Cost of Living Comparison Between Balti and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Balti and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $986 per month in Balti vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,259 per month in Balti vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,532 per month in Balti vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Balti is about 4% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Balti and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Balti 26% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.29 MDL 144

$6.16 COP 20.1K

34.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.13 MDL 629

$32.60 COP 106.1K

10.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.67 MDL 133

$7.34 COP 23.9K

4.50%

Cappuccino

$1.61 MDL 28.01

$1.72 COP 5,600

-6.40%

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

$0.99 MDL 17.30

$1.05 COP 3,420

-5.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 MDL 12.01

$0.77 COP 2,515

-10.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.73 MDL 30.13

$1.69 COP 5,488

2.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 MDL 38.05

$3.17 COP 10.3K

-30.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 MDL 21.34

$1.05 COP 3,423

17.14%

White Bread (500g)

$0.39 MDL 6.85

$1.30 COP 4,236

-70.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 MDL 26.22

$1.40 COP 4,544

7.86%

Eggs

$1.60 MDL 27.82

$2.16 COP 7,047

-25.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.22 MDL 161

$4.39 COP 14.3K

110.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.49 MDL 78.2

$5.88 COP 19.1K

-23.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.60 MDL 150

$8.64 COP 28.1K

-0.46%

Apples (1kg)

$0.89 MDL 15.43

$2.28 COP 7,426

-60.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 MDL 31.38

$1.11 COP 3,604

62.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.54 MDL 26.85

$1.53 COP 4,983

0.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.07 MDL 36.07

$1.35 COP 4,410

53.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 MDL 11.97

$1.13 COP 3,674

-38.94%

Onion (1kg)

$0.56 MDL 9.68

$1.13 COP 3,692

-50.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 MDL 23.37

$0.85 COP 2,753

57.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 MDL 14.78

$0.91 COP 2,975

-6.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.29 MDL 57.4

$2.34 COP 7,630

40.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.43 MDL 77.2

$12.37 COP 40.3K

-64.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 MDL 21.32

$1.20 COP 3,909

1.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 MDL 34.29

$2.49 COP 8,104

-20.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 MDL 6.34

$0.84 COP 2,728

-57.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.03 MDL 35.38

$1.42 COP 4,623

42.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 MDL 4.31

$1.92 COP 6,235

-86.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.12 MDL 89.1

$7.66 COP 24.9K

-33.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 MDL 23.97

$0.99 COP 3,223

39.39%

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

$32.2K MDL 559.8K

$18.0K COP 58.7M

78.34%

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

$31.1K MDL 541.5K

$26.6K COP 86.7M

16.81%

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

$175 MDL 3,054

$80.8 COP 263.1K

117.05%

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

$4.75 MDL 82.6

$9.95 COP 32.4K

-52.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.62 MDL 185

$24.18 COP 78.7K

-56.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.57 MDL 706

$25.08 COP 81.7K

61.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$4.65 MDL 80.9

$3.98 COP 13.0K

16.83%

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

$116 MDL 2,013

$305 COP 993.5K

-62.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,455 MDL 95.0K

$6,059 COP 19.7M

-9.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.8 MDL 1,129

$58.1 COP 189.2K

11.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.6 MDL 933

$32.20 COP 104.8K

66.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 MDL 1,991

$101 COP 327.9K

13.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 MDL 2,158

$108 COP 350.8K

15.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$402 MDL 6,992

$477 COP 1.6M

-15.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$293 MDL 5,101

$376 COP 1.2M

-22.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,406 MDL 24.5K

$3,215 COP 10.5M

-56.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$997 MDL 17.4K

$1,372 COP 4.5M

-27.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$633 MDL 11.0K

$617 COP 2.0M

2.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.24

13.43

-31.20%

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

Last update for Balti: July 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $402 in Balti 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 3% higher in Balti, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Balti versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $174 in Balti vs $193 in Medellin – so Balti wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Balti vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $986 in Balti, $1,031 in Medellin – roughly 5% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,479 per month in Balti and $1,546 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Balti and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 11% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Balti, where all-in costs run around $986, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Balti it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $986 in Balti to $1,031 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 Balti. 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.