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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $859 in Negril, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,358 in Negril, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,856 in Negril, rent included.

Medellin costs about 18% more than Negril, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Negril are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Negril 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 21.2K

$7.46 JMD 1,173

-20.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 118.9K

$50.1 JMD 7,882

-33.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.8K

$8.56 JMD 1,347

-15.54%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,811

$2.06 JMD 323

-20.87%

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

$1.09 COP 3,904

$1.32 JMD 208

-17.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,604

$0.76 JMD 119

-3.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,197

$2.47 JMD 389

-29.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.5K

$3.09 JMD 487

4.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,742

$4.21 JMD 662

-75.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,614

$3.49 JMD 549

-63.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,718

$1.57 JMD 248

-15.92%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 8,101

$3.41 JMD 536

-33.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.5K

$10.85 JMD 1,707

-59.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 21.0K

$6.29 JMD 989

-6.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.7K

$7.67 JMD 1,206

12.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 8,015

$5.99 JMD 942

-62.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,814

$3.03 JMD 476

-64.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,438

$4.29 JMD 675

-64.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 5,073

$2.93 JMD 461

-51.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,173

$2.08 JMD 327

-43.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,166

$1.95 JMD 307

-40.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,163

$3.07 JMD 484

-71.01%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,215

$1.49 JMD 234

-39.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 8,008

$9.03 JMD 1,420

-75.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 39.4K

$11.59 JMD 1,823

-4.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 4,063

$2.79 JMD 439

-59.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,483

$3.20 JMD 504

-25.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,979

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 149.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 5,019

$1.09 JMD 171

29.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,779

$3.24 JMD 510

-41.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.6K

$6.15 JMD 967

26.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,586

$1.28 JMD 201

-21.09%

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

$17.6K COP 62.7M

$42.9K JMD 6.7M

-59.01%

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

$26.5K COP 94.5M

$34.1K JMD 5.4M

-22.38%

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

$83.7 COP 298.4K

$164 JMD 25.8K

-48.89%

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

$9.45 COP 33.7K

$22.38 JMD 3,520

-57.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 86.0K

$51.6 JMD 8,121

-53.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 90.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 68.3K

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.6K

$13.20 JMD 2,076

-68.94%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$230 JMD 36.2K

35.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 21.4M

$2,528 JMD 397.6K

137.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 207.0K

$26.42 JMD 4,156

119.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 116.1K

$25.97 JMD 4,085

25.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 355.3K

$70.8 JMD 11.1K

40.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 387.1K

$77.4 JMD 12.2K

40.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$984 JMD 154.7K

-50.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 3.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 10.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Negril: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $984 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 $50.0 in Negril. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $348 – 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 18%, 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 $1,289 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 $50.0 in Negril. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 83% 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 $859, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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.