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 $942 per month in Bahia de Caraquez vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Bahia de Caraquez vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,971 per month in Bahia de Caraquez vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.

Bahia de Caraquez is about 9% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Bahia de Caraquez and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Bahia de Caraquez 30% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.42 $3.42

$5.92 COP 21.4K

-42.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.84 $47.84

$32.75 COP 118.2K

46.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.09 $8.09

$7.20 COP 26.0K

12.36%

Cappuccino

$2.63 $2.63

$1.70 COP 6,140

54.71%

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

$0.85 $0.85

$1.10 COP 3,966

-22.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.63 $0.63

$0.72 COP 2,605

-12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 $2.96

$1.67 COP 6,022

77.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.62 $4.62

$3.10 COP 11.2K

49.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.06 COP 3,809

6.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.25 COP 4,497

37.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.39 COP 5,022

26.62%

Eggs

$2.50 $2.50

$2.26 COP 8,168

10.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.18 $6.18

$4.33 COP 15.6K

42.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$5.84 COP 21.1K

-11.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$8.83 COP 31.9K

-27.29%

Apples (1kg)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.24 COP 8,099

-4.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.08 COP 3,882

-1.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.53 COP 5,522

-28.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.37 COP 4,950

-21.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.13 COP 4,078

67.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.12 COP 4,036

29.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 $0.68

$0.85 COP 3,057

-20.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.91 COP 3,281

7.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.87 $5.87

$2.33 COP 8,414

151.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.86 $11.86

$11.13 COP 40.2K

6.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.19 COP 4,309

36.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.37 COP 8,553

-10.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 $0.36

$0.79 COP 2,838

-54.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.80 $23.80

$41.13 COP 148.5K

-42.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

$1.44 COP 5,184

95.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.91 COP 6,901

-46.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.05 $10.05

$8.02 COP 28.9K

25.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 $0.67

$0.94 COP 3,385

-28.72%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$17.9K COP 64.7M

41.88%

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

$28.8K $28.8K

$26.8K COP 96.7M

7.52%

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

$38.08 $38.08

$84.0 COP 303.1K

-54.65%

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

$13.81 $13.81

$9.60 COP 34.7K

43.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.69 $31.69

$24.16 COP 87.2K

31.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.99 $29.99

$25.88 COP 93.4K

15.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.69 $14.69

$19.04 COP 68.7K

-22.85%

Cinema Ticket

$7.81 $7.81

$3.92 COP 14.1K

99.23%

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

$317 $317

$306 COP 1.1M

3.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,931 $5,931

$5,919 COP 21.4M

0.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.1 $53.1

$57.9 COP 209.1K

-8.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.91 $43.91

$31.82 COP 114.9K

37.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 $104

$99.9 COP 360.6K

4.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$107 COP 386.8K

4.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$342 $342

$487 COP 1.8M

-29.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$311 $311

$368 COP 1.3M

-15.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$631 $631

$826 COP 3.0M

-23.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$499 $499

$716 COP 2.6M

-30.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,320 $1,320

$2,925 COP 10.6M

-54.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$933 $933

$1,407 COP 5.1M

-33.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $342 in Bahia de Caraquez 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 $48.00 in Bahia de Caraquez versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $195 vs $190 – 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: $942 in Bahia de Caraquez, $1,034 in Medellin – roughly 10% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,413 per month in Bahia de Caraquez and $1,550 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 $317 per month in Bahia de Caraquez and $306 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 3% 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 $942, than in Medellin at $1,034. 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 $942 in Bahia de Caraquez to $1,034 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.