Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Neum Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Neum

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $954 in Neum, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,494 in Neum, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $2,035 in Neum, rent included.

Medellin costs about 6% more than Neum, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Neum are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Neum 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$8.66 BAM 14.56

-30.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

$41.82 BAM 70.3

-21.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$7.63 BAM 12.82

-7.08%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

$1.65 BAM 2.77

3.64%

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

$1.10 COP 3,924

$1.94 BAM 3.26

-43.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

$1.21 BAM 2.03

-35.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

$2.09 BAM 3.51

-19.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

$2.81 BAM 4.72

9.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$1.32 BAM 2.22

-17.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$1.23 BAM 2.07

2.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$1.58 BAM 2.65

-12.66%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$3.01 BAM 5.05

-27.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$9.60 BAM 16.12

-54.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$8.75 BAM 14.71

-35.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

$11.61 BAM 19.50

-23.43%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

$1.41 BAM 2.37

65.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

$1.64 BAM 2.75

-35.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

$1.94 BAM 3.26

-22.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$2.04 BAM 3.43

-32.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

$1.15 BAM 1.94

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

$1.11 BAM 1.86

4.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

$1.21 BAM 2.04

-26.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$0.73 BAM 1.23

15.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

$3.63 BAM 6.10

-37.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

$4.06 BAM 6.81

162.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

$0.76 BAM 1.28

57.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

$1.13 BAM 1.90

118.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

$1.85 BAM 3.11

-53.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

$34.69 BAM 58.3

19.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

$1.50 BAM 2.52

-2.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

$1.10 BAM 1.84

78.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$7.28 BAM 12.23

6.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

$1.54 BAM 2.60

-38.31%

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

$29.1K BAM 48.8K

-37.64%

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

$26.4K BAM 44.3K

0.45%

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

$82.3 COP 293.7K

$174 BAM 292

-52.68%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$18.87 BAM 31.70

-49.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

$24.01 BAM 40.33

0.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

$28.99 BAM 48.71

-10.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

$10.97 BAM 18.43

73.20%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$4.81 BAM 8.08

-18.30%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$203 BAM 342

52.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$3,618 BAM 6,079

64.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

$69.6 BAM 117

-15.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

$35.84 BAM 60.2

-9.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

$89.3 BAM 150

14.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

$111 BAM 186

-1.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$261 BAM 438

82.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$169 BAM 284

124.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$363 BAM 610

130.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$315 BAM 529

129.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

$2,608 BAM 4,382

6.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$1,838 BAM 3,088

-34.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$882 BAM 1,482

-41.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

2.9

363.10%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Neum: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $261 in Neum. 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 72% higher in Neum, 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 $42.00 in Neum. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $220 – 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 Neum: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 6%, 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 $1,519 per month in Medellin and $1,431 in Neum. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Neum, 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 $42.00 in Neum. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $954 in Neum. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Neum, where all-in costs run around $954, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Neum it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Neum – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Neum. 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.