Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Jal el Dib Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Jal el Dib

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,003 in Medellin versus $835 in Jal el Dib.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,573 in Medellin versus $1,324 in Jal el Dib.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,143 in Medellin versus $1,813 in Jal el Dib.

Living in Medellin is roughly 20% more expensive than in Jal el Dib, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 25% lower, Jal el Dib 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$10.70 LBP 957.3K

-44.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$39.69 LBP 3.6M

-16.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$8.19 LBP 733.0K

-9.28%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$1.96 LBP 175.3K

-15.82%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 COP 3,468

$1.03 LBP 91.8K

6.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.87 LBP 78.1K

-10.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$3.41 LBP 305.6K

-49.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$5.11 LBP 457.1K

-37.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.72 LBP 154.0K

-36.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$0.84 LBP 75.4K

50.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$1.75 LBP 156.6K

-21.14%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$2.39 LBP 213.8K

-8.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$11.17 LBP 999.6K

-59.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$9.57 LBP 856.9K

-39.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$9.84 LBP 880.9K

-8.84%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$1.01 LBP 90.7K

129.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$1.52 LBP 135.7K

-30.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$0.99 LBP 88.4K

53.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$0.77 LBP 68.9K

76.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$0.68 LBP 60.5K

66.18%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$0.48 LBP 42.7K

143.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$0.51 LBP 45.8K

76.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.31 LBP 28.1K

190.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$2.45 LBP 219.7K

-8.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$10.08 LBP 902.0K

20.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$1.12 LBP 100.5K

6.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$1.46 LBP 131.0K

69.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$1.47 LBP 131.3K

-42.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$52.8 LBP 4.7M

-21.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$4.86 LBP 435.4K

-70.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$1.28 LBP 114.6K

52.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$19.76 LBP 1.8M

-60.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$0.83 LBP 74.7K

19.28%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$34.3K LBP 3.1B

-48.76%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$28.1K LBP 2.5B

-4.67%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$141 LBP 12.6M

-41.08%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$37.15 LBP 3.3M

-73.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$37.75 LBP 3.4M

-37.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$20.06 LBP 1.8M

25.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$5.01 LBP 448.7K

-21.16%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$316 COP 994.2K

$200 LBP 17.9M

58.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$1,506 LBP 134.8M

296.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$70.6 LBP 6.3M

-14.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$45.77 LBP 4.1M

-30.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$124 LBP 11.1M

-18.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$94.7 LBP 8.5M

13.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

11.16

20.34%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Jal el Dib: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $40.00 in Jal el Dib for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $213 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 Jal el Dib: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jal el Dib is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,504 in Medellin and $1,252 in Jal el Dib to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Dining out is cheaper in Jal el Dib – a meal for two runs $40.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,003 per month in Medellin versus $835 in Jal el Dib – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $835 in Jal el Dib versus $1,003 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Jal el Dib but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Jal el Dib the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Jal el Dib is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Medellin and Jal el Dib are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Jal el Dib gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.