😐A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $1,324 in Juniyah, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $1,982 in Juniyah, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $2,639 in Juniyah, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 27% more than Juniyah, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Juniyah is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Juniyah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.3K
$11.93LBP 1.1M
-32.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 151.0K
$62.9LBP 5.6M
-23.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 31.2K
$10.15LBP 908.7K
-2.56%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,873
$4.66LBP 417.5K
-32.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 6,019
$2.27LBP 202.8K
-15.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,763
$0.90LBP 81.0K
67.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,853
$4.97LBP 444.7K
-37.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 18.1K
$4.96LBP 444.1K
15.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Juniyah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,558
$1.96LBP 175.6K
-26.53%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,843
$0.82LBP 73.2K
203.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,595
$2.15LBP 192.2K
-17.67%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,336
$3.66LBP 327.3K
-19.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.8K
$8.96LBP 802.1K
12.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.9K
$10.58LBP 946.6K
-4.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 45.1K
$14.14LBP 1.3M
1.13%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 13.0K
$2.97LBP 266.2K
39.39%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,073
$1.63LBP 146.1K
-1.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,083
$1.69LBP 151.6K
33.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,104
$1.48LBP 132.7K
52.03%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,444
$1.35LBP 120.5K
51.11%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,842
$1.70LBP 151.8K
-9.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,691
$1.21LBP 108.2K
-3.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,121
$0.69LBP 61.7K
89.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.3K
$3.07LBP 274.4K
27.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 44.2K
$9.84LBP 880.7K
42.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,498
$1.32LBP 117.7K
31.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 9,053
$2.57LBP 229.7K
11.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Juniyah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,834
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 253.9K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,129
$5.13LBP 458.9K
-74.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,899
$2.23LBP 200.0K
-1.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.5K
$22.46LBP 2.0M
-61.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,306
$1.05LBP 93.7K
30.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 87.8M
$53.0KLBP 4.7B
-47.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 112.8M
$32.4KLBP 2.9B
10.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Juniyah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 559.3K
$226LBP 20.2M
-21.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.8K
$23.45LBP 2.1M
-40.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 93.8K
$37.23LBP 3.3M
-20.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Juniyah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 141.6K
$29.56LBP 2.6M
51.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 54.0K
$9.99LBP 894.0K
71.37%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 21.0K
$9.88LBP 884.1K
-32.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Juniyah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.6M
$677LBP 60.6M
20.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 29.0M
$10.6KLBP 945.8M
-13.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Juniyah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 282.3K
$67.3LBP 6.0M
32.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 186.0K
$49.47LBP 4.4M
19.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 435.9K
$136LBP 12.2M
1.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 322.1K
$118LBP 10.6M
-13.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Juniyah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
$377LBP 33.7M
181.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$299LBP 26.7M
121.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 6.0M
$442LBP 39.5M
327.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
$402LBP 36.0M
155.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.3M
$795LBP 71.2M
110.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Juniyah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
11
-0.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Juniyah: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $377 in Juniyah. 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $63.0 in Juniyah. Groceries tell a different story – $305 in Medellin vs $264 in Juniyah – so Juniyah wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Juniyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Juniyah cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 27%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $2,521 per month in Medellin and $1,986 in Juniyah. 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 Juniyah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Juniyah?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $63.0 in Juniyah. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Juniyah?
Groceries cost about 15% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Juniyah?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Juniyah, where all-in costs run around $1,324, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Juniyah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Juniyah more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Juniyah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Juniyah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.