Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Lelydorp Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Lelydorp

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,003 in Medellin versus $196 in Lelydorp.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,573 in Medellin versus $400 in Lelydorp.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,143 in Medellin versus $603 in Lelydorp.

Living in Medellin is roughly 412% more expensive than in Lelydorp, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 25% lower, Lelydorp 85% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$4.85 SRD 182

21.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$35.50 SRD 1,334

-7.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$6.04 SRD 227

23.01%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$1.29 SRD 48.36

-14.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.43 SRD 16.14

81.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$2.02 SRD 75.8

-14.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$3.05 SRD 115

4.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.19 SRD 44.73

-7.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$0.98 SRD 36.73

28.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$1.23 SRD 46.26

12.20%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$2.73 SRD 103

-20.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$4.03 SRD 151

43.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$8.05 SRD 303

11.43%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$1.48 SRD 55.5

-28.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$0.98 SRD 36.79

15.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$1.03 SRD 38.64

13.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.88 SRD 33.11

2.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$2.02 SRD 76.1

-41.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$0.49 SRD 18.40

73.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$0.94 SRD 35.46

5.32%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

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

$316 COP 994.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

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

$302 SRD 11.4K

106.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

-21.00%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Lelydorp: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Medellin pays 107% 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 $35.00 in Lelydorp. Groceries flip the comparison at $193 vs $116, with Lelydorp cheaper for home cooking.

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 Lelydorp: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lelydorp wins on cost – living expenses run 412% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lelydorp the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 107% higher in Medellin, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

All in, you'll spend $1,003 per month in Medellin versus $196 in Lelydorp – a 412% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 66% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $196 in Lelydorp versus $1,003 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Lelydorp but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Lelydorp the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Lelydorp delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $196 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lelydorp hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Medellin and Lelydorp 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 Lelydorp gentler on the wallet – expenses run 412% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.