Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montgomery, AL and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,614 a month against $2,354 in Montgomery, AL, rent and utilities included – about $8,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Montgomery, AL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,354
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,614
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montgomery, AL and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Montgomery, AL and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,354 per month in Montgomery, AL vs $1,614 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Montgomery, AL $2,354
  • Medellin $1,614

A couple spends around $3,197 per month in Montgomery, AL vs $2,402 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Montgomery, AL $3,197
  • Medellin $2,402

A family of three spends $4,039 per month in Montgomery, AL vs $3,190 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Montgomery, AL $4,039
  • Medellin $3,190

Montgomery, AL costs about 46% more than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Montgomery, AL and Medellin sit above the global median – Montgomery, AL by 74%, Medellin by 20%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montgomery, AL
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.11 $16.11
$7.93 COP 25.2K
103.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.6 $55.6
$46.13 COP 146.3K
20.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.30 $10.30
$9.50 COP 30.1K
8.42%
Cappuccino
$5.36 $5.36
$3.11 COP 9,866
72.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62 $2.62
$1.83 COP 5,800
43.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 $2.07
$1.38 COP 4,360
50.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.37 $4.37
$3.05 COP 9,672
43.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.89 $4.89
$5.50 COP 17.4K
-11.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montgomery, AL
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.85 $0.85
$1.45 COP 4,600
-41.38%
White Bread (500g)
$3.59 $3.59
$2.36 COP 7,496
52.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.05 $2.05
$1.68 COP 5,328
22.02%
Eggs
$3.14 $3.14
$2.86 COP 9,077
9.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.96 $7.96
$10.19 COP 32.3K
-21.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.39 $7.39
$9.53 COP 30.2K
-22.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.27 $14.27
$14.04 COP 44.5K
1.64%
Apples (1kg)
$3.98 $3.98
$4.07 COP 12.9K
-2.21%
Banana (1kg)
$1.28 $1.28
$1.50 COP 4,742
-14.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 $1.96
$2.17 COP 6,891
-9.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.16 $4.16
$2.31 COP 7,310
80.09%
Potato (1kg)
$3.11 $3.11
$1.93 COP 6,113
61.14%
Onion (1kg)
$2.66 $2.66
$1.64 COP 5,196
62.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.09 $2.09
$1.13 COP 3,571
84.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 $2.18
$1.25 COP 3,954
74.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.89 $8.89
$3.99 COP 12.6K
122.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.07 $15.07
$13.35 COP 42.3K
12.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.94 $1.94
$1.70 COP 5,384
14.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.86 $3.86
$2.37 COP 7,525
62.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Montgomery, AL
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.04 $2.04
$1.21 COP 3,827
68.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.02 $45.02
$76.5 COP 242.5K
-41.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.32 COP 4,179
91.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.60 $1.60
$2.14 COP 6,774
-25.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.54 $25.54
$8.47 COP 26.8K
201.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90 $0.90
$1.30 COP 4,114
-30.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.7K $31.7K
$28.0K COP 88.7M
13.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$35.4K COP 112.3M
-26.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montgomery, AL
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$309 $309
$172 COP 545.6K
79.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.7 $50.7
$13.37 COP 42.4K
279.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.5 $72.5
$28.73 COP 91.1K
152.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montgomery, AL
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.83 $37.83
$45.24 COP 143.5K
-16.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.52 $28.52
$17.04 COP 54.0K
67.37%
Cinema Ticket
$9.81 $9.81
$6.28 COP 19.9K
56.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montgomery, AL
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,380 $1,380
$770 COP 2.4M
79.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.7K $13.7K
$9,011 COP 28.6M
52.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montgomery, AL
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.94 $48.94
$86.4 COP 274.0K
-43.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.52 $35.52
$57.1 COP 181.1K
-37.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.2 $86.2
$137 COP 432.9K
-36.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.5 $96.5
$97.9 COP 310.4K
-1.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montgomery, AL
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,287 $1,287
$1,055 COP 3.3M
21.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,084 $1,084
$616 COP 2.0M
76.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,589 $1,589
$1,892 COP 6.0M
-16.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,455 $1,455
$1,023 COP 3.2M
42.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,368 $1,368
$4,059 COP 12.9M
-66.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,309 $1,309
$1,678 COP 5.3M
-21.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montgomery, AL
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,632 $3,632
$652 COP 2.1M
456.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.54
10.94
-40.22%

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

Last update for Montgomery, AL: October 11, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montgomery, AL
$1.1K
Medellin
$616 43.2% $469
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montgomery, AL
$432
Medellin
$214 50.5% $218
Groceries & Markets
Montgomery, AL
$322
Medellin
$295 8.4% $27
Eating Out
Montgomery, AL
$274
Medellin
$168 38.6% $106
Clothing & Footwear
Montgomery, AL
$120
Medellin
$170 41.5% $50
Getting Around
Montgomery, AL
$64
Medellin
$93 46.4% $30
Sport & Entertainment
Montgomery, AL
$57
Medellin
$58 0.6% $0.4

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,287 in Montgomery, AL versus $1,055 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 457% higher in Montgomery, AL, 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 $56.0 in Montgomery, AL versus $46.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $322 vs $295 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Montgomery, AL
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
13:15 1:15 PM
13:15 1:15 PM
Same time as Montgomery, AL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
200,603
2,486,723
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Montgomery, AL Medellin 3,110 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Montgomery, AL
  • Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Montgomery, AL vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Montgomery, AL?
Yes – Montgomery, AL is pricier by about 46%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,531 per month in Montgomery, AL and $2,421 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 Montgomery, AL or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $56.0 in Montgomery, AL and $46.00 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 Montgomery, AL and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,354 in Montgomery, AL and $1,614 in Medellin. That's a gap of about 46%.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Montgomery, AL or in Medellin?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,614, than in Montgomery, AL at $2,354. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montgomery, AL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Montgomery, AL 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, Montgomery, AL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Montgomery, AL vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?