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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $952 per month in Neum vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,490 per month in Neum vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,027 per month in Neum vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Neum is about 8% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Neum and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Neum 29% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.60 BAM 14.71

$6.16 COP 20.1K

39.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.64 BAM 71.2

$32.60 COP 106.1K

27.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.53 BAM 12.88

$7.34 COP 23.9K

2.59%

Cappuccino

$1.65 BAM 2.82

$1.72 COP 5,600

-4.07%

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

$2.02 BAM 3.45

$1.05 COP 3,420

92.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 BAM 1.96

$0.77 COP 2,515

49.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.08 BAM 3.55

$1.69 COP 5,488

23.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 BAM 4.76

$3.17 COP 10.3K

-12.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 BAM 2.28

$1.05 COP 3,423

27.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 BAM 2.19

$1.30 COP 4,236

-1.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 BAM 2.70

$1.40 COP 4,544

12.86%

Eggs

$2.95 BAM 5.05

$2.16 COP 7,047

36.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.25 BAM 15.82

$4.39 COP 14.3K

110.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.51 BAM 14.56

$5.88 COP 19.1K

44.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.70 BAM 20.01

$8.64 COP 28.1K

35.42%

Apples (1kg)

$1.44 BAM 2.45

$2.28 COP 7,426

-36.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 BAM 2.80

$1.11 COP 3,604

47.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 BAM 3.32

$1.53 COP 4,983

26.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.01 BAM 3.45

$1.35 COP 4,410

48.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 BAM 1.98

$1.13 COP 3,674

2.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 BAM 1.89

$1.13 COP 3,692

-1.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 BAM 1.97

$0.85 COP 2,753

35.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 BAM 1.21

$0.91 COP 2,975

-21.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.78 BAM 6.47

$2.34 COP 7,630

61.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.04 BAM 6.91

$12.37 COP 40.3K

-67.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 BAM 1.22

$1.20 COP 3,909

-40.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.08 BAM 1.85

$2.49 COP 8,104

-56.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.82 BAM 3.11

$0.84 COP 2,728

116.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.23 BAM 60.3

$40.57 COP 132.1K

-13.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.43 BAM 2.45

$1.42 COP 4,623

0.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.09 BAM 1.86

$1.92 COP 6,235

-43.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.24 BAM 12.38

$7.66 COP 24.9K

-5.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.48 BAM 2.53

$0.99 COP 3,223

49.49%

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

$28.2K BAM 48.2K

$18.0K COP 58.7M

56.40%

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

$26.1K BAM 44.7K

$26.6K COP 86.7M

-1.88%

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

$174 BAM 298

$80.8 COP 263.1K

115.57%

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

$19.43 BAM 33.23

$9.95 COP 32.4K

95.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.03 BAM 41.10

$24.18 COP 78.7K

-0.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.92 BAM 51.2

$25.08 COP 81.7K

19.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.09 BAM 18.97

$19.15 COP 62.3K

-42.09%

Cinema Ticket

$4.67 BAM 7.99

$3.98 COP 13.0K

17.34%

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

$207 BAM 354

$305 COP 993.5K

-32.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,694 BAM 6,319

$6,059 COP 19.7M

-39.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.3 BAM 120

$58.1 COP 189.2K

21.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.78 BAM 62.9

$32.20 COP 104.8K

14.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 BAM 150

$101 COP 327.9K

-12.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 BAM 195

$108 COP 350.8K

5.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$262 BAM 448

$477 COP 1.6M

-45.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$167 BAM 285

$376 COP 1.2M

-55.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$363 BAM 621

$845 COP 2.7M

-57.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$314 BAM 537

$730 COP 2.4M

-56.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,490 BAM 4,259

$3,215 COP 10.5M

-22.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,817 BAM 3,107

$1,372 COP 4.5M

32.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$877 BAM 1,500

$617 COP 2.0M

42.18%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $262 in Neum versus $477 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 42% 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: $217 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

Neum vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 8%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,428 per month in Neum and $1,546 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 $952 in Neum and $1,031 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 $952, than in Medellin at $1,031. 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.