040
$4.04£2.99
-27.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86COP 5,735
$2.63£1.94
-29.28%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46COP 4,479
$1.88£1.39
-22.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21COP 9,882
$4.96£3.66
-35.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71COP 17.6K
$4.16£3.07
37.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Caernarfon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,428
$1.86£1.37
-22.58%
White Bread(500g)
$2.40COP 7,389
$1.81£1.34
32.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,228
$2.19£1.62
-22.37%
Eggs
$2.89COP 8,896
$2.50£1.85
15.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.06COP 30.9K
$11.38£8.41
-11.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.97COP 30.7K
$7.24£5.35
37.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.20COP 43.7K
$15.33£11.33
-7.37%
Apples(1kg)
$3.98COP 12.3K
$2.52£1.86
57.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58COP 4,878
$1.39£1.02
13.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15COP 6,624
$1.32£0.98
62.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,078
$1.37£1.01
67.88%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00COP 6,169
$1.63£1.20
22.70%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,646
$1.80£1.33
-16.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20COP 3,701
$1.42£1.05
-15.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28COP 3,946
$1.58£1.17
-18.99%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84COP 11.8K
$22.30£16.48
-82.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.1K
$9.32£6.89
50.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71COP 5,256
$3.62£2.68
-52.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74COP 8,440
$3.38£2.50
-18.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Caernarfon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.25COP 3,834
$5.80£4.28
-78.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.9COP 239.7K
$68.4£50.6
13.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,016
$5.11£3.78
-74.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.17COP 6,680
$2.39£1.77
-9.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.29COP 25.5K
$24.85£18.37
-66.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,172
$2.01£1.49
-32.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
$38.5K£28.4K
-28.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
$40.8K£30.1K
-10.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Caernarfon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169COP 519.2K
$324£239
-47.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57COP 41.8K
$22.63£16.73
-40.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32COP 87.2K
$40.92£30.25
-30.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Caernarfon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.71COP 140.7K
$30.28£22.38
50.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22COP 53.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.5K
$16.12£11.91
-58.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Caernarfon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$803COP 2.5M
$1,624£1,200
-50.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,190COP 28.3M
$24.4K£18.0K
-62.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Caernarfon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4COP 268.8K
$109£80.9
-20.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4COP 182.7K
$51.1£37.80
16.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$139COP 427.5K
$106£78.5
30.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 314.0K
$80.4£59.5
26.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Caernarfon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,071COP 3.3M
$657£486
62.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653COP 2.0M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,925COP 5.9M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,048COP 3.2M
$1,614£1,193
-35.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,123COP 12.7M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,697COP 5.2M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Caernarfon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$655COP 2.0M
$3,616£2,673
-81.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
5.09
114.93%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Last update for Caernarfon: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,071 in Medellin and $657 in Caernarfon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Caernarfon pays 452% 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 $93.0 in Caernarfon. Groceries flip the comparison at $300 vs $281, with Caernarfon cheaper for home cooking.
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 Caernarfon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Caernarfon cheaper than Medellin?
Caernarfon is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear. The 34% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Caernarfon?
On paper, salaries run 452% lower in Caernarfon. 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 Caernarfon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,071 in Medellin versus $657 in Caernarfon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Caernarfon?
Dining out is cheaper in Caernarfon – a meal for two runs $93.0 versus $48.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Caernarfon?
All in, you'll spend $1,641 per month in Medellin versus $1,220 in Caernarfon – a 34% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Caernarfon?
At $1,220 in Caernarfon versus $1,641 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Caernarfon but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Caernarfon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Caernarfon more family-friendly?
For families, Caernarfon is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, 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 Caernarfon 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.