Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Negril Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Negril

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,018 per month in Medellin vs $870 in Negril, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,609 per month in Medellin vs $1,358 in Negril, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,200 per month in Medellin vs $1,846 in Negril, rent included.

Medellin costs about 17% more than Negril, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Negril are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Negril 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.93 COP 19.1K

$7.59 JMD 1,195

-21.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.12 COP 106.5K

$49.34 JMD 7,770

-32.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.12 COP 22.9K

$9.00 JMD 1,418

-20.89%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 5,484

$1.97 JMD 310

-13.20%

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

$1.05 COP 3,373

$1.32 JMD 208

-20.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,323

$0.76 JMD 119

-5.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,529

$2.46 JMD 388

-30.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.2K

$3.06 JMD 482

3.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,425

$4.40 JMD 693

-75.91%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 COP 4,213

$3.47 JMD 546

-62.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 COP 4,277

$1.57 JMD 247

-15.29%

Eggs

$2.28 COP 7,334

$3.56 JMD 560

-35.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.42 COP 14.2K

$11.00 JMD 1,732

-59.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.92 COP 19.0K

$6.26 JMD 985

-5.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 27.8K

$7.81 JMD 1,229

10.63%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 7,541

$6.07 JMD 956

-61.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 COP 3,544

$3.14 JMD 495

-64.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.47 COP 4,721

$4.26 JMD 671

-65.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,437

$2.91 JMD 458

-52.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,772

$2.01 JMD 317

-41.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,763

$2.00 JMD 315

-41.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,904

$3.07 JMD 483

-70.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,707

$1.44 JMD 227

-41.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 7,486

$8.57 JMD 1,350

-72.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.92 COP 38.3K

$11.42 JMD 1,799

4.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 COP 3,692

$2.81 JMD 443

-59.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 COP 7,787

$3.08 JMD 485

-21.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,700

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.83 COP 131.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,539

$1.09 JMD 171

29.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,157

$3.13 JMD 493

-38.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.83 COP 25.2K

$6.22 JMD 979

25.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,035

$1.27 JMD 200

-25.98%

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

$17.8K COP 57.3M

$43.0K JMD 6.8M

-58.55%

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

$27.1K COP 87.1M

$33.9K JMD 5.3M

-20.12%

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

$83.3 COP 267.8K

$165 JMD 26.0K

-49.56%

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

$9.66 COP 31.1K

$22.25 JMD 3,505

-56.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.22 COP 77.9K

$51.0 JMD 8,024

-52.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.22 COP 81.1K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.33 COP 62.2K

Cinema Ticket

$4.07 COP 13.1K

$13.06 JMD 2,057

-68.84%

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

$307 COP 986.0K

$230 JMD 36.2K

33.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,981 COP 19.2M

$2,500 JMD 393.7K

139.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 192.8K

$25.79 JMD 4,061

132.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.65 COP 105.0K

$25.48 JMD 4,013

28.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 325.1K

$72.2 JMD 11.4K

39.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 347.5K

$74.8 JMD 11.8K

44.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.5M

$1,003 JMD 158.0K

-52.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$816 COP 2.6M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$707 COP 2.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,190 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,446 COP 4.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$622 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

9.15

46.78%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 20, 2026

Last update for Negril: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $1,003 in Negril. 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $49.00 in Negril. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $192 vs $350 – 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 Negril: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 17%, 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 $1,527 per month in Medellin and $1,305 in Negril. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Negril, 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 $49.00 in Negril. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 82% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Negril, where all-in costs run around $870, than in Medellin at $1,018. In Negril it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Negril – 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 Negril. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.