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 $1,314 per month in Montego Bay vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,787 per month in Montego Bay vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,261 per month in Montego Bay vs $2,188 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 2% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.54 JMD 1,186

$5.95 COP 20.8K

26.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.3 JMD 7,905

$33.33 COP 116.3K

50.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.38 JMD 1,161

$7.23 COP 25.2K

2.07%

Cappuccino

$4.31 JMD 678

$1.63 COP 5,687

164.42%

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

$1.33 JMD 209

$1.09 COP 3,821

22.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 JMD 120

$0.73 COP 2,548

4.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 JMD 382

$1.74 COP 6,065

39.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 JMD 500

$3.23 COP 11.3K

-1.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.53 JMD 397

$1.05 COP 3,662

140.95%

White Bread (500g)

$2.76 JMD 434

$1.29 COP 4,515

113.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 JMD 257

$1.32 COP 4,617

23.48%

Eggs

$3.56 JMD 559

$2.27 COP 7,927

56.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.94 JMD 1,721

$4.35 COP 15.2K

151.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.45 JMD 1,014

$5.88 COP 20.5K

9.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.56 JMD 1,189

$8.61 COP 30.0K

-12.20%

Apples (1kg)

$3.42 JMD 537

$2.25 COP 7,844

52.00%

Banana (1kg)

$3.14 JMD 494

$1.07 COP 3,733

193.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 JMD 427

$1.52 COP 5,322

78.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.75 JMD 275

$1.42 COP 4,964

23.24%

Potato (1kg)

$2.03 JMD 319

$1.17 COP 4,084

73.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 JMD 178

$1.17 COP 4,077

-3.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.91 JMD 301

$0.89 COP 3,096

114.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 JMD 149

$0.90 COP 3,146

5.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.03 JMD 1,420

$2.25 COP 7,837

301.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.28 JMD 1,773

$11.04 COP 38.5K

2.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 JMD 332

$1.14 COP 3,977

85.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 JMD 497

$2.38 COP 8,301

32.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 JMD 151

$0.84 COP 2,916

14.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 JMD 143

$1.41 COP 4,912

-35.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.21 JMD 505

$1.90 COP 6,634

68.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.40 JMD 1,006

$7.75 COP 27.0K

-17.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 JMD 203

$1.01 COP 3,509

27.72%

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

$43.6K JMD 6.9M

$17.6K COP 61.4M

147.99%

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

$33.7K JMD 5.3M

$26.5K COP 92.5M

27.28%

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

$163 JMD 25.6K

$83.7 COP 292.1K

94.41%

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

$21.15 JMD 3,327

$9.45 COP 33.0K

123.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.83 JMD 7,522

$24.11 COP 84.1K

98.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.84 JMD 5,952

$25.31 COP 88.3K

49.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$7.55 JMD 1,188

$4.10 COP 14.3K

84.15%

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

$63.0 JMD 9,903

$312 COP 1.1M

-79.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,913 JMD 300.9K

$5,993 COP 20.9M

-68.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.80 JMD 4,057

$58.0 COP 202.6K

-55.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.75 JMD 3,106

$32.56 COP 113.6K

-39.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.6 JMD 10.5K

$99.6 COP 347.7K

-33.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.2 JMD 11.8K

$109 COP 378.8K

-30.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$266 JMD 41.8K

$482 COP 1.7M

-44.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$448 JMD 70.4K

$379 COP 1.3M

17.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$648 JMD 102.0K

$837 COP 2.9M

-22.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$442 JMD 69.6K

$723 COP 2.5M

-38.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$552 JMD 86.8K

$541 COP 1.9M

1.99%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $266 in Montego Bay versus $482 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 2% 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 $50.0 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.

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 $1,971 per month in Montego Bay and $1,525 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 50% 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 $1,017, than in Montego Bay at $1,314. 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.