Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Pembroke Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Pembroke

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $2,337 in Pembroke, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $3,821 in Pembroke, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $5,306 in Pembroke, rent included.

Medellin is about 30% cheaper than Pembroke, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Pembroke sit above the global median – Medellin by 19%, Pembroke by 69%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.04 COP 25.0K

$50.6 BMD 50.6

-84.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.29 COP 149.9K

$149 BMD 149

-67.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.42 COP 29.3K

$17.21 BMD 17.21

-45.26%

Cappuccino

$2.94 COP 9,120

$4.61 BMD 4.61

-36.23%

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

$1.86 COP 5,786

$3.19 BMD 3.19

-41.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 COP 4,519

$3.16 BMD 3.16

-53.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 COP 9,969

$7.40 BMD 7.40

-56.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.71 COP 17.7K

$9.26 BMD 9.26

-38.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,467

$4.51 BMD 4.51

-68.07%

White Bread (500g)

$2.40 COP 7,454

$8.52 BMD 8.52

-71.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 COP 5,274

$5.67 BMD 5.67

-70.02%

Eggs

$2.89 COP 8,975

$7.72 BMD 7.72

-62.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.06 COP 31.2K

$18.79 BMD 18.79

-46.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.97 COP 31.0K

$23.51 BMD 23.51

-57.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.20 COP 44.1K

$27.06 BMD 27.06

-47.52%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 COP 12.4K

$12.71 BMD 12.71

-68.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 COP 4,921

$6.52 BMD 6.52

-75.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 COP 6,682

$6.98 BMD 6.98

-69.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.30 COP 7,141

$4.11 BMD 4.11

-44.04%

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 COP 6,223

$6.95 BMD 6.95

-71.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.51 COP 4,687

$3.12 BMD 3.12

-51.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 COP 3,734

$6.58 BMD 6.58

-81.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 COP 3,981

$3.69 BMD 3.69

-65.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.84 COP 11.9K

$17.83 BMD 17.83

-78.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 43.5K

$25.17 BMD 25.17

-44.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 COP 5,302

$5.32 BMD 5.32

-67.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 COP 8,515

$4.63 BMD 4.63

-40.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.25 COP 3,868

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.9 COP 241.9K

$133 BMD 133

-41.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,052

$6.37 BMD 6.37

-79.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.17 COP 6,739

$2.54 BMD 2.54

-14.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.29 COP 25.8K

$69.0 BMD 69.0

-87.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 COP 4,209

$2.36 BMD 2.36

-42.37%

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

$27.5K COP 85.3M

$37.6K BMD 37.6K

-26.97%

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

$36.5K COP 113.4M

$41.7K BMD 41.7K

-12.35%

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

$169 COP 523.8K

$256 BMD 256

-34.02%

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

$13.57 COP 42.1K

$145 BMD 145

-90.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.32 COP 87.9K

$163 BMD 163

-82.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.71 COP 141.9K

$80.0 BMD 80.0

-42.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.22 COP 53.5K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 20.6K

$13.24 BMD 13.24

-49.77%

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

$803 COP 2.5M

$1,306 BMD 1,306

-38.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,190 COP 28.5M

$24.8K BMD 24.8K

-63.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.4 COP 271.2K

$91.4 BMD 91.4

-4.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.4 COP 184.3K

$69.0 BMD 69.0

-13.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$139 COP 431.3K

$143 BMD 143

-2.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 316.8K

$129 BMD 129

-21.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,071 COP 3.3M

$3,823 BMD 3,823

-71.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$653 COP 2.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,925 COP 6.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,048 COP 3.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,123 COP 12.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,697 COP 5.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$655 COP 2.0M

$8,101 BMD 8,101

-91.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

8.63

26.77%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Last update for Pembroke: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,071 in Medellin versus $3,823 in Pembroke. 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 1137% higher in Pembroke, 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $149 in Pembroke. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $774 – 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 Pembroke: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Pembroke is pricier by about 42%, 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 $2,462 per month in Medellin and $3,506 in Pembroke. 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 $48.00 in Medellin and $149 in Pembroke. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,641 in Medellin and $2,337 in Pembroke. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,641, than in Pembroke at $2,337. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Pembroke 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.

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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Pembroke makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.