Cost of Living Comparison Between Bahia de Caraquez and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Bahia de Caraquez and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $922 per month in Bahia de Caraquez vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,437 per month in Bahia de Caraquez vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,952 per month in Bahia de Caraquez vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Bahia de Caraquez is about 8% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Bahia de Caraquez and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Bahia de Caraquez 31% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.55 $3.55

$5.91 COP 18.6K

-39.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.14 $47.14

$32.96 COP 103.8K

43.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.90 $7.90

$7.43 COP 23.4K

6.33%

Cappuccino

$2.60 $2.60

$1.65 COP 5,207

57.58%

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

$0.92 $0.92

$1.10 COP 3,468

-16.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 $0.66

$0.78 COP 2,458

-15.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.07 $3.07

$1.72 COP 5,412

78.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.18 COP 10.0K

38.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.10 COP 3,474

-1.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.26 COP 3,962

41.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.38 COP 4,349

23.19%

Eggs

$2.52 $2.52

$2.18 COP 6,858

15.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.03 $6.03

$4.49 COP 14.1K

34.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.32 $5.32

$5.79 COP 18.2K

-8.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.10 $6.10

$8.97 COP 28.2K

-32.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.11 $2.11

$2.32 COP 7,308

-9.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.06 COP 3,352

Oranges (1kg)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.52 COP 4,774

-30.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.36 COP 4,270

-20.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 $1.79

$1.13 COP 3,552

58.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.17 COP 3,689

18.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 $0.73

$0.90 COP 2,838

-18.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 $0.99

$0.90 COP 2,823

10.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.86 $5.86

$2.23 COP 7,034

162.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.78 $11.78

$12.12 COP 38.2K

-2.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 $1.62

$1.19 COP 3,743

36.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.48 COP 7,815

-14.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 $0.34

$0.85 COP 2,687

-60.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.52 $23.52

$41.62 COP 131.0K

-43.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 $2.73

$1.42 COP 4,459

92.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.95 COP 6,141

-48.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.94 $9.94

$7.89 COP 24.8K

25.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 $0.67

$0.99 COP 3,118

-32.32%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$17.6K COP 55.4M

44.15%

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

$29.2K $29.2K

$26.8K COP 84.4M

9.08%

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

$37.87 $37.87

$83.0 COP 261.4K

-54.38%

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

$13.79 $13.79

$9.70 COP 30.5K

42.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.46 $32.46

$23.52 COP 74.1K

38.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.49 $29.49

$25.26 COP 79.5K

16.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.35 $14.35

$19.10 COP 60.1K

-24.87%

Cinema Ticket

$7.67 $7.67

$3.95 COP 12.4K

94.18%

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

$320 $320

$316 COP 994.2K

1.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,767 $5,767

$5,975 COP 18.8M

-3.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.3 $52.3

$60.0 COP 188.9K

-12.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.45 $42.45

$31.82 COP 100.2K

33.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$102 COP 320.1K

1.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 $111

$107 COP 338.3K

3.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$347 $347

$475 COP 1.5M

-26.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$321 $321

$374 COP 1.2M

-14.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$629 $629

$849 COP 2.7M

-25.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$499 $499

$719 COP 2.3M

-30.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,294 $1,294

$3,265 COP 10.3M

-60.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$811 $811

$1,441 COP 4.5M

-43.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.35

13.43

-30.38%

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

Last update for Bahia de Caraquez: July 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $347 in Bahia de Caraquez versus $475 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 $47.00 in Bahia de Caraquez versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $194 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

Bahia de Caraquez vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $922 in Bahia de Caraquez, $1,003 in Medellin – roughly 9% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,382 per month in Bahia de Caraquez and $1,504 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bahia de Caraquez, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $320 per month in Bahia de Caraquez and $316 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 0% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Bahia de Caraquez, where all-in costs run around $922, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Bahia de Caraquez it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Bahia de Caraquez has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $922 in Bahia de Caraquez to $1,003 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Bahia de Caraquez. 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.