Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Long Branch, NJ

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,639 a month against $2,692 in Long Branch, NJ, rent and utilities included – about $12,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Long Branch, NJ, United States
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Long Branch, NJ
🇺🇸 United States
$2,692
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Long Branch, NJ

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Long Branch, NJ actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,639 per month in Medellin vs $2,692 in Long Branch, NJ, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • Long Branch, NJ $2,692

A couple spends around $2,413 per month in Medellin vs $3,706 in Long Branch, NJ, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • Long Branch, NJ $3,706

A family of three spends $3,186 per month in Medellin vs $4,720 in Long Branch, NJ, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • Long Branch, NJ $4,720

Medellin is about 39% cheaper than Long Branch, NJ, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Medellin and Long Branch, NJ sit above the global median – Medellin by 20%, Long Branch, NJ by 98%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Long Branch, NJ
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 25.6K
$19.97 $19.97
-59.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 148.9K
$75.4 $75.4
-37.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.1K
$12.98 $12.98
-26.81%
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,540
$5.02 $5.02
-40.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,693
$2.78 $2.78
-35.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,469
$2.04 $2.04
-30.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 10.0K
$3.97 $3.97
-19.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.2K
$6.96 $6.96
-17.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Long Branch, NJ
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,778
$1.06 $1.06
42.45%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,524
$4.62 $4.62
-48.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,606
$4.39 $4.39
-59.68%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,146
$6.48 $6.48
-55.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.2K
$10.54 $10.54
-3.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.2K
$10.85 $10.85
-9.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 44.3K
$19.14 $19.14
-26.91%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.6K
$5.47 $5.47
-27.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 4,911
$1.60 $1.60
-3.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,907
$3.40 $3.40
-35.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,910
$3.12 $3.12
-30.13%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,210
$2.25 $2.25
-12.89%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,029
$2.49 $2.49
-36.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,625
$2.72 $2.72
-57.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 3,934
$2.83 $2.83
-56.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.5K
$13.69 $13.69
-71.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 43.3K
$16.82 $16.82
-18.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,252
$1.92 $1.92
-13.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,145
$2.76 $2.76
-18.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Long Branch, NJ
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,696
$2.19 $2.19
-46.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 244.8K
$62.0 $62.0
24.83%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,013
$5.94 $5.94
-78.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,480
$1.54 $1.54
33.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 27.1K
$31.68 $31.68
-73.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,262
$1.04 $1.04
29.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 107.8M
$28.1K $28.1K
21.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 109.7M
$26.4K $26.4K
31.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Long Branch, NJ
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 536.8K
$179 $179
-5.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 42.9K
$37.21 $37.21
-63.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 88.8K
$59.8 $59.8
-53.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Long Branch, NJ
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 138.3K
$36.08 $36.08
21.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 54.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 21.9K
$12.42 $12.42
-44.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Long Branch, NJ
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.5M
$2,152 $2,152
-62.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 28.8M
$21.4K $21.4K
-57.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Long Branch, NJ
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 268.1K
$38.46 $38.46
120.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 183.4K
$16.42 $16.42
252.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 427.1K
$100.0 $100.0
35.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 309.7K
$126 $126
-22.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Long Branch, NJ
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.8M
$1,440 $1,440
-16.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.0M
$1,417 $1,417
-54.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.4M
$2,815 $2,815
-27.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.2M
$1,870 $1,870
-45.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.2M
$2,782 $2,782
49.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.0M
$2,109 $2,109
-9.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Long Branch, NJ
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
6.51
68.05%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Last update for Long Branch, NJ: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
Long Branch, NJ
$1.4K 121% $776
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
Long Branch, NJ
$415 39.7% $118
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
Long Branch, NJ
$276 30.8% $65
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
Long Branch, NJ
$312 83.9% $142
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
Long Branch, NJ
$126 25.2% $43
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
Long Branch, NJ
$84 9.8% $9.1
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Long Branch, NJ
$61 5.9% $3.4

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,208 in Medellin versus $1,440 in Long Branch, NJ. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin versus $75 in Long Branch, NJ. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $415 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇺🇸 Long Branch, NJ
🕒 Local time
21:14 9:14 PM
22:14 10:14 PM
1 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
32,314
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 3,164 COP (10,000 COP = 3.16 USD). 1 EUR = 3,523 COP (10,000 COP = 2.84 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Long Branch, NJ 3,790 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Long Branch, NJ

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Long Branch, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Medellin and in Long Branch, NJ compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,639 in Medellin, $2,692 in Long Branch, NJ – Medellin comes out roughly 39% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Long Branch, NJ?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,459 per month in Medellin and $4,039 in Long Branch, NJ. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Medellin and Long Branch, NJ?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,208 there versus $1,440 in Long Branch, NJ.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 40% more in Long Branch, NJ, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin and $75 in Long Branch, NJ. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,639, than in Long Branch, NJ at $2,692. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Long Branch, NJ it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Medellin or Long Branch, NJ?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Medellin vs other spots: cost of living compared

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