🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,014 in Medellin versus $2,302 in Lowestoft.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,596 in Medellin versus $3,458 in Lowestoft.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,178 in Medellin versus $4,614 in Lowestoft.
🙂Living in Medellin costs roughly 56% less than in Lowestoft, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 25% below, Lowestoft is 71% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Lowestoft
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.14COP 22.2K
$20.70£15.34
-70.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.05COP 119.3K
$88.3£65.5
-62.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.32COP 26.4K
$10.84£8.03
-32.47%
Cappuccino
$1.66COP 5,987
$4.76£3.52
-65.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,987
$1.57£1.17
-29.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,822
$1.09£0.81
-28.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.71COP 6,188
$5.45£4.04
-68.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 11.5K
$6.13£4.54
-48.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Lowestoft
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.11COP 4,012
$1.45£1.08
-23.45%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31COP 4,719
$1.40£1.04
-6.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,980
$2.22£1.64
-37.84%
Eggs
$2.22COP 8,009
$3.61£2.68
-38.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.34COP 15.7K
$8.15£6.04
-46.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.80COP 20.9K
$8.32£6.16
-30.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.98COP 32.4K
$13.32£9.87
-32.58%
Apples(1kg)
$2.26COP 8,164
$3.12£2.31
-27.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 4,023
$1.51£1.12
-26.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.46COP 5,284
$2.93£2.17
-50.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,929
$2.84£2.11
-51.76%
Potato(1kg)
$1.11COP 4,009
$1.72£1.27
-35.47%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COP 4,199
$1.56£1.16
-25.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COP 3,211
$1.30£0.96
-31.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87COP 3,124
$1.44£1.07
-39.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35COP 8,495
$21.08£15.62
-88.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.86COP 39.2K
$9.01£6.68
20.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 4,330
$2.83£2.10
-57.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 8,946
$2.51£1.86
-1.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Lowestoft
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,842
$3.34£2.48
-76.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.77COP 147.2K
$88.9£65.9
-54.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 5,137
$5.98£4.43
-76.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COP 6,900
$1.29£0.96
48.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.65COP 27.6K
$29.58£21.92
-74.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.97COP 3,490
$1.97£1.46
-50.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOP 65.3M
$37.7K£27.9K
-51.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3KCOP 95.0M
$41.1K£30.5K
-36.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Lowestoft
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3COP 293.5K
$328£243
-75.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.63COP 34.8K
$14.31£10.60
-32.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.36COP 88.0K
$34.43£25.51
-29.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Lowestoft
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.02COP 93.9K
$46.13£34.19
-43.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92COP 68.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.89COP 14.0K
$20.46£15.16
-80.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Lowestoft
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$304COP 1.1M
$1,893£1,403
-83.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,902COP 21.3M
$23.0K£17.0K
-74.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Lowestoft
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COP 211.8K
$101£75.1
-42.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.48COP 117.2K
$40.65£30.12
-20.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102COP 367.3K
$88.8£65.8
14.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 390.4K
$98.9£73.3
9.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Lowestoft
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$474COP 1.7M
$1,205£893
-60.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$371COP 1.3M
$1,016£753
-63.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$848COP 3.1M
$2,061£1,527
-58.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COP 2.6M
$1,697£1,257
-57.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,871COP 10.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,375COP 5.0M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Lowestoft
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$542COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
5.45
146.42%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 13, 2026
Last update for Lowestoft: April 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $474 in Medellin and $1,205 in Lowestoft. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $33 in Medellin vs $88 in Lowestoft for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $276 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 Lowestoft: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lowestoft cheaper than Medellin?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 127% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,522 in Medellin and $3,452 in Lowestoft 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 Lowestoft?
Rent for a central apartment: $474 in Medellin versus $1,205 in Lowestoft. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $304 in Medellin versus $1,893 in Lowestoft. 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 Lowestoft?
Supermarket bills run roughly 45% higher in Lowestoft. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Lowestoft?
At $1,014 in Medellin versus $2,302 in Lowestoft, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Lowestoft. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Lowestoft more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lowestoft, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Lowestoft?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Lowestoft 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 127% less than in Lowestoft. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.