πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,013 in Medellin versus $2,040 in Grez-Doiceau.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $3,105 in Grez-Doiceau.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $4,170 in Grez-Doiceau.
πLiving in Medellin costs roughly 50% less than in Grez-Doiceau, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 24% below, Grez-Doiceau is 52% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Grez-Doiceau
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99COPΒ 21.5K
$22.71β¬19.70
-73.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86COPΒ 118.1K
$92.1β¬79.9
-64.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09COPΒ 25.5K
$12.35β¬10.71
-42.59%
Cappuccino
$1.71COPΒ 6,154
$4.16β¬3.61
-58.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,949
$3.36β¬2.91
-67.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COPΒ 2,798
$3.15β¬2.74
-75.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68COPΒ 6,035
$5.45β¬4.73
-69.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07COPΒ 11.0K
$4.69β¬4.07
-34.54%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Grez-Doiceau
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09COPΒ 3,930
$1.34β¬1.16
-18.66%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COPΒ 4,536
$2.86β¬2.48
-55.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,953
$2.55β¬2.21
-45.88%
Eggs
$2.19COPΒ 7,876
$4.12β¬3.57
-46.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.40COPΒ 15.8K
$17.26β¬14.98
-74.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63COPΒ 20.2K
$11.40β¬9.89
-50.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89COPΒ 32.0K
$21.57β¬18.71
-58.79%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COPΒ 8,401
$2.62β¬2.27
-10.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COPΒ 3,801
$2.35β¬2.04
-54.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50COPΒ 5,408
$2.30β¬1.99
-34.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,955
$2.87β¬2.49
-51.92%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COPΒ 4,137
$2.11β¬1.83
-45.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COPΒ 4,181
$2.13β¬1.85
-45.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,202
$1.45β¬1.26
-38.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COPΒ 3,016
$0.88β¬0.76
-4.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28COPΒ 8,196
$12.70β¬11.02
-82.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.64COPΒ 38.2K
$8.25β¬7.16
28.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COPΒ 4,311
$1.77β¬1.53
-32.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COPΒ 8,880
$2.03β¬1.76
21.67%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Grez-Doiceau
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86COPΒ 3,075
$2.94β¬2.55
-70.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.40COPΒ 148.8K
$57.1β¬49.52
-27.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COPΒ 5,297
$5.83β¬5.06
-74.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96COPΒ 7,053
$2.43β¬2.11
-19.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.74COPΒ 27.8K
$38.33β¬33.26
-79.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95COPΒ 3,430
$1.83β¬1.59
-48.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOPΒ 65.2M
$33.2Kβ¬28.8K
-45.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 95.2M
$31.3Kβ¬27.2K
-15.46%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Grez-Doiceau
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.3COPΒ 295.6K
$207β¬180
-60.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50COPΒ 34.1K
$24.99β¬21.68
-61.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23COPΒ 87.1K
$50.7β¬43.98
-52.21%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Grez-Doiceau
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.89COPΒ 93.0K
$39.17β¬33.99
-33.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00COPΒ 68.3K
$16.85β¬14.62
12.76%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93COPΒ 14.1K
$15.02β¬13.03
-73.83%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Grez-Doiceau
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309COPΒ 1.1M
$620β¬538
-50.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,965COPΒ 21.4M
$13.4Kβ¬11.7K
-55.61%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Grez-Doiceau
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COPΒ 210.8K
$106β¬92.1
-44.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35COPΒ 116.2K
$49.40β¬42.86
-34.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103COPΒ 368.7K
$110β¬95.2
-6.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COPΒ 389.6K
$161β¬139
-32.50%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Grez-Doiceau
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COPΒ 1.7M
$888β¬770
-46.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.4M
$766β¬665
-50.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COPΒ 3.0M
$1,363β¬1,183
-38.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$724COPΒ 2.6M
$1,078β¬936
-32.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,791COPΒ 10.0M
$3,993β¬3,464
-30.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,211COPΒ 4.4M
$3,000β¬2,603
-59.63%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Grez-Doiceau
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$512COPΒ 1.8M
$2,973β¬2,579
-82.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
3.42
292.69%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Last update for Grez-Doiceau: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $888 in Grez-Doiceau. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Grez-Doiceau pays 481% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $92.0 in Grez-Doiceau for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $349 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.
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 Grez-Doiceau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Grez-Doiceau cheaper than Medellin?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 101% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Grez-Doiceau?
On paper, Grez-Doiceau earns 481% less. 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 Grez-Doiceau?
Rent for a central apartment: $476 in Medellin versus $888 in Grez-Doiceau. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and Grez-Doiceau?
Supermarket bills run roughly 85% higher in Grez-Doiceau. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or Grez-Doiceau?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin β a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $92.0 in Grez-Doiceau. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Grez-Doiceau?
At $1,013 in Medellin versus $2,040 in Grez-Doiceau, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Grez-Doiceau. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Grez-Doiceau more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Grez-Doiceau, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Grez-Doiceau?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Grez-Doiceau 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet β expenses run 101% less than in Grez-Doiceau. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.