Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Seria Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Seria

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $565 in Seria, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $898 in Seria, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,230 in Seria, rent included.

Medellin costs about 82% more than Seria, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Seria are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Seria 58% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Seria
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16 COP 20.1K
$3.14 BND 4.06
96.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60 COP 106.1K
$27.15 BND 35.04
20.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.34 COP 23.9K
$5.38 BND 6.95
36.43%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.58 BND 2.04
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.30 BND 2.97
-
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 5,599
$3.83 BND 4.95
-55.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,420
$0.92 BND 1.19
14.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,515
$0.62 BND 0.80
24.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 COP 5,487
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.3K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Seria
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,423
$1.84 BND 2.38
-42.93%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COP 4,236
$1.48 BND 1.91
-12.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 COP 4,544
$1.30 BND 1.68
7.69%
Eggs
$2.16 COP 7,046
$1.43 BND 1.84
51.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.39 COP 14.3K
$6.06 BND 7.82
-27.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COP 19.1K
$4.39 BND 5.67
33.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 28.1K
$11.36 BND 14.66
-23.94%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 COP 7,425
$3.13 BND 4.04
-27.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,603
$2.65 BND 3.42
-58.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,982
$3.15 BND 4.06
-51.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 COP 4,410
$2.77 BND 3.58
-51.26%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,674
$1.63 BND 2.10
-30.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,692
$2.24 BND 2.89
-49.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 2,753
$3.40 BND 4.39
-75.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 2,975
$0.76 BND 0.99
19.74%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$3.26 BND 4.21
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.07 BND 1.38
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 COP 7,629
$15.43 BND 19.91
-84.83%
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
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Seria
Difference
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
$4.78 BND 6.17
-70.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 COP 6,235
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.66 COP 24.9K
$11.57 BND 14.93
-33.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,223
$0.30 BND 0.39
230.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K COP 58.7M
$39.5K BND 51.0K
-54.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K COP 86.7M
$36.5K BND 47.1K
-26.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Seria
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 COP 263.1K
$59.5 BND 76.8
35.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95 COP 32.4K
$15.34 BND 19.80
-35.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18 COP 78.7K
$66.3 BND 85.6
-63.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Seria
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.08 COP 81.6K
$27.44 BND 35.41
-8.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15 COP 62.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.98 COP 13.0K
$5.51 BND 7.11
-27.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Seria
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 993.4K
$159 BND 205
91.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,059 COP 19.7M
$9,566 BND 12.3K
-36.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Seria
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 COP 189.2K
$30.67 BND 39.58
89.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20 COP 104.8K
$26.89 BND 34.70
19.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 327.9K
$50.2 BND 64.8
100.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 350.8K
$46.00 BND 59.4
134.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Seria
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 COP 1.6M
-
-
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
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,372 COP 4.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Seria
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 COP 2.0M
$682 BND 880
-9.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
4.06
230.79%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Seria: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 11% higher in Seria, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $27.00 in Seria. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $208 in Seria – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Seria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Seria cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 82%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $848 in Seria. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Seria?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $27.00 in Seria. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Seria?
Interestingly, groceries are about 8% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Seria?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Seria, where all-in costs run around $565, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Seria it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Seria more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Seria – 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 Seria?
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 Seria. 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.

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