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 $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $1,314 in Montego Bay, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,787 in Montego Bay, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $2,261 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 24% lower, Montego Bay 2% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$7.54 JMD 1,186

-21.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$50.3 JMD 7,905

-33.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$7.38 JMD 1,161

-2.03%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$4.31 JMD 678

-62.18%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$1.33 JMD 209

-18.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.76 JMD 120

-3.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$2.43 JMD 382

-28.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$3.18 JMD 500

1.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$2.53 JMD 397

-58.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$2.76 JMD 434

-53.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$1.63 JMD 257

-19.02%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$3.56 JMD 559

-36.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$10.94 JMD 1,721

-60.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$6.45 JMD 1,014

-8.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$7.56 JMD 1,189

13.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$3.42 JMD 537

-34.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$3.14 JMD 494

-65.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$2.71 JMD 427

-43.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$1.75 JMD 275

-18.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$2.03 JMD 319

-42.36%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$1.13 JMD 178

3.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$1.91 JMD 301

-53.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.95 JMD 149

-5.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$9.03 JMD 1,420

-75.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$11.28 JMD 1,773

-2.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$2.11 JMD 332

-45.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$3.16 JMD 497

-24.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$0.96 JMD 151

-12.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$0.91 JMD 143

54.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$3.21 JMD 505

-40.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$6.40 JMD 1,006

21.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$1.29 JMD 203

-21.71%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$43.6K JMD 6.9M

-59.68%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$33.7K JMD 5.3M

-21.44%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$163 JMD 25.6K

-48.56%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$21.15 JMD 3,327

-55.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$47.83 JMD 7,522

-49.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$37.84 JMD 5,952

-33.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$7.55 JMD 1,188

-45.70%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$63.0 JMD 9,903

395.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$1,913 JMD 300.9K

213.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$25.80 JMD 4,057

124.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$19.75 JMD 3,106

64.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$66.6 JMD 10.5K

49.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$75.2 JMD 11.8K

44.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$266 JMD 41.8K

81.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$448 JMD 70.4K

-15.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$648 JMD 102.0K

29.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$442 JMD 69.6K

63.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$552 JMD 86.8K

-1.95%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Montego Bay: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $266 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 2% higher in Montego Bay, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $50.0 in Montego Bay. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 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 $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,971 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 50% 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 $1,017, than in Montego Bay at $1,314. 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.