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 $1,166 per month in Montego Bay vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,151 per month in Montego Bay vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,136 per month in Montego Bay vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Montego Bay is about 31% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Montego Bay sits 15% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.17 JMD 1,753

$8.02 COP 25.0K

39.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$77.3 JMD 12.1K

$47.87 COP 149.4K

61.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.69 JMD 1,363

$9.89 COP 30.8K

-12.13%

Cappuccino

$5.50 JMD 863

$3.13 COP 9,767

75.72%

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

$0.94 JMD 147

$1.91 COP 5,954

-50.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 JMD 110

$1.51 COP 4,712

-53.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 JMD 356

$3.12 COP 9,747

-27.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 JMD 483

$5.75 COP 17.9K

-46.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.40 JMD 534

$1.44 COP 4,509

136.11%

White Bread (500g)

$2.70 JMD 424

$2.49 COP 7,759

8.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 JMD 220

$1.77 COP 5,535

-20.90%

Eggs

$3.60 JMD 565

$2.96 COP 9,235

21.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.30 JMD 1,773

$10.07 COP 31.4K

12.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.25 JMD 981

$10.12 COP 31.6K

-38.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.17 JMD 1,438

$14.30 COP 44.6K

-35.87%

Apples (1kg)

$4.18 JMD 656

$4.14 COP 12.9K

0.97%

Banana (1kg)

$2.50 JMD 392

$1.61 COP 5,019

55.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.53 JMD 1,181

$2.25 COP 7,007

234.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.48 JMD 388

$2.25 COP 7,028

10.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.47 JMD 388

$2.04 COP 6,375

21.08%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 JMD 430

$1.54 COP 4,790

77.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.53 JMD 397

$1.17 COP 3,651

116.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 JMD 130

$1.31 COP 4,077

-36.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.48 JMD 1,487

$3.90 COP 12.2K

143.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.31 JMD 1,774

$14.01 COP 43.7K

-19.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 JMD 445

$1.74 COP 5,439

63.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 JMD 614

$2.87 COP 8,956

36.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.92 JMD 144

$1.22 COP 3,792

-24.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 251.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.96 JMD 151

$1.31 COP 4,084

-26.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.16 JMD 496

$2.19 COP 6,825

44.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.28 JMD 984

$8.71 COP 27.2K

-27.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 JMD 209

$1.37 COP 4,260

-2.92%

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

$45.0K JMD 7.1M

$27.8K COP 86.9M

61.49%

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

$33.3K JMD 5.2M

$35.8K COP 111.6M

-6.77%

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

$176 JMD 27.6K

$177 COP 553.2K

-0.87%

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

$22.70 JMD 3,561

$13.88 COP 43.3K

63.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.70 JMD 7,640

$29.72 COP 92.8K

63.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.86 JMD 6,881

$44.88 COP 140.1K

-2.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 53.4K

Cinema Ticket

$8.53 JMD 1,338

$6.65 COP 20.7K

28.27%

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

$362 JMD 56.8K

$813 COP 2.5M

-55.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,159 JMD 1.3M

$9,187 COP 28.7M

-11.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.95 JMD 3,757

$89.5 COP 279.3K

-73.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.22 JMD 4,899

$59.0 COP 184.0K

-47.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.3 JMD 10.9K

$138 COP 431.2K

-49.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 JMD 16.1K

$102 COP 318.7K

0.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$315 JMD 49.4K

$1,062 COP 3.3M

-70.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$221 JMD 34.7K

$663 COP 2.1M

-66.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$964 JMD 151.2K

$1,888 COP 5.9M

-48.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$969 JMD 152.1K

$1,027 COP 3.2M

-5.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$605 JMD 94.9K

$678 COP 2.1M

-10.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.45

10.94

-13.62%

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

Last update for Montego Bay: September 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $315 in Montego Bay versus $1,062 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 12% higher in Medellin, 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 $77.0 in Montego Bay versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $330 vs $305 – 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 – Medellin is pricier by about 44%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,749 per month in Montego Bay and $2,521 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Montego Bay, 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 $77.0 in Montego Bay and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

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.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Montego Bay, where all-in costs run around $1,166, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Montego Bay it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Montego Bay – 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 Montego Bay. 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.