🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,014 in Medellin versus $2,347 in Macclessfield.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,596 in Medellin versus $3,280 in Macclessfield.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,178 in Medellin versus $4,213 in Macclessfield.
🙂Living in Medellin costs roughly 57% less than in Macclessfield, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 25% below, Macclessfield is 74% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Macclessfield
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.14COP 22.2K
$20.35£15.08
-69.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.05COP 119.3K
$96.1£71.2
-65.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.32COP 26.4K
$9.75£7.23
-24.92%
Cappuccino
$1.66COP 5,987
$4.73£3.51
-64.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,987
$2.13£1.58
-48.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,822
$1.44£1.07
-45.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.71COP 6,188
$6.76£5.01
-74.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 11.5K
$6.02£4.46
-47.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Macclessfield
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.11COP 4,012
$1.74£1.29
-36.21%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31COP 4,719
$1.61£1.19
-18.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,980
$2.22£1.65
-37.84%
Eggs
$2.22COP 8,009
$3.99£2.96
-44.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.34COP 15.7K
$11.02£8.17
-60.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.80COP 20.9K
$8.93£6.62
-35.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.98COP 32.4K
$15.32£11.35
-41.38%
Apples(1kg)
$2.26COP 8,164
$2.91£2.15
-22.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 4,023
$1.83£1.36
-39.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.46COP 5,284
$3.66£2.72
-60.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,929
$3.73£2.76
-63.27%
Potato(1kg)
$1.11COP 4,009
$1.77£1.31
-37.29%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COP 4,199
$1.89£1.40
-38.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COP 3,211
$1.21£0.90
-26.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87COP 3,124
$1.49£1.11
-41.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35COP 8,495
$19.22£14.24
-87.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.86COP 39.2K
$9.43£6.99
15.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 4,330
$3.17£2.35
-62.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 8,946
$3.50£2.59
-29.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Macclessfield
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,842
$2.01£1.49
-60.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.77COP 147.2K
$88.5£65.6
-53.92%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 5,137
$5.31£3.93
-73.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COP 6,900
$1.92£1.43
-0.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.65COP 27.6K
$16.41£12.16
-53.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.97COP 3,490
$1.88£1.39
-48.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOP 65.3M
$38.6K£28.6K
-53.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3KCOP 95.0M
$37.6K£27.9K
-30.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Macclessfield
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3COP 293.5K
$290£215
-71.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.63COP 34.8K
$23.05£17.08
-58.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.36COP 88.0K
$42.21£31.28
-42.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Macclessfield
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.02COP 93.9K
$45.98£34.07
-43.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92COP 68.3K
$6.68£4.95
183.23%
Cinema Ticket
$3.89COP 14.0K
$13.34£9.89
-70.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Macclessfield
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$304COP 1.1M
$1,647£1,221
-81.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,902COP 21.3M
$16.2K£12.0K
-63.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Macclessfield
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COP 211.8K
$90.8£67.3
-35.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.48COP 117.2K
$42.43£31.44
-23.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102COP 367.3K
$87.2£64.6
16.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 390.4K
$106£78.8
1.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Macclessfield
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$474COP 1.7M
$894£663
-46.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$371COP 1.3M
$988£732
-62.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$848COP 3.1M
$1,275£945
-33.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COP 2.6M
$1,378£1,021
-48.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,871COP 10.4M
$1,359£1,007
111.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,375COP 5.0M
$1,348£999
2.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Macclessfield
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$542COP 2.0M
$3,559£2,638
-84.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
5.76
133.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 13, 2026
Last update for Macclessfield: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $474 in Medellin and $894 in Macclessfield. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Macclessfield pays 557% 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 in Medellin vs $96 in Macclessfield for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $314 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 Macclessfield: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Macclessfield?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 131% lower than in Macclessfield. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or Macclessfield?
On paper, Macclessfield earns 557% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin vs Macclessfield?
Rent for a central apartment: $474 in Medellin versus $894 in Macclessfield. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Medellin and Macclessfield?
Childcare runs $304 in Medellin versus $1,647 in Macclessfield. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or Macclessfield?
Supermarket bills run roughly 65% higher in Macclessfield. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Medellin or Macclessfield?
At $1,014 in Medellin versus $2,347 in Macclessfield, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Macclessfield. 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 Macclessfield?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,014 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 Macclessfield?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Macclessfield 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 131% less than in Macclessfield. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.