Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Rishon Leziyyon

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,589 a month against $3,222 in Rishon Leziyyon, rent and utilities included – about $19,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,589
/mo nomad
Rishon Leziyyon
🇮🇱 Israel
$3,222
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Rishon Leziyyon

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Rishon Leziyyon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,589 per month in Medellin vs $3,222 in Rishon Leziyyon, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,589
  • Rishon Leziyyon $3,222

A couple spends around $2,364 per month in Medellin vs $4,378 in Rishon Leziyyon, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,364
  • Rishon Leziyyon $4,378

A family of three spends $3,139 per month in Medellin vs $5,533 in Rishon Leziyyon, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,139
  • Rishon Leziyyon $5,533

Medellin is about 51% cheaper than Rishon Leziyyon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Medellin and Rishon Leziyyon sit above the global median – Medellin by 19%, Rishon Leziyyon by 140%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Rishon Leziyyon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.01 COP 25.5K
$29.36 ₪89.8
-72.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.55 COP 148.3K
$98.6 ₪302
-52.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.43 COP 30.1K
$16.98 ₪52.0
-44.46%
Cappuccino
$2.91 COP 9,277
$5.15 ₪15.77
-43.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 COP 5,585
$3.80 ₪11.64
-53.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 COP 4,218
$3.37 ₪10.30
-60.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.13 COP 9,969
$10.43 ₪31.91
-69.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.55 COP 17.7K
$9.96 ₪30.48
-44.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Rishon Leziyyon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 COP 4,495
$2.51 ₪7.69
-43.82%
White Bread (500g)
$2.44 COP 7,777
$1.73 ₪5.28
41.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 COP 5,191
$2.41 ₪7.36
-32.37%
Eggs
$2.82 COP 8,990
$5.58 ₪17.07
-49.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.69 COP 30.9K
$17.87 ₪54.7
-45.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.32 COP 29.7K
$13.11 ₪40.10
-28.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.46 COP 42.9K
$16.43 ₪50.3
-18.08%
Apples (1kg)
$4.00 COP 12.8K
$3.48 ₪10.66
14.94%
Banana (1kg)
$1.48 COP 4,719
$2.98 ₪9.13
-50.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.12 COP 6,768
$1.77 ₪5.41
19.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,178
$2.59 ₪7.92
-13.13%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 COP 6,092
$1.75 ₪5.35
9.14%
Onion (1kg)
$1.62 COP 5,160
$1.62 ₪4.96
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,658
$1.93 ₪5.92
-40.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.26 COP 4,021
$0.93 ₪2.83
35.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.82 COP 12.2K
$14.01 ₪42.87
-72.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.11 COP 41.8K
$11.07 ₪33.87
18.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 COP 5,083
$2.63 ₪8.06
-39.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,188
$2.52 ₪7.73
-10.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Rishon Leziyyon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,731
$2.58 ₪7.89
-54.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$75.0 COP 239.0K
$102 ₪311
-26.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,056
$3.83 ₪11.71
-66.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,531
$1.46 ₪4.47
40.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.20 COP 26.1K
$31.25 ₪95.6
-73.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 COP 4,046
$2.62 ₪8.03
-51.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K COP 85.3M
$59.0K ₪180.7K
-54.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4K COP 109.6M
$55.9K ₪171.0K
-38.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Rishon Leziyyon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$162 COP 516.9K
$290 ₪888
-44.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.12 COP 41.8K
$11.48 ₪35.13
14.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.09 COP 89.5K
$45.17 ₪138
-37.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Rishon Leziyyon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.33 COP 141.2K
$53.1 ₪162
-16.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33 COP 52.0K
$19.96 ₪61.1
-18.19%
Cinema Ticket
$6.09 COP 19.4K
$13.14 ₪40.21
-53.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Rishon Leziyyon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$764 COP 2.4M
$1,173 ₪3,591
-34.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,904 COP 28.4M
$24.2K ₪74.1K
-63.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Rishon Leziyyon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.0 COP 270.8K
$37.05 ₪113
129.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.5 COP 183.2K
$40.58 ₪124
41.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$132 COP 419.8K
$98.0 ₪300
34.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.8 COP 305.1K
$118 ₪361
-18.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Rishon Leziyyon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,028 COP 3.3M
$1,861 ₪5,694
-44.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$604 COP 1.9M
$1,682 ₪5,146
-64.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,802 COP 5.7M
$2,460 ₪7,526
-26.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$993 COP 3.2M
$2,229 ₪6,822
-55.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,921 COP 12.5M
$7,277 ₪22.3K
-46.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,639 COP 5.2M
$8,163 ₪25.0K
-79.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Rishon Leziyyon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$626 COP 2.0M
$3,147 ₪9,629
-80.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
5.07
115.78%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 6, 2026

Last update for Rishon Leziyyon: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$604
Rishon Leziyyon
$1.7K 178% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$288
Rishon Leziyyon
$366 26.8% $77
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$203
Rishon Leziyyon
$347 70.5% $143
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$166
Rishon Leziyyon
$132 20.7% $34
Eating Out
Medellin
$166
Rishon Leziyyon
$448 170% $282
Getting Around
Medellin
$91
Rishon Leziyyon
$123 34.9% $32
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$57
Rishon Leziyyon
$79 40.4% $23

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,028 in Medellin versus $1,861 in Rishon Leziyyon. 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 403% higher in Rishon Leziyyon, 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 $47.00 in Medellin versus $99.0 in Rishon Leziyyon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $366 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇮🇱 Rishon Leziyyon
🕒 Local time
02:04 2:04 AM
10:04 10:04 AM
8 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
247,323
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

ILS, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 3,187 COP (10,000 COP = 3.14 USD). 1 EUR = 3,574 COP (10,000 COP = 2.8 EUR).

Israeli New Shekel exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 3.06 ILS (1 ILS = 0.327 USD). 1 EUR = 3.43 ILS (1 ILS = 0.291 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Rishon Leziyyon 11,530 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Rishon Leziyyon

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Rishon Leziyyon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rishon Leziyyon cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Rishon Leziyyon is pricier by about 103%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,384 per month in Medellin and $4,833 in Rishon Leziyyon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Rishon Leziyyon?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Medellin and $99.0 in Rishon Leziyyon. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Rishon Leziyyon?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,589 in Medellin and $3,222 in Rishon Leziyyon. That's a gap of about 103%.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Rishon Leziyyon?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,589, than in Rishon Leziyyon at $3,222. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rishon Leziyyon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Rishon Leziyyon more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Rishon Leziyyon?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Rishon Leziyyon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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