Cost of Living Comparison Between Montego Bay and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Montego Bay and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,295 per month in Montego Bay vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,753 per month in Montego Bay vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,210 per month in Montego Bay vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Montego Bay costs about 29% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Montego Bay and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Montego Bay 3% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.54 JMD 1,188

$5.91 COP 18.6K

27.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.2 JMD 7,898

$32.96 COP 103.8K

52.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.72 JMD 1,215

$7.43 COP 23.4K

3.90%

Cappuccino

$4.31 JMD 678

$1.65 COP 5,207

161.21%

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

$1.32 JMD 209

$1.10 COP 3,468

20.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 JMD 120

$0.78 COP 2,458

-2.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.46 JMD 388

$1.72 COP 5,412

43.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 JMD 484

$3.18 COP 10.0K

-3.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.47 JMD 390

$1.10 COP 3,474

124.55%

White Bread (500g)

$2.82 JMD 444

$1.26 COP 3,962

123.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 JMD 252

$1.38 COP 4,349

15.94%

Eggs

$3.46 JMD 544

$2.18 COP 6,858

58.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.12 JMD 1,752

$4.49 COP 14.1K

147.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.46 JMD 1,017

$5.79 COP 18.2K

11.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.69 JMD 1,211

$8.97 COP 28.2K

-14.27%

Apples (1kg)

$3.35 JMD 528

$2.32 COP 7,308

44.40%

Banana (1kg)

$3.14 JMD 495

$1.06 COP 3,352

196.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 JMD 431

$1.52 COP 4,774

80.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.79 JMD 281

$1.36 COP 4,270

31.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 JMD 321

$1.13 COP 3,552

80.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 JMD 177

$1.17 COP 3,689

-3.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.84 JMD 290

$0.90 COP 2,838

104.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 JMD 147

$0.90 COP 2,823

3.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.80 JMD 1,386

$2.23 COP 7,034

294.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.16 JMD 1,758

$12.12 COP 38.2K

-7.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 JMD 334

$1.19 COP 3,743

78.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 JMD 496

$2.48 COP 7,815

27.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.92 JMD 145

$0.85 COP 2,687

8.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.96 JMD 152

$1.42 COP 4,459

-32.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.25 JMD 512

$1.95 COP 6,141

66.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.13 JMD 966

$7.89 COP 24.8K

-22.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 JMD 194

$0.99 COP 3,118

24.24%

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

$42.4K JMD 6.7M

$17.6K COP 55.4M

140.74%

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

$33.0K JMD 5.2M

$26.8K COP 84.4M

23.10%

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

$164 JMD 25.8K

$83.0 COP 261.4K

97.23%

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

$21.61 JMD 3,404

$9.70 COP 30.5K

122.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.06 JMD 7,569

$23.52 COP 74.1K

104.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.26 JMD 5,869

$25.26 COP 79.5K

47.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

Cinema Ticket

$7.57 JMD 1,192

$3.95 COP 12.4K

91.65%

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

$62.7 JMD 9,870

$316 COP 994.2K

-80.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,854 JMD 292.0K

$5,975 COP 18.8M

-68.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.57 JMD 4,185

$60.0 COP 188.9K

-55.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.57 JMD 3,083

$31.82 COP 100.2K

-38.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.5 JMD 10.5K

$102 COP 320.1K

-34.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.1 JMD 12.0K

$107 COP 338.3K

-29.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$265 JMD 41.7K

$475 COP 1.5M

-44.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$448 JMD 70.6K

$374 COP 1.2M

19.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$662 JMD 104.3K

$849 COP 2.7M

-22.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$447 JMD 70.3K

$719 COP 2.3M

-37.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$552 JMD 87.0K

$624 COP 2.0M

-11.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

-40.43%

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

Last update for Montego Bay: July 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $265 in Montego Bay versus $475 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 13% higher in Medellin, 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 $50.0 in Montego Bay versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $284 vs $193 – 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

Montego Bay vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Montego Bay is pricier by about 29%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,943 per month in Montego Bay and $1,504 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 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.

Groceries cost about 47% 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.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Montego Bay at $1,295. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montego Bay it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.