😐A single person spends $2,339 per month in Pembroke vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,925 per month in Pembroke vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,512 per month in Pembroke vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Pembroke costs about 127% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Pembroke sits 75% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pembroke
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$58.8BMD 58.8
$6.16COP 20.1K
855.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$150BMD 150
$32.60COP 106.1K
360.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.90BMD 14.90
$7.34COP 23.9K
103.00%
Cappuccino
$4.39BMD 4.39
$1.72COP 5,599
155.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.36BMD 3.36
$1.05COP 3,420
220.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98BMD 2.98
$0.77COP 2,515
287.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.23BMD 8.23
$1.69COP 5,487
386.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.46BMD 8.46
$3.17COP 10.3K
166.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pembroke
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$4.40BMD 4.40
$1.05COP 3,423
319.05%
White Bread(500g)
$8.93BMD 8.93
$1.30COP 4,236
586.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.43BMD 5.43
$1.40COP 4,544
287.86%
Eggs
$7.64BMD 7.64
$2.16COP 7,046
253.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.73BMD 11.73
$4.39COP 14.3K
167.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$24.12BMD 24.12
$5.88COP 19.1K
310.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$31.79BMD 31.79
$8.64COP 28.1K
267.94%
Apples(1kg)
$10.29BMD 10.29
$2.28COP 7,425
351.32%
Banana(1kg)
$6.27BMD 6.27
$1.11COP 3,603
464.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$12.67BMD 12.67
$1.53COP 4,982
728.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$11.45BMD 11.45
$1.35COP 4,410
748.15%
Potato(1kg)
$8.23BMD 8.23
$1.13COP 3,674
628.32%
Onion(1kg)
$5.16BMD 5.16
$1.13COP 3,692
356.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$6.09BMD 6.09
$0.85COP 2,753
616.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$3.15BMD 3.15
$0.91COP 2,975
246.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.48BMD 17.48
$2.34COP 7,629
647.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$24.78BMD 24.78
$12.37COP 40.3K
100.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$5.46BMD 5.46
$1.20COP 3,909
355.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46BMD 4.46
$2.49COP 8,104
79.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Pembroke
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.86BMD 3.86
$0.84COP 2,727
359.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$67.4BMD 67.4
$40.57COP 132.1K
66.06%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.27BMD 6.27
$1.42COP 4,623
341.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.92COP 6,235
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$54.6BMD 54.6
$7.66COP 24.9K
613.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.29BMD 2.29
$0.99COP 3,223
131.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5KBMD 34.5K
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
91.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5KBMD 39.5K
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
48.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pembroke
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$232BMD 232
$80.8COP 263.1K
186.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$121BMD 121
$9.95COP 32.4K
1113.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$155BMD 155
$24.18COP 78.7K
540.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pembroke
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$79.2BMD 79.2
$25.08COP 81.6K
215.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.15COP 62.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.76BMD 13.76
$3.98COP 13.0K
245.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pembroke
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,332BMD 1,332
$305COP 993.4K
336.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$24.0KBMD 24.0K
$6,059COP 19.7M
296.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pembroke
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.8BMD 80.8
$58.1COP 189.2K
39.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.7BMD 60.7
$32.20COP 104.8K
88.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$135BMD 135
$101COP 327.9K
33.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128BMD 128
$108COP 350.8K
18.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pembroke
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,822BMD 3,822
$477COP 1.6M
701.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$376COP 1.2M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$845COP 2.7M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$730COP 2.4M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,763BMD 5,763
$3,215COP 10.5M
79.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,372COP 4.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pembroke
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$8,135BMD 8,135
$617COP 2.0M
1218.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.22
13.43
-46.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Pembroke: July 13, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $3,822 in Pembroke 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 1219% higher in Pembroke, 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 $150 in Pembroke versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $817 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
Pembroke vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Pembroke?
Yes – Pembroke is pricier by about 127%, 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 $3,509 per month in Pembroke and $1,546 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 Pembroke or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $150 in Pembroke and $33.00 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 Pembroke and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,339 in Pembroke and $1,031 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Pembroke or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Pembroke at $2,339. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Pembroke it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Pembroke 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 safer, Pembroke or Medellin?
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.
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, Pembroke makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.