🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,028 in Medellin versus $2,256 in Lambeth.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,586 in Medellin versus $3,350 in Lambeth.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,144 in Medellin versus $4,443 in Lambeth.
🌍Living in Medellin costs roughly 54% less than in Lambeth, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% below, Lambeth is 69% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Lambeth
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.00COP 20.6K
$20.12£15.24
-70.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.84COP 112.9K
$80.0£60.6
-58.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.42COP 25.5K
$9.99£7.57
-25.73%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,675
$4.78£3.62
-65.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07COP 3,673
$2.34£1.77
-54.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76COP 2,614
$1.64£1.24
-53.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,925
$6.28£4.76
-72.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20COP 11.0K
$6.21£4.70
-48.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Lambeth
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,607
$1.65£1.25
-36.36%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31COP 4,492
$1.64£1.25
-20.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.34COP 4,604
$2.19£1.66
-38.81%
Eggs
$2.19COP 7,543
$3.91£2.97
-43.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.41COP 15.2K
$9.82£7.44
-55.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.69COP 19.6K
$8.95£6.78
-36.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.52COP 29.3K
$14.14£10.71
-39.75%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COP 8,046
$3.10£2.35
-24.52%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,815
$1.58£1.20
-29.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 5,225
$2.82£2.14
-46.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,694
$3.56£2.69
-61.52%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COP 3,962
$1.65£1.25
-30.30%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18COP 4,055
$1.48£1.12
-20.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.84COP 2,893
$1.10£0.84
-23.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86COP 2,940
$1.48£1.12
-41.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26COP 7,776
$18.95£14.36
-88.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.60COP 39.9K
$11.27£8.53
2.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 4,121
$2.69£2.04
-55.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 8,508
$3.22£2.44
-22.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Lambeth
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,729
$3.28£2.49
-75.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.83COP 140.4K
$87.1£66.0
-53.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COP 5,038
$5.39£4.09
-72.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,587
$2.20£1.67
-12.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.77COP 26.7K
$23.31£17.66
-66.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COP 3,474
$2.06£1.56
-50.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7KCOP 60.7M
$37.9K£28.7K
-53.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOP 90.9M
$40.4K£30.6K
-34.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Lambeth
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.1COP 278.8K
$292£221
-72.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.43COP 32.4K
$16.87£12.78
-44.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.86COP 82.0K
$43.74£33.13
-45.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Lambeth
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.99COP 89.4K
$46.00£34.84
-43.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.71COP 64.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.09COP 14.1K
$13.44£10.18
-69.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Lambeth
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$315COP 1.1M
$1,608£1,218
-80.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,022COP 20.7M
$18.3K£13.8K
-67.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Lambeth
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.7COP 205.2K
$85.2£64.6
-29.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.97COP 109.9K
$44.14£33.44
-27.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 347.9K
$94.0£71.2
7.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105COP 361.3K
$97.8£74.1
7.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Lambeth
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$485COP 1.7M
$1,218£923
-60.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$365COP 1.3M
$1,011£766
-63.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$827COP 2.8M
$2,012£1,524
-58.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.5M
$1,721£1,304
-57.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,992COP 10.3M
$5,174£3,919
-42.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,314COP 4.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Lambeth
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$551COP 1.9M
$1,611£1,220
-65.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
5.63
138.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: June 15, 2026
Last update for Lambeth: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $485 in Medellin and $1,218 in Lambeth. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lambeth pays 193% 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: $33.00 in Medellin vs $80.0 in Lambeth for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $300 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 Lambeth: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lambeth cheaper than Medellin?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 119% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Lambeth?
On paper, salaries run 193% lower in Lambeth. 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 Lambeth?
Rent for a central apartment: $485 in Medellin versus $1,218 in Lambeth. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Lambeth?
All in, you'll spend $1,028 per month in Medellin versus $2,256 in Lambeth – a 119% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 113% less than in Lambeth. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Lambeth?
At $1,028 in Medellin versus $2,256 in Lambeth, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Lambeth. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Lambeth more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lambeth, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Lambeth?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Lambeth 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 – expenses run 119% less than in Lambeth. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.