🙂A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $1,044 in Grand Bois, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,720 in Grand Bois, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $2,397 in Grand Bois, rent included.
🙂Medellin is about 4% cheaper than Grand Bois, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Medellin and Grand Bois are more affordable than the global median – Medellin25% lower, Grand Bois22% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Grand Bois
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91COP 18.9K
$6.57MUR 310
-10.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96COP 105.2K
$44.46MUR 2,099
-25.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.43COP 23.7K
$7.28MUR 344
2.06%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,276
$2.59MUR 122
-36.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,514
$1.03MUR 48.70
6.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,491
$0.56MUR 26.41
39.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,484
$2.22MUR 105
-22.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COP 10.1K
$3.23MUR 153
-1.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Grand Bois
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10COP 3,521
$1.64MUR 77.3
-32.93%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 4,015
$0.70MUR 33.23
80.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,407
$1.32MUR 62.5
4.55%
Eggs
$2.18COP 6,950
$2.26MUR 107
-3.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.49COP 14.3K
$11.66MUR 551
-61.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.79COP 18.5K
$6.01MUR 284
-3.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COP 28.6K
$12.54MUR 592
-28.47%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32COP 7,405
$2.04MUR 96.4
13.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,397
$2.01MUR 95.1
-47.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 4,838
$1.50MUR 70.7
1.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,327
$2.75MUR 130
-50.55%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,599
$1.04MUR 48.89
8.65%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,738
$1.01MUR 47.84
15.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90COP 2,876
$0.85MUR 40.01
5.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COP 2,861
$0.82MUR 38.66
9.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23COP 7,128
$6.67MUR 315
-66.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.12COP 38.7K
$8.42MUR 398
43.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 3,793
$1.73MUR 81.6
-31.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 7,920
$2.24MUR 106
10.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Grand Bois
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85COP 2,723
$1.00MUR 47.13
-15.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.62COP 132.8K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,518
$4.29MUR 203
-66.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.95COP 6,223
$2.66MUR 126
-26.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.89COP 25.2K
$19.75MUR 932
-60.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,160
$1.40MUR 65.9
-29.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOP 56.2M
$35.4KMUR 1.7M
-50.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 85.5M
$29.2KMUR 1.4M
-8.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Grand Bois
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0COP 264.9K
$50.4MUR 2,381
64.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70COP 30.9K
$18.29MUR 864
-46.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52COP 75.0K
$34.01MUR 1,606
-30.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Grand Bois
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.26COP 80.6K
$37.58MUR 1,775
-32.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10COP 60.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.95COP 12.6K
$6.22MUR 294
-36.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Grand Bois
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$316COP 1.0M
$156MUR 7,349
102.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,975COP 19.1M
$3,915MUR 184.8K
52.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Grand Bois
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0COP 191.4K
$85.7MUR 4,048
-30.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 101.5K
$80.1MUR 3,780
-60.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102COP 324.4K
$130MUR 6,127
-21.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 342.8K
$95.5MUR 4,508
12.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Grand Bois
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$475COP 1.5M
$522MUR 24.7K
-9.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$374COP 1.2M
$358MUR 16.9K
4.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$849COP 2.7M
$966MUR 45.6K
-12.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$719COP 2.3M
$730MUR 34.5K
-1.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,265COP 10.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441COP 4.6M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Grand Bois
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$624COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
6.67
101.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Last update for Grand Bois: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $522 in Grand Bois. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $44.00 in Grand Bois. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $231 – 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 Grand Bois: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Grand Bois cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Grand Bois is pricier by about 4%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,566 in Grand Bois. 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.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Grand Bois?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $1,044 in Grand Bois. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $316 per month in Medellin and $156 in Grand Bois. 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 Grand Bois?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Grand Bois at $1,044. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Grand Bois it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Grand Bois 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 Grand Bois?
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, Grand Bois makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.