🙂A single person spends $1,028 per month in Medellin vs $2,409 in Geleen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,586 per month in Medellin vs $3,530 in Geleen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,144 per month in Medellin vs $4,651 in Geleen, rent included.
🙂Medellin is about 57% cheaper than Geleen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Geleen is 81% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Geleen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.00COP 20.6K
$17.56€15.32
-65.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.84COP 112.9K
$82.4€71.9
-60.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.42COP 25.5K
$12.51€10.92
-40.69%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,675
$3.86€3.37
-57.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07COP 3,673
$3.09€2.70
-65.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76COP 2,614
$2.35€2.05
-67.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,925
$5.96€5.20
-71.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20COP 11.0K
$5.41€4.72
-40.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Geleen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,607
$1.32€1.15
-20.45%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31COP 4,492
$2.14€1.87
-38.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.34COP 4,604
$3.22€2.81
-58.39%
Eggs
$2.19COP 7,543
$4.60€4.02
-52.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.41COP 15.2K
$13.53€11.81
-67.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.69COP 19.6K
$15.88€13.86
-64.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.52COP 29.3K
$16.69€14.56
-48.95%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COP 8,046
$2.28€1.99
2.63%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,815
$2.50€2.18
-55.60%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 5,225
$1.96€1.71
-22.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,694
$4.31€3.76
-68.21%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COP 3,962
$2.05€1.79
-43.90%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18COP 4,055
$2.09€1.82
-43.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.84COP 2,893
$1.25€1.09
-32.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86COP 2,940
$0.75€0.65
14.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26COP 7,776
$14.42€12.58
-84.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.60COP 39.9K
$6.89€6.01
68.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 4,121
$1.50€1.31
-20.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 8,508
$2.81€2.45
-11.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Geleen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,729
$3.63€3.17
-78.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.83COP 140.4K
$91.7€80.0
-55.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COP 5,038
$3.43€3.00
-57.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,587
$2.16€1.88
-11.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.77COP 26.7K
$29.09€25.38
-73.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COP 3,474
$2.26€1.97
-55.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7KCOP 60.7M
$36.4K€31.8K
-51.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOP 90.9M
$32.4K€28.2K
-18.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Geleen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.1COP 278.8K
$200€175
-59.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.43COP 32.4K
$24.75€21.59
-61.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.86COP 82.0K
$40.52€35.36
-41.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Geleen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.99COP 89.4K
$39.91€34.82
-34.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.71COP 64.3K
$22.86€19.94
-18.15%
Cinema Ticket
$4.09COP 14.1K
$14.79€12.90
-72.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Geleen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$315COP 1.1M
$1,546€1,349
-79.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,022COP 20.7M
$6,414€5,596
-6.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Geleen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.7COP 205.2K
$73.5€64.1
-18.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.97COP 109.9K
$38.77€33.83
-17.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 347.9K
$121€106
-16.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105COP 361.3K
$128€112
-18.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Geleen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$485COP 1.7M
$1,402€1,223
-65.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$365COP 1.3M
$1,193€1,041
-69.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$827COP 2.8M
$2,245€1,959
-63.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.5M
$1,759€1,535
-58.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,992COP 10.3M
$6,225€5,431
-51.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,314COP 4.5M
$5,318€4,640
-75.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Geleen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$551COP 1.9M
$4,599€4,012
-88.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
4.33
210.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: June 15, 2026
Last update for Geleen: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $485 in Medellin versus $1,402 in Geleen. 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 735% higher in Geleen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $82.0 in Geleen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $343 – 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 Geleen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Geleen cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Geleen is pricier by about 134%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,542 per month in Medellin and $3,613 in Geleen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 124% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $315 per month in Medellin and $1,546 in Geleen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Geleen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,028, than in Geleen at $2,409. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Geleen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Geleen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Geleen?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Geleen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.