🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,687 in Medellin versus $2,553 in Ijmuiden.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,535 in Medellin versus $3,696 in Ijmuiden.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,383 in Medellin versus $4,839 in Ijmuiden.
🌍Living in Medellin costs roughly 34% less than in Ijmuiden, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medellin23% above, Ijmuiden86% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Ijmuiden
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.89COP 24.2K
$20.01€17.11
-60.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.53COP 136.5K
$69.6€59.6
-36.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.29COP 28.5K
$12.93€11.06
-28.15%
Cappuccino
$2.90COP 8,874
$4.56€3.90
-36.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81COP 5,541
$3.88€3.32
-53.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55COP 4,741
$3.23€2.76
-52.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25COP 9,962
$3.50€2.99
-7.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88COP 18.0K
$5.33€4.56
10.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Ijmuiden
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38COP 4,230
$1.29€1.11
6.98%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45COP 7,517
$2.57€2.19
-4.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,617
$2.70€2.31
-44.07%
Eggs
$2.78COP 8,516
$4.66€3.98
-40.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.05COP 27.7K
$15.15€12.96
-40.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.65COP 32.6K
$14.63€12.51
-27.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.63COP 44.8K
$16.27€13.92
-10.08%
Apples(1kg)
$3.97COP 12.2K
$2.68€2.30
48.13%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,219
$2.48€2.12
-44.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,056
$1.99€1.70
15.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.02COP 6,185
$4.55€3.89
-55.60%
Potato(1kg)
$2.09COP 6,390
$1.96€1.67
6.63%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63COP 4,996
$2.37€2.03
-31.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08COP 3,313
$1.33€1.14
-18.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25COP 3,843
$0.84€0.72
48.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03COP 12.4K
$14.42€12.34
-72.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.47COP 41.3K
$6.76€5.78
99.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60COP 4,904
$1.53€1.31
4.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00COP 9,189
$2.80€2.39
7.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Ijmuiden
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.18COP 3,611
$3.08€2.64
-61.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.9COP 244.9K
$103€87.8
-22.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.61COP 4,920
$4.21€3.60
-61.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13COP 6,533
$3.51€3.00
-39.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.52COP 26.1K
$29.15€24.93
-70.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35COP 4,142
$2.41€2.06
-43.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KCOP 86.8M
$42.9K€36.7K
-33.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KCOP 109.4M
$40.6K€34.7K
-12.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Ijmuiden
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151COP 463.8K
$309€264
-50.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.10COP 40.1K
$17.99€15.39
-27.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.30COP 99.0K
$51.4€43.93
-37.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Ijmuiden
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.33COP 141.9K
$45.01€38.50
2.93%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.26COP 52.9K
$22.04€18.85
-21.69%
Cinema Ticket
$6.43COP 19.7K
$16.05€13.73
-59.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Ijmuiden
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$835COP 2.6M
$1,305€1,117
-36.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,887COP 27.2M
$11.4K€9,726
-21.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Ijmuiden
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3COP 273.7K
$84.2€72.0
6.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3COP 169.5K
$40.11€34.31
37.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$137COP 418.5K
$116€99.4
17.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COP 335.1K
$133€113
-17.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Ijmuiden
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$952COP 2.9M
$1,257€1,075
-24.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$668COP 2.0M
$1,255€1,073
-46.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,020COP 6.2M
$2,740€2,344
-26.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,148COP 3.5M
$1,678€1,435
-31.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,696COP 11.3M
$4,848€4,147
-23.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,586COP 4.9M
$4,919€4,207
-67.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Ijmuiden
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$625COP 1.9M
$4,320€3,695
-85.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.43
3.5
198.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026
Last update for Ijmuiden: August 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $952 in Medellin and $1,257 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: $45.00 in Medellin vs $70.0 in Ijmuiden for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $347 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 51% in total monthly costs ($1,687 vs $2,553 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: $952 in Medellin versus $1,257 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 $45.00 versus $70.0 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 $1,687 per month in Medellin versus $2,553 in Ijmuiden – a 51% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $1,687 in Medellin versus $2,553 in Ijmuiden, a $2,500 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 51% less than in Ijmuiden. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.