🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,589 in Medellin versus $2,542 in Ijmuiden.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,364 in Medellin versus $3,719 in Ijmuiden.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,139 in Medellin versus $4,897 in Ijmuiden.
🌍Living in Medellin costs roughly 37% less than in Ijmuiden, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medellin19% above, Ijmuiden90% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Ijmuiden
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.01COP 25.6K
$19.82€17.66
-59.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.55COP 149.1K
$67.4€60.1
-30.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.43COP 30.2K
$12.43€11.08
-24.14%
Cappuccino
$2.91COP 9,326
$4.52€4.03
-35.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75COP 5,614
$3.93€3.50
-55.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32COP 4,241
$3.14€2.79
-57.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.13COP 10.0K
$3.33€2.97
-6.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.55COP 17.8K
$5.23€4.66
6.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Ijmuiden
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.41COP 4,519
$1.27€1.13
11.02%
White Bread(500g)
$2.44COP 7,818
$2.53€2.25
-3.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63COP 5,218
$2.76€2.46
-40.94%
Eggs
$2.82COP 9,038
$4.76€4.24
-40.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.69COP 31.1K
$14.89€13.27
-34.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.32COP 29.8K
$14.01€12.48
-33.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.46COP 43.1K
$16.07€14.32
-16.24%
Apples(1kg)
$4.00COP 12.8K
$2.62€2.34
52.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.48COP 4,744
$2.49€2.22
-40.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12COP 6,804
$1.96€1.75
8.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,216
$4.62€4.11
-51.30%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91COP 6,124
$1.90€1.70
0.53%
Onion(1kg)
$1.62COP 5,188
$2.43€2.17
-33.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.15COP 3,677
$1.35€1.21
-14.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.26COP 4,043
$0.80€0.71
57.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.82COP 12.2K
$14.35€12.79
-73.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.11COP 42.0K
$6.67€5.94
96.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60COP 5,110
$1.53€1.37
4.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26COP 7,226
$2.68€2.39
-15.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Ijmuiden
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.17COP 3,751
$3.55€3.17
-67.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$75.0COP 240.3K
$89.2€79.5
-15.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.27COP 4,077
$4.17€3.71
-69.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05COP 6,566
$3.27€2.92
-37.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.20COP 26.3K
$28.95€25.80
-71.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27COP 4,067
$2.33€2.08
-45.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8KCOP 85.8M
$41.4K€36.9K
-35.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4KCOP 110.2M
$39.3K€35.0K
-12.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Ijmuiden
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$162COP 519.6K
$306€273
-46.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.12COP 42.0K
$17.48€15.58
-24.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.09COP 90.0K
$49.97€44.54
-43.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Ijmuiden
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.33COP 142.0K
$42.11€37.53
5.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33COP 52.3K
$23.88€21.28
-31.62%
Cinema Ticket
$6.09COP 19.5K
$15.71€14.01
-61.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Ijmuiden
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$764COP 2.4M
$1,275€1,137
-40.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,904COP 28.5M
$11.6K€10.3K
-23.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Ijmuiden
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.0COP 272.2K
$83.0€74.0
2.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.5COP 184.1K
$39.07€34.83
47.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$132COP 422.1K
$115€102
14.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.8COP 306.7K
$129€115
-25.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Ijmuiden
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,028COP 3.3M
$1,446€1,289
-28.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$604COP 1.9M
$1,159€1,033
-47.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,802COP 5.8M
$2,392€2,132
-24.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$993COP 3.2M
$1,950€1,738
-49.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,921COP 12.6M
$5,508€4,910
-28.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,639COP 5.2M
$4,473€3,987
-63.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Ijmuiden
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$626COP 2.0M
$4,329€3,859
-85.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
3.5
212.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: October 6, 2026
Last update for Ijmuiden: October 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,028 in Medellin and $1,446 in Ijmuiden. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ijmuiden pays 591% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Medellin vs $67.0 in Ijmuiden for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $342 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 Ijmuiden: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and in Ijmuiden?
Medellin and Ijmuiden differ by about 60% in total monthly costs ($1,589 vs $2,542 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 591% lower in Ijmuiden. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and in Ijmuiden?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,028 in Medellin versus $1,446 in Ijmuiden. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $67.0 in Ijmuiden. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Ijmuiden?
All in, you'll spend $1,589 per month in Medellin versus $2,542 in Ijmuiden – a 60% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,589 in Medellin versus $2,542 in Ijmuiden, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Ijmuiden. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Ijmuiden?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Medellin or Ijmuiden safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Ijmuiden are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Medellin or Ijmuiden?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 60% less than in Ijmuiden. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.