Cost of Living Comparison Between Ballasalla and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Ballasalla and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $877 in Ballasalla versus $1,031 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,236 in Ballasalla versus $1,599 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,595 in Ballasalla versus $2,167 in Medellin.

Living in Ballasalla costs roughly 15% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ballasalla 34% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.58 IMP 12.34

$6.16 COP 20.1K

169.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.93 IMP 8.88

$7.34 COP 23.9K

62.53%

Cappuccino

$8.25 IMP 6.14

$1.72 COP 5,599

379.65%

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

$2.71 IMP 2.02

$1.05 COP 3,420

158.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 IMP 2.13

$0.77 COP 2,515

271.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.27 IMP 3.92

$1.69 COP 5,487

211.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.23 IMP 4.63

$3.17 COP 10.3K

96.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.87 IMP 3.62

$0.84 COP 2,727

479.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.7 IMP 49.61

$40.57 COP 132.1K

64.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.92 IMP 1.43

$0.99 COP 3,223

93.94%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

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

$274 IMP 204

$80.8 COP 263.1K

238.97%

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

$41.46 IMP 30.85

$9.95 COP 32.4K

316.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.4 IMP 39.76

$24.18 COP 78.7K

121.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.6 IMP 40.60

$25.08 COP 81.6K

117.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.71 IMP 20.61

$19.15 COP 62.3K

44.70%

Cinema Ticket

$27.53 IMP 20.48

$3.98 COP 13.0K

591.71%

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

$305 COP 993.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,313 IMP 977

$477 COP 1.6M

175.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,624 IMP 1,952

$845 COP 2.7M

210.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,205 IMP 1,641

$730 COP 2.4M

201.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

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

Last update for Ballasalla: July 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,313 in Ballasalla and $477 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

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

Ballasalla vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ballasalla is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,315 in Ballasalla and $1,546 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,313 in Ballasalla versus $477 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Ballasalla runs roughly 64% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

All in, you'll spend $877 per month in Ballasalla versus $1,031 in Medellin – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $877 in Ballasalla versus $1,031 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ballasalla but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Ballasalla the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Ballasalla is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Ballasalla and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Ballasalla gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.