🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,018 in Medellin versus $2,445 in Lochboisdale.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,609 in Medellin versus $3,655 in Lochboisdale.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,200 in Medellin versus $4,865 in Lochboisdale.
🌍Living in Medellin costs roughly 58% less than in Lochboisdale, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 24% below, Lochboisdale is 83% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Lochboisdale
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.93COP 19.0K
$20.32£15.19
-70.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.12COP 106.0K
$98.5£73.6
-66.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.12COP 22.8K
$9.32£6.97
-23.61%
Cappuccino
$1.71COP 5,457
$5.01£3.74
-65.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,356
$2.14£1.60
-50.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COP 2,311
$1.46£1.09
-50.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,502
$6.93£5.18
-75.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.2K
$6.99£5.23
-54.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Lochboisdale
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,408
$1.79£1.33
-40.78%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31COP 4,192
$1.74£1.30
-24.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.33COP 4,256
$2.65£1.98
-49.81%
Eggs
$2.28COP 7,298
$3.91£2.93
-41.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.42COP 14.1K
$9.92£7.42
-55.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.92COP 18.9K
$9.30£6.95
-36.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 27.7K
$14.29£10.69
-39.54%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COP 7,504
$3.29£2.46
-28.88%
Banana(1kg)
$1.10COP 3,527
$1.85£1.38
-40.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.47COP 4,698
$3.23£2.41
-54.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,415
$3.58£2.68
-61.45%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,754
$1.66£1.24
-29.52%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,744
$1.83£1.37
-36.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90COP 2,890
$1.25£0.94
-28.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COP 2,693
$1.65£1.23
-49.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COP 7,449
$20.76£15.52
-88.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.92COP 38.1K
$11.26£8.41
5.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15COP 3,673
$2.91£2.18
-60.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42COP 7,749
$3.33£2.49
-27.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Lochboisdale
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,687
$3.34£2.50
-74.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.83COP 130.7K
$90.1£67.3
-54.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41COP 4,517
$5.33£3.98
-73.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COP 6,127
$2.33£1.74
-18.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.83COP 25.0K
$27.26£20.38
-71.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COP 3,020
$1.94£1.45
-51.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.8KCOP 57.0M
$38.0K£28.4K
-53.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1KCOP 86.7M
$38.4K£28.7K
-29.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Lochboisdale
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.3COP 266.4K
$377£282
-77.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.66COP 30.9K
$17.99£13.45
-46.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.22COP 77.5K
$41.19£30.80
-41.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Lochboisdale
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.22COP 80.7K
$45.05£33.68
-44.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.33COP 61.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.07COP 13.0K
$17.88£13.37
-77.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Lochboisdale
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$307COP 981.2K
$1,161£868
-73.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,981COP 19.1M
$18.4K£13.8K
-67.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Lochboisdale
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0COP 191.9K
$124£92.7
-51.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.65COP 104.5K
$50.1£37.43
-34.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 323.5K
$106£79.2
-4.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 345.7K
$105£78.8
2.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Lochboisdale
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COP 1.5M
$1,243£929
-61.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COP 1.2M
$1,012£756
-62.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$816COP 2.6M
$2,047£1,530
-60.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$707COP 2.3M
$1,672£1,250
-57.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,190COP 10.2M
$4,596£3,436
-30.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,446COP 4.6M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Lochboisdale
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$622COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
5.32
152.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 20, 2026
Last update for Lochboisdale: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $1,243 in Lochboisdale. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $98.0 in Lochboisdale for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $192 vs $316 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 Lochboisdale: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lochboisdale cheaper than Medellin?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 140% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,527 in Medellin and $3,668 in Lochboisdale 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.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Lochboisdale?
Rent for a central apartment: $476 in Medellin versus $1,243 in Lochboisdale. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $307 in Medellin versus $1,161 in Lochboisdale. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Lochboisdale?
Supermarket bills run roughly 65% higher in Lochboisdale. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Lochboisdale?
At $1,018 in Medellin versus $2,445 in Lochboisdale, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Lochboisdale. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Lochboisdale more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lochboisdale, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 140% less than in Lochboisdale. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.