Cost of Living Comparison Between Mons and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Mons and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,926 per month in Mons vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,909 per month in Mons vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,892 per month in Mons vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.

Mons costs about 86% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Mons sits 44% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mons
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.30 €14.81
$5.92 COP 21.4K
192.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.8 €73.5
$32.75 COP 118.2K
162.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.26 €8.78
$7.20 COP 26.0K
42.50%
Cappuccino
$3.75 €3.21
$1.70 COP 6,140
120.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 €2.34
$1.10 COP 3,966
148.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 €2.27
$0.72 COP 2,605
268.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.53 €3.87
$1.67 COP 6,022
171.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.50 €3.86
$3.10 COP 11.2K
45.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mons
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 €1.06
$1.06 COP 3,809
16.98%
White Bread (500g)
$2.28 €1.95
$1.25 COP 4,497
82.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.39 €2.05
$1.39 COP 5,022
71.94%
Eggs
$4.29 €3.68
$2.26 COP 8,168
89.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.10 €14.64
$4.33 COP 15.6K
294.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.88 €10.17
$5.84 COP 21.1K
103.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.06 €16.32
$8.83 COP 31.9K
115.86%
Apples (1kg)
$2.96 €2.54
$2.24 COP 8,099
32.14%
Banana (1kg)
$2.34 €2.00
$1.08 COP 3,882
116.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.73 €2.34
$1.53 COP 5,522
78.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.04 €2.60
$1.37 COP 4,950
121.90%
Potato (1kg)
$1.89 €1.62
$1.13 COP 4,078
67.26%
Onion (1kg)
$2.05 €1.76
$1.12 COP 4,036
83.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.38 €1.18
$0.85 COP 3,057
62.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 €0.81
$0.91 COP 3,281
3.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.99 €8.55
$2.33 COP 8,414
328.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.93 €5.08
$11.13 COP 40.2K
-46.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.92 €1.65
$1.19 COP 4,309
61.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93 €2.51
$2.37 COP 8,553
23.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Mons
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.93 €2.51
$0.79 COP 2,838
270.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.77 €36.61
$41.13 COP 148.5K
3.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$10.84 €9.28
$1.44 COP 5,184
652.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.75 €2.35
$1.91 COP 6,901
43.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$53.1 €45.48
$8.02 COP 28.9K
562.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.91 €1.63
$0.94 COP 3,385
103.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K €29.2K
$17.9K COP 64.7M
90.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K €33.1K
$26.8K COP 96.7M
44.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mons
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$202 €173
$84.0 COP 303.1K
140.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.28 €19.93
$9.60 COP 34.7K
142.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.24 €42.15
$24.16 COP 87.2K
103.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mons
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.65 €23.67
$25.88 COP 93.4K
6.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.77 €14.36
$19.04 COP 68.7K
-11.92%
Cinema Ticket
$12.78 €10.94
$3.92 COP 14.1K
226.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mons
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$588 €503
$306 COP 1.1M
91.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.2K €16.5K
$5,919 COP 21.4M
224.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mons
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$110 €94.4
$57.9 COP 209.1K
90.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.5 €46.68
$31.82 COP 114.9K
71.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 €89.0
$99.9 COP 360.6K
4.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150 €128
$107 COP 386.8K
39.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mons
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$667 €571
$487 COP 1.8M
37.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$712 €609
$368 COP 1.3M
93.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,135 €971
$826 COP 3.0M
37.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,079 €923
$716 COP 2.6M
50.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,944 €2,520
$2,925 COP 10.6M
0.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,316 €1,982
$1,407 COP 5.1M
64.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mons
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,991 €2,560
$546 COP 2.0M
448.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.23
13.43
-75.95%

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

Last update for Mons: April 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $667 in Mons versus $487 in Medellin. 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 448% higher in Mons, 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 $86.0 in Mons versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $339 vs $190 – 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
Mons vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Mons?
Yes – Mons is pricier by about 86%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $2,889 per month in Mons and $1,550 in Medellin. 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 Mons or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $86.0 in Mons and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Mons vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,926 in Mons and $1,034 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Mons or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,034, than in Mons at $1,926. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mons it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mons or Medellin 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, Mons or Medellin?
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, Mons makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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