😐A single person spends $3,927 per month in Simpson Bay vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $6,485 per month in Simpson Bay vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $9,042 per month in Simpson Bay vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Simpson Bay costs about 129% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Simpson Bay and Medellin sit above the global median – Simpson Bay by 186%, Medellin by 25%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Simpson Bay
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.94ANG 33.81
$8.03COP 25.2K
135.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$130ANG 232
$48.26COP 151.7K
169.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.03ANG 23.26
$9.77COP 30.7K
33.37%
Cappuccino
$4.44ANG 7.92
$2.91COP 9,149
52.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03ANG 5.40
$1.94COP 6,110
56.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92ANG 5.22
$1.52COP 4,783
92.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.60ANG 10.00
$3.09COP 9,721
81.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.93ANG 7.01
$5.74COP 18.1K
-31.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Simpson Bay
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$4.06ANG 7.25
$1.36COP 4,287
198.53%
White Bread(500g)
$2.82ANG 5.03
$2.39COP 7,505
17.99%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.04ANG 5.42
$1.70COP 5,346
78.82%
Eggs
$4.44ANG 7.93
$2.87COP 9,021
54.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$24.67ANG 44.04
$9.94COP 31.2K
148.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.58ANG 24.25
$10.78COP 33.9K
25.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.97ANG 30.30
$14.73COP 46.3K
15.21%
Apples(1kg)
$4.28ANG 7.64
$4.09COP 12.8K
4.65%
Banana(1kg)
$3.56ANG 6.35
$1.57COP 4,940
126.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$6.62ANG 11.81
$2.13COP 6,682
210.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.04ANG 8.99
$2.21COP 6,959
128.05%
Potato(1kg)
$4.03ANG 7.20
$2.05COP 6,435
96.59%
Onion(1kg)
$3.47ANG 6.19
$1.50COP 4,728
131.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.05ANG 5.45
$1.19COP 3,740
156.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40ANG 2.51
$1.16COP 3,640
20.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$3.90COP 12.2K
-
Wine(Bottle)
$15.27ANG 27.26
$14.44COP 45.4K
5.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.58COP 4,978
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71ANG 3.05
$2.83COP 8,889
-39.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Simpson Bay
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.05ANG 5.45
$1.17COP 3,672
160.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$77.7COP 244.3K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$14.81ANG 26.44
$1.28COP 4,038
1057.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$2.09COP 6,576
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$8.62COP 27.1K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32ANG 2.36
$1.30COP 4,080
1.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$27.7KCOP 86.9M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$35.5KCOP 111.6M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Simpson Bay
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$505ANG 902
$176COP 553.4K
186.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.81ANG 62.1
$13.37COP 42.0K
160.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$88.2ANG 157
$29.89COP 94.0K
194.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Simpson Bay
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$73.7ANG 131
$44.76COP 140.7K
64.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.06COP 53.6K
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.23ANG 14.69
$6.20COP 19.5K
32.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Simpson Bay
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$753ANG 1,345
$793COP 2.5M
-5.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.0KANG 21.5K
$9,019COP 28.4M
33.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Simpson Bay
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.2ANG 89.6
$85.6COP 269.1K
-41.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.86ANG 71.1
$58.5COP 183.8K
-31.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100ANG 179
$136COP 428.4K
-26.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.4ANG 106
$103COP 324.1K
-42.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Simpson Bay
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,297ANG 4,101
$1,060COP 3.3M
116.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,280ANG 4,070
$680COP 2.1M
235.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$5,893ANG 10.5K
$2,012COP 6.3M
192.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$5,742ANG 10.2K
$1,169COP 3.7M
391.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,111COP 12.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,701COP 5.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Simpson Bay
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$665COP 2.1M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
10.94
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Simpson Bay: August 31, 2026
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $2,297 in Simpson Bay versus $1,060 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 $130 in Simpson Bay versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $468 vs $303 – 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
Simpson Bay vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Simpson Bay?
Yes – Simpson Bay is pricier by about 129%, 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 $5,891 per month in Simpson Bay and $2,574 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 Simpson Bay or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $130 in Simpson Bay and $48.00 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 Simpson Bay and in Medellin?
Groceries cost about 54% more in Simpson Bay, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Simpson Bay or in Medellin?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,716, than in Simpson Bay at $3,927. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Simpson Bay it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Simpson Bay 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, Simpson Bay makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Simpson Bay vs other spots: cost of living compared