😐A single person spends $2,231 per month in Mont-Laurier vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,224 per month in Mont-Laurier vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,217 per month in Mont-Laurier vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Mont-Laurier costs about 36% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Mont-Laurier and Medellin sit above the global median – Mont-Laurier by 62%, Medellin by 19%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mont-Laurier
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.25CA$25.31
$8.04COP 24.8K
126.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.9CA$101
$48.29COP 148.6K
50.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.94CA$15.18
$9.42COP 29.0K
16.14%
Cappuccino
$4.01CA$5.56
$2.94COP 9,040
36.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06CA$2.86
$1.86COP 5,735
10.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55CA$2.15
$1.46COP 4,479
6.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.55CA$9.08
$3.21COP 9,882
104.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.31CA$10.13
$5.71COP 17.6K
28.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mont-Laurier
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.36CA$3.27
$1.44COP 4,428
63.89%
White Bread(500g)
$2.76CA$3.83
$2.40COP 7,389
15.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.52CA$3.50
$1.70COP 5,228
48.24%
Eggs
$3.33CA$4.62
$2.89COP 8,896
15.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.86CA$8.13
$10.06COP 30.9K
-41.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.60CA$16.09
$9.97COP 30.7K
16.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.37CA$19.92
$14.20COP 43.7K
1.20%
Apples(1kg)
$3.69CA$5.11
$3.98COP 12.3K
-7.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56CA$2.17
$1.58COP 4,878
-1.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.43CA$4.76
$2.15COP 6,624
59.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.94CA$4.08
$2.30COP 7,078
27.83%
Potato(1kg)
$1.46CA$2.02
$2.00COP 6,169
-27.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.07CA$1.48
$1.51COP 4,646
-29.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93CA$2.68
$1.20COP 3,701
60.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.38CA$1.92
$1.28COP 3,946
7.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.50CA$14.56
$3.84COP 11.8K
173.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.21CA$8.62
$14.01COP 43.1K
-55.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.38CA$3.31
$1.71COP 5,256
39.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02CA$4.18
$2.74COP 8,440
10.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Mont-Laurier
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.40CA$3.33
$1.25COP 3,834
92.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$63.4CA$88.0
$77.9COP 239.7K
-18.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.20CA$4.43
$1.31COP 4,016
144.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.51CA$2.10
$2.17COP 6,680
-30.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.49CA$46.44
$8.29COP 25.5K
303.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.12CA$1.55
$1.36COP 4,172
-17.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1KCA$39.0K
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
2.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.9KCA$27.6K
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
-45.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mont-Laurier
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8CA$112
$169COP 519.2K
-52.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.43CA$49.14
$13.57COP 41.8K
161.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.20CA$57.1
$28.32COP 87.2K
45.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mont-Laurier
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.44CA$58.9
$45.71COP 140.7K
-7.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.41CA$25.53
$17.22COP 53.0K
6.91%
Cinema Ticket
$11.65CA$16.16
$6.65COP 20.5K
75.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mont-Laurier
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$575CA$798
$803COP 2.5M
-28.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.6KCA$23.0K
$9,190COP 28.3M
80.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mont-Laurier
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3CA$80.8
$87.4COP 268.8K
-33.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.04CA$58.3
$59.4COP 182.7K
-29.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106CA$147
$139COP 427.5K
-23.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115CA$159
$102COP 314.0K
12.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mont-Laurier
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,279CA$1,774
$1,071COP 3.3M
19.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,165CA$1,615
$653COP 2.0M
78.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,032CA$2,819
$1,925COP 5.9M
5.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,720CA$2,385
$1,048COP 3.2M
64.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,387CA$6,085
$4,123COP 12.7M
6.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,623CA$5,025
$1,697COP 5.2M
113.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mont-Laurier
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$655COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.41
10.94
-59.69%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mont-Laurier: September 5, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,279 in Mont-Laurier versus $1,071 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $73.0 in Mont-Laurier versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $311 vs $300 – 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
Mont-Laurier vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Mont-Laurier?
Yes – Mont-Laurier is pricier by about 36%, 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 $3,346 per month in Mont-Laurier and $2,462 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 Mont-Laurier or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $73.0 in Mont-Laurier and $48.00 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 Mont-Laurier and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,231 in Mont-Laurier and $1,641 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Mont-Laurier or in Medellin?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,641, than in Mont-Laurier at $2,231. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mont-Laurier it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mont-Laurier 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, Mont-Laurier 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, Mont-Laurier makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Mont-Laurier vs other spots: cost of living compared