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: $1,017 in Medellin versus $203 in Lelydorp.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $404 in Lelydorp.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,188 in Medellin versus $606 in Lelydorp.

Living in Medellin is roughly 401% more expensive than Lelydorp, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 24% lower, Lelydorp 85% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$4.98 SRD 185

19.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$35.32 SRD 1,313

-5.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$5.86 SRD 218

23.38%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$1.23 SRD 45.59

-11.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.47 SRD 17.55

55.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$1.98 SRD 73.8

-12.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$3.08 SRD 114

4.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.22 SRD 45.30

-13.93%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$1.02 SRD 38.05

26.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$1.22 SRD 45.38

8.20%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$2.78 SRD 104

-18.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$3.89 SRD 144

51.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$7.95 SRD 296

8.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$1.53 SRD 56.8

-30.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$0.98 SRD 36.28

19.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$0.97 SRD 36.23

20.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.82 SRD 30.61

9.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$2.04 SRD 75.9

-44.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$0.49 SRD 18.21

71.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$0.93 SRD 34.54

8.60%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

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

$312 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$302 SRD 11.2K

79.07%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Lelydorp: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Medellin pays 79% 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 $190 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 401% 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.

Medellin pays 79% more on average, 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 $1,017 per month in Medellin versus $203 in Lelydorp – a 401% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 64% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $203 in Lelydorp versus $1,017 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 $203 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 401% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.