😐A single person spends $1,287 per month in Montego Bay vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,759 per month in Montego Bay vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,231 per month in Montego Bay vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Montego Bay costs about 25% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Montego Bay and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Montego Bay4% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Montego Bay
Medellin
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.69JMD 1,212
$5.92COP 21.5K
29.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.9JMD 8,010
$32.75COP 119.1K
55.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.30JMD 1,150
$7.20COP 26.2K
1.39%
Cappuccino
$4.38JMD 690
$1.70COP 6,186
157.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37JMD 217
$1.10COP 3,996
24.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71JMD 112
$0.72COP 2,625
-1.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.48JMD 390
$1.67COP 6,067
48.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08JMD 485
$3.10COP 11.3K
-0.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montego Bay
Medellin
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$2.52JMD 397
$1.06COP 3,837
137.74%
White Bread(500g)
$2.68JMD 422
$1.25COP 4,531
114.40%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57JMD 247
$1.39COP 5,060
12.95%
Eggs
$3.60JMD 566
$2.26COP 8,229
59.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.03JMD 1,737
$4.33COP 15.8K
154.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.43JMD 1,013
$5.84COP 21.2K
10.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.77JMD 1,223
$8.83COP 32.1K
-12.00%
Apples(1kg)
$3.37JMD 531
$2.24COP 8,159
50.45%
Banana(1kg)
$3.09JMD 487
$1.08COP 3,911
186.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.84JMD 447
$1.53COP 5,563
85.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.76JMD 278
$1.37COP 4,987
28.47%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12JMD 334
$1.13COP 4,109
87.61%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13JMD 178
$1.12COP 4,067
0.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.91JMD 301
$0.85COP 3,080
124.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.93JMD 146
$0.91COP 3,305
2.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.61JMD 1,356
$2.33COP 8,477
269.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.46JMD 1,805
$11.13COP 40.5K
2.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.11JMD 332
$1.19COP 4,342
77.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06JMD 483
$2.37COP 8,617
29.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Montego Bay
Medellin
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.93JMD 146
$0.79COP 2,859
17.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.13COP 149.6K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.93JMD 146
$1.44COP 5,223
-35.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.22JMD 507
$1.91COP 6,952
68.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.37JMD 1,004
$8.02COP 29.2K
-20.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.24JMD 196
$0.94COP 3,410
31.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.3KJMD 6.7M
$17.9KCOP 65.2M
135.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1KJMD 5.4M
$26.8KCOP 97.4M
27.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montego Bay
Medellin
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$163JMD 25.6K
$84.0COP 305.4K
93.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.26JMD 3,348
$9.60COP 34.9K
121.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.70JMD 7,512
$24.16COP 87.9K
97.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montego Bay
Medellin
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.35JMD 5,882
$25.88COP 94.1K
44.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.04COP 69.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.54JMD 1,188
$3.92COP 14.2K
92.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montego Bay
Medellin
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$62.6JMD 9,854
$306COP 1.1M
-79.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,882JMD 296.4K
$5,919COP 21.5M
-68.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montego Bay
Medellin
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.12JMD 4,113
$57.9COP 210.6K
-54.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.10JMD 3,166
$31.82COP 115.7K
-36.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.2JMD 10.4K
$99.9COP 363.3K
-33.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.8JMD 11.9K
$107COP 389.7K
-29.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montego Bay
Medellin
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$257JMD 40.4K
$487COP 1.8M
-47.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$461JMD 72.6K
$368COP 1.3M
25.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$669JMD 105.3K
$826COP 3.0M
-19.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$431JMD 67.9K
$716COP 2.6M
-39.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,925COP 10.6M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,407COP 5.1M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montego Bay
Medellin
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$562JMD 88.5K
$546COP 2.0M
3.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8
13.43
-40.43%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Montego Bay: April 25, 2026
Última actualización para Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $257 in Montego Bay 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 3% higher in Montego Bay, 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 $51.0 in Montego Bay versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $284 vs $190 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Montego Bay vs Medellin: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Is Medellin cheaper than Montego Bay?
Yes – Montego Bay is pricier by about 25%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,931 per month in Montego Bay 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 Montego Bay or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in Montego Bay and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Montego Bay and Medellin?
Groceries cost about 49% more in Montego Bay, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Montego Bay or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,034, than in Montego Bay at $1,287. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montego Bay it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Montego Bay 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 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, Montego Bay makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Montego Bay vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado