🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,716 in Medellin versus $2,320 in Lisburn.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,527 in Medellin versus $3,511 in Lisburn.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,338 in Medellin versus $4,702 in Lisburn.
🌍Living in Medellin costs roughly 26% less than in Lisburn, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medellin25% above, Lisburn69% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Lisburn
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03COP 25.1K
$30.01£22.20
-73.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.26COP 150.8K
$74.8£55.3
-35.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.77COP 30.5K
$14.16£10.48
-31.00%
Cappuccino
$2.91COP 9,095
$4.93£3.65
-40.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94COP 6,074
$2.05£1.52
-5.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52COP 4,754
$1.86£1.37
-18.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09COP 9,663
$7.62£5.64
-59.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74COP 17.9K
$6.22£4.60
-7.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Lisburn
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,262
$1.90£1.40
-28.42%
White Bread(500g)
$2.39COP 7,460
$2.53£1.87
-5.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,314
$2.29£1.69
-25.76%
Eggs
$2.87COP 8,967
$4.13£3.06
-30.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.94COP 31.1K
$9.63£7.13
3.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.78COP 33.7K
$8.67£6.42
24.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.73COP 46.0K
$14.59£10.79
0.96%
Apples(1kg)
$4.09COP 12.8K
$3.35£2.48
22.09%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57COP 4,911
$1.40£1.03
12.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13COP 6,642
$2.69£1.99
-20.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.21COP 6,917
$3.29£2.43
-32.83%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05COP 6,396
$1.83£1.36
12.02%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50COP 4,700
$1.74£1.29
-13.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19COP 3,718
$1.27£0.94
-6.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16COP 3,619
$1.54£1.14
-24.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$23.73£17.56
-83.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.44COP 45.1K
$9.70£7.18
48.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58COP 4,948
$2.60£1.92
-39.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83COP 8,836
$3.28£2.42
-13.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Lisburn
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.17COP 3,650
$3.43£2.54
-65.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.7COP 242.9K
$95.1£70.4
-18.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.28COP 4,014
$5.20£3.84
-75.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.09COP 6,537
$2.05£1.52
1.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.62COP 26.9K
$27.22£20.14
-68.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30COP 4,056
$2.05£1.52
-36.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7KCOP 86.4M
$33.9K£25.1K
-18.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5KCOP 110.9M
$37.9K£28.1K
-6.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Lisburn
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$176COP 550.1K
$349£258
-49.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37COP 41.8K
$16.26£12.03
-17.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.89COP 93.4K
$39.45£29.19
-24.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Lisburn
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.76COP 139.8K
$51.7£38.27
-13.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06COP 53.3K
$10.73£7.93
58.99%
Cinema Ticket
$6.20COP 19.4K
$13.83£10.23
-55.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Lisburn
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$793COP 2.5M
$1,694£1,253
-53.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,019COP 28.2M
$19.8K£14.6K
-54.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Lisburn
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6COP 267.5K
$100£74.3
-14.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.5COP 182.7K
$48.49£35.87
20.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$136COP 425.9K
$111£82.0
22.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103COP 322.2K
$92.3£68.3
11.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Lisburn
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,060COP 3.3M
$1,250£925
-15.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$680COP 2.1M
$888£657
-23.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,012COP 6.3M
$2,096£1,550
-3.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,169COP 3.7M
$1,734£1,283
-32.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,111COP 12.8M
$5,102£3,774
-19.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,701COP 5.3M
$3,776£2,793
-54.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Lisburn
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$665COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
5.11
114.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Last update for Lisburn: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,060 in Medellin and $1,250 in Lisburn. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $75.0 in Lisburn for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $303 vs $310 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 Lisburn: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Lisburn?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 35% lower than in Lisburn. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin and in Lisburn?
You'd need roughly $2,574 in Medellin and $3,481 in Lisburn 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin compared to Lisburn?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,060 in Medellin versus $1,250 in Lisburn. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Medellin and in Lisburn?
Childcare runs $793 in Medellin versus $1,694 in Lisburn. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or in Lisburn?
Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Lisburn. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Medellin or in Lisburn?
At $1,716 in Medellin versus $2,320 in Lisburn, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Lisburn. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Lisburn?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,716 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
How safe is Medellin compared to Lisburn?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Lisburn 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Lisburn. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.