Cost of Living Comparison Between Neum and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Neum and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $954 per month in Neum vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,494 per month in Neum vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,035 per month in Neum vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Neum is about 6% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Neum and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Neum 29% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.66 BAM 14.56

$5.99 COP 21.4K

44.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.82 BAM 70.3

$32.86 COP 117.4K

27.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.63 BAM 12.82

$7.09 COP 25.3K

7.62%

Cappuccino

$1.65 BAM 2.77

$1.71 COP 6,115

-3.51%

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

$1.94 BAM 3.26

$1.10 COP 3,924

76.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.21 BAM 2.03

$0.78 COP 2,781

55.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.09 BAM 3.51

$1.68 COP 5,997

24.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 BAM 4.72

$3.07 COP 11.0K

-8.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 BAM 2.22

$1.09 COP 3,906

21.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 BAM 2.07

$1.26 COP 4,508

-2.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 BAM 2.65

$1.38 COP 4,922

14.49%

Eggs

$3.01 BAM 5.05

$2.19 COP 7,827

37.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.60 BAM 16.12

$4.40 COP 15.7K

118.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.75 BAM 14.71

$5.63 COP 20.1K

55.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.61 BAM 19.50

$8.89 COP 31.8K

30.60%

Apples (1kg)

$1.41 BAM 2.37

$2.34 COP 8,349

-39.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 BAM 2.75

$1.06 COP 3,777

54.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 BAM 3.26

$1.50 COP 5,374

29.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.04 BAM 3.43

$1.38 COP 4,924

47.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 BAM 1.94

$1.15 COP 4,111

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 BAM 1.86

$1.16 COP 4,155

-4.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.21 BAM 2.04

$0.89 COP 3,182

35.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 BAM 1.23

$0.84 COP 2,997

-13.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.63 BAM 6.10

$2.28 COP 8,145

59.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.06 BAM 6.81

$10.64 COP 38.0K

-61.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 BAM 1.28

$1.20 COP 4,284

-36.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 BAM 1.90

$2.47 COP 8,824

-54.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.85 BAM 3.11

$0.86 COP 3,056

115.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.69 BAM 58.3

$41.40 COP 147.9K

-16.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 BAM 2.52

$1.47 COP 5,264

2.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 BAM 1.84

$1.96 COP 7,009

-43.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.28 BAM 12.23

$7.74 COP 27.6K

-5.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 BAM 2.60

$0.95 COP 3,409

62.11%

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

$29.1K BAM 48.8K

$18.1K COP 64.7M

60.36%

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

$26.4K BAM 44.3K

$26.5K COP 94.6M

-0.45%

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

$174 BAM 292

$82.3 COP 293.7K

111.32%

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

$18.87 BAM 31.70

$9.50 COP 33.9K

98.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.01 BAM 40.33

$24.23 COP 86.5K

-0.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.99 BAM 48.71

$25.89 COP 92.4K

11.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.97 BAM 18.43

$19.00 COP 67.9K

-42.26%

Cinema Ticket

$4.81 BAM 8.08

$3.93 COP 14.0K

22.39%

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

$203 BAM 342

$309 COP 1.1M

-34.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,618 BAM 6,079

$5,965 COP 21.3M

-39.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.6 BAM 117

$58.7 COP 209.5K

18.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.84 BAM 60.2

$32.35 COP 115.5K

10.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.3 BAM 150

$103 COP 366.4K

-12.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 BAM 186

$108 COP 387.2K

1.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$261 BAM 438

$476 COP 1.7M

-45.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$169 BAM 284

$379 COP 1.4M

-55.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$363 BAM 610

$838 COP 3.0M

-56.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$315 BAM 529

$724 COP 2.6M

-56.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,608 BAM 4,382

$2,791 COP 10.0M

-6.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,838 BAM 3,088

$1,211 COP 4.3M

51.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$882 BAM 1,482

$512 COP 1.8M

72.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.9

13.43

-78.41%

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

Last update for Neum: May 31, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $261 in Neum versus $476 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 72% higher in Neum, 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 $42.00 in Neum versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $220 vs $188 – 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

Neum vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 6%, 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 $1,431 per month in Neum and $1,519 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Neum, 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 $42.00 in Neum and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $954 in Neum and $1,013 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Neum, where all-in costs run around $954, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Neum it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Neum – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Neum. 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.