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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $209 in Sebha, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $283 in Sebha, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $358 in Sebha, rent included.

Medellin costs about 393% more than Sebha, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Sebha are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Sebha 84% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$0.89 LYD 5.64

17.98%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$0.77 LYD 4.93

81.82%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

$1.35 LYD 8.59

60.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$8.64 LYD 55.0

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

$1.94 LYD 12.38

17.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

$1.38 LYD 8.77

-19.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

$0.92 LYD 5.87

66.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$0.48 LYD 3.07

181.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$0.52 LYD 3.34

117.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$0.48 LYD 3.04

135.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$0.29 LYD 1.83

213.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

$1.03 LYD 6.54

86.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

$0.03 LYD 0.17

3200.00%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

$24.92 LYD 159

224.28%

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

$8.06 LYD 51.4

211.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

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

$305 COP 993.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

$140 LYD 890

241.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

$99.6 LYD 635

277.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

$201 LYD 1,282

319.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

$121 LYD 768

506.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Sebha: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $140 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 393%, 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $314 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 $1,031 in Medellin and $209 in Sebha. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 163% 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 $209, than in Medellin at $1,031. 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.