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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $2,339 in Pembroke, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $3,925 in Pembroke, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $5,512 in Pembroke, rent included.

Medellin is about 56% cheaper than Pembroke, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Pembroke is 75% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$58.8 BMD 58.8

-89.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

$150 BMD 150

-78.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

$14.90 BMD 14.90

-50.74%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

$4.39 BMD 4.39

-60.82%

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

$3.36 BMD 3.36

-68.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$2.98 BMD 2.98

-74.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

$8.23 BMD 8.23

-79.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

$8.46 BMD 8.46

-62.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$4.40 BMD 4.40

-76.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$8.93 BMD 8.93

-85.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$5.43 BMD 5.43

-74.22%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

$7.64 BMD 7.64

-71.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$11.73 BMD 11.73

-62.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$24.12 BMD 24.12

-75.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$31.79 BMD 31.79

-72.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

$10.29 BMD 10.29

-77.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

$6.27 BMD 6.27

-82.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

$12.67 BMD 12.67

-87.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$11.45 BMD 11.45

-88.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$8.23 BMD 8.23

-86.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$5.16 BMD 5.16

-78.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$6.09 BMD 6.09

-86.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$3.15 BMD 3.15

-71.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

$17.48 BMD 17.48

-86.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

$24.78 BMD 24.78

-50.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

$5.46 BMD 5.46

-78.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

$4.46 BMD 4.46

-44.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

$3.86 BMD 3.86

-78.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

$67.4 BMD 67.4

-39.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

$6.27 BMD 6.27

-77.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

$54.6 BMD 54.6

-85.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

$2.29 BMD 2.29

-56.77%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

$34.5K BMD 34.5K

-47.79%

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

$39.5K BMD 39.5K

-32.67%

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

$232 BMD 232

-65.13%

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

$121 BMD 121

-91.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$155 BMD 155

-84.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

$79.2 BMD 79.2

-68.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

$13.76 BMD 13.76

-71.08%

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

$305 COP 993.4K

$1,332 BMD 1,332

-77.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

$24.0K BMD 24.0K

-74.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

$80.8 BMD 80.8

-28.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

$60.7 BMD 60.7

-46.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

$135 BMD 135

-25.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

$128 BMD 128

-15.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

$3,822 BMD 3,822

-87.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

$5,763 BMD 5,763

-44.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

$8,135 BMD 8,135

-92.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

7.22

86.01%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Pembroke: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $3,822 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 1219% 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $150 in Pembroke. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $817 – 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 127%, 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $3,509 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 $33.00 in Medellin and $150 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 $1,031 in Medellin and $2,339 in Pembroke. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Pembroke at $2,339. 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.