Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Montego Bay Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Montego Bay

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $1,295 in Montego Bay, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,753 in Montego Bay, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $2,210 in Montego Bay, rent included.

Medellin is about 23% cheaper than Montego Bay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Montego Bay are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Montego Bay 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$7.54 JMD 1,188

-21.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$50.2 JMD 7,898

-34.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$7.72 JMD 1,215

-3.76%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$4.31 JMD 678

-61.72%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 COP 3,468

$1.32 JMD 209

-16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.76 JMD 120

2.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$2.46 JMD 388

-30.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$3.07 JMD 484

3.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$2.47 JMD 390

-55.47%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$2.82 JMD 444

-55.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$1.60 JMD 252

-13.75%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$3.46 JMD 544

-36.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$11.12 JMD 1,752

-59.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$6.46 JMD 1,017

-10.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$7.69 JMD 1,211

16.64%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$3.35 JMD 528

-30.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$3.14 JMD 495

-66.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$2.74 JMD 431

-44.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$1.79 JMD 281

-24.02%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$2.04 JMD 321

-44.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$1.13 JMD 177

3.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$1.84 JMD 290

-51.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.93 JMD 147

-3.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$8.80 JMD 1,386

-74.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$11.16 JMD 1,758

8.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$2.12 JMD 334

-43.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$3.15 JMD 496

-21.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$0.92 JMD 145

-7.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$0.96 JMD 152

47.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$3.25 JMD 512

-40.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$6.13 JMD 966

28.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.23 JMD 194

-19.51%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$42.4K JMD 6.7M

-58.46%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$33.0K JMD 5.2M

-18.76%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$164 JMD 25.8K

-49.30%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$21.61 JMD 3,404

-55.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$48.06 JMD 7,569

-51.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$37.26 JMD 5,869

-32.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$7.57 JMD 1,192

-47.82%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$316 COP 994.2K

$62.7 JMD 9,870

403.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$1,854 JMD 292.0K

222.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$26.57 JMD 4,185

125.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$19.57 JMD 3,083

62.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$66.5 JMD 10.5K

52.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$76.1 JMD 12.0K

41.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$265 JMD 41.7K

79.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$448 JMD 70.6K

-16.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$662 JMD 104.3K

28.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$447 JMD 70.3K

61.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$552 JMD 87.0K

13.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

67.88%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Montego Bay: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $265 in Montego Bay. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 13% higher in Medellin, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $50.0 in Montego Bay. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $284 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Montego Bay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Montego Bay is pricier by about 29%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,943 in Montego Bay. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $50.0 in Montego Bay. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 47% more in Montego Bay, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Montego Bay at $1,295. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montego Bay it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Montego Bay makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.