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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,014 per month in Medellin vs $861 in Negril, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,596 per month in Medellin vs $1,352 in Negril, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,178 per month in Medellin vs $1,842 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 25% lower, Negril 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.14 COP 22.1K

$7.30 JMD 1,156

-15.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.05 COP 119.0K

$50.4 JMD 7,977

-34.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.32 COP 26.4K

$8.96 JMD 1,418

-18.30%

Cappuccino

$1.66 COP 5,973

$1.97 JMD 311

-15.74%

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

$1.10 COP 3,978

$1.35 JMD 214

-18.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,816

$0.76 JMD 120

2.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.71 COP 6,174

$2.48 JMD 393

-31.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 11.4K

$3.07 JMD 485

3.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 COP 4,003

$4.19 JMD 663

-73.51%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 COP 4,709

$3.52 JMD 557

-62.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,969

$1.61 JMD 254

-14.29%

Eggs

$2.22 COP 7,992

$3.47 JMD 548

-36.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.34 COP 15.6K

$11.10 JMD 1,757

-60.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.80 COP 20.9K

$6.23 JMD 986

-6.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.98 COP 32.3K

$7.73 JMD 1,223

16.17%

Apples (1kg)

$2.26 COP 8,146

$6.06 JMD 960

-62.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 4,014

$3.00 JMD 474

-63.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.46 COP 5,273

$4.18 JMD 661

-65.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,918

$3.04 JMD 482

-54.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 COP 4,000

$2.10 JMD 333

-47.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,190

$2.01 JMD 318

-42.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,204

$3.13 JMD 496

-71.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 COP 3,117

$1.44 JMD 227

-39.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.35 COP 8,476

$9.02 JMD 1,428

-73.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.86 COP 39.1K

$11.36 JMD 1,799

-4.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,321

$2.78 JMD 440

-56.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 8,927

$3.16 JMD 501

-21.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,836

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.77 COP 146.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 5,125

$1.09 JMD 172

30.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,885

$3.13 JMD 495

-38.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.65 COP 27.6K

$6.14 JMD 972

24.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 COP 3,482

$1.29 JMD 205

-24.81%

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

$18.1K COP 65.2M

$43.1K JMD 6.8M

-58.02%

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

$26.3K COP 94.8M

$33.6K JMD 5.3M

-21.60%

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

$81.3 COP 292.9K

$164 JMD 26.0K

-50.46%

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

$9.63 COP 34.7K

$22.52 JMD 3,564

-57.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.36 COP 87.8K

$51.2 JMD 8,105

-52.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.02 COP 93.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.92 COP 68.1K

Cinema Ticket

$3.89 COP 14.0K

$12.95 JMD 2,050

-69.96%

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

$304 COP 1.1M

$230 JMD 36.4K

32.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,902 COP 21.3M

$2,512 JMD 397.6K

134.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 211.4K

$25.57 JMD 4,047

129.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.48 COP 117.0K

$25.37 JMD 4,015

28.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 366.5K

$71.6 JMD 11.3K

42.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 389.6K

$77.5 JMD 12.3K

39.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$474 COP 1.7M

$1,011 JMD 160.0K

-53.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$371 COP 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$848 COP 3.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,871 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,375 COP 5.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$542 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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Negril: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $474 in Medellin versus $1,011 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 in Medellin versus $50 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 $1,522 per month in Medellin and $1,292 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 $861, than in Medellin at $1,014. 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.