Cost of Living Comparison Between Newcastle and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Newcastle and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $969 per month in Newcastle vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,514 per month in Newcastle vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,060 per month in Newcastle vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.

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

Both Newcastle and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Newcastle 28% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Newcastle
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.48 R 142
$5.92 COP 21.4K
43.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.00 R 570
$32.75 COP 118.2K
3.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.89 R 82.0
$7.20 COP 26.0K
-32.08%
Cappuccino
$2.10 R 35.25
$1.70 COP 6,140
23.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02 R 17.17
$1.10 COP 3,966
-7.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 R 14.01
$0.72 COP 2,605
16.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.18 R 36.63
$1.67 COP 6,022
30.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 R 47.50
$3.10 COP 11.2K
-8.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Newcastle
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.19 R 20.03
$1.06 COP 3,809
12.26%
White Bread (500g)
$1.02 R 17.18
$1.25 COP 4,497
-18.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.22 R 20.51
$1.39 COP 5,022
-12.23%
Eggs
$1.70 R 28.47
$2.26 COP 8,168
-24.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.10 R 102
$4.33 COP 15.6K
40.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.58 R 76.8
$5.84 COP 21.1K
-21.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.55 R 110
$8.83 COP 31.9K
-25.82%
Apples (1kg)
$0.83 R 13.89
$2.24 COP 8,099
-62.95%
Banana (1kg)
$0.95 R 16.00
$1.08 COP 3,882
-12.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.87 R 14.66
$1.53 COP 5,522
-43.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.28 R 21.45
$1.37 COP 4,950
-6.57%
Potato (1kg)
$0.88 R 14.82
$1.13 COP 4,078
-22.12%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 R 19.70
$1.12 COP 4,036
4.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 R 11.18
$0.85 COP 3,057
-21.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 R 9.73
$0.91 COP 3,281
-36.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87 R 48.09
$2.33 COP 8,414
23.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$2.97 R 49.74
$11.13 COP 40.2K
-73.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.35 R 22.70
$1.19 COP 4,309
13.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 R 13.61
$2.37 COP 8,553
-65.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Newcastle
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.62 R 27.18
$0.79 COP 2,838
105.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$41.13 COP 148.5K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.38 R 23.22
$1.44 COP 5,184
-4.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.32 R 22.18
$1.91 COP 6,901
-30.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.99 R 50.1
$8.02 COP 28.9K
-62.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 R 22.06
$0.94 COP 3,385
40.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4K R 326.2K
$17.9K COP 64.7M
8.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K R 439.0K
$26.8K COP 96.7M
-2.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Newcastle
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 R 2,042
$84.0 COP 303.1K
45.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.88 R 618
$9.60 COP 34.7K
284.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.69 R 649
$24.16 COP 87.2K
60.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Newcastle
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.23 R 524
$25.88 COP 93.4K
20.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.04 COP 68.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.44 R 125
$3.92 COP 14.1K
89.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Newcastle
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$195 R 3,273
$306 COP 1.1M
-36.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,405 R 73.9K
$5,919 COP 21.4M
-25.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Newcastle
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.1 R 841
$57.9 COP 209.1K
-13.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.78 R 550
$31.82 COP 114.9K
3.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.5 R 1,451
$99.9 COP 360.6K
-13.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.1 R 1,512
$107 COP 386.8K
-15.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Newcastle
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$361 R 6,058
$487 COP 1.8M
-25.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$333 R 5,585
$368 COP 1.3M
-9.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$688 R 11.5K
$826 COP 3.0M
-16.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$685 R 11.5K
$716 COP 2.6M
-4.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$771 R 12.9K
$2,925 COP 10.6M
-73.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$730 R 12.2K
$1,407 COP 5.1M
-48.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Newcastle
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$546 COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.69
13.43
-12.96%

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

Last update for Newcastle: April 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $361 in Newcastle versus $487 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Newcastle versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $143 in Newcastle vs $190 in Medellin – so Newcastle wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Newcastle vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Newcastle?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 7%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,453 per month in Newcastle and $1,550 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 Newcastle, 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 Newcastle or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Newcastle and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Newcastle and Medellin?
Groceries cost about 32% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Newcastle or Medellin?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Newcastle, where all-in costs run around $969, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Newcastle it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Newcastle or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Newcastle – 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 Newcastle. 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.

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