Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Sebha Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Sebha

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $210 in Sebha, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $285 in Sebha, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $359 in Sebha, rent included.

Medellin costs about 381% more than Sebha, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Sebha are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Sebha 84% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.2K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,105

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

$1.10 COP 3,918

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,776

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,987

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 10.9K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,899

$0.94 LYD 5.95

15.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,500

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,914

$0.81 LYD 5.17

70.37%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,813

$1.36 LYD 8.64

61.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.7K

$8.69 LYD 55.3

2.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,334

$1.97 LYD 12.51

18.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,771

$1.38 LYD 8.77

-23.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,365

$0.92 LYD 5.86

63.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,915

$0.48 LYD 3.04

187.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,104

$0.51 LYD 3.26

125.49%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,148

$0.52 LYD 3.31

123.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,176

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,992

$0.31 LYD 2.00

170.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,131

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 37.9K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,276

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,809

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,051

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,255

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 6,997

$1.01 LYD 6.43

94.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,403

$0.03 LYD 0.16

3066.67%

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

$18.1K COP 64.6M

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

$26.5K COP 94.4M

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

$82.3 COP 293.2K

$25.27 LYD 161

225.48%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.4K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.3K

$7.86 LYD 49.95

229.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

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

$309 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.1K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.3K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 365.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 386.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$139 LYD 881

243.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$98.9 LYD 629

282.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$202 LYD 1,285

314.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$121 LYD 771

496.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Sebha: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $139 in Sebha. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

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 Sebha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 381%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $316 in Sebha. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sebha, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $210 in Sebha. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 152% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sebha, where all-in costs run around $210, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Sebha it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sebha – 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 Sebha. 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.