Cost of Living Comparison Between Bandar Seri Begawan and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Bandar Seri Begawan and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,168 per month in Bandar Seri Begawan vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,692 per month in Bandar Seri Begawan vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,216 per month in Bandar Seri Begawan vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

Bandar Seri Begawan is about 32% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Bandar Seri Begawan sits 15% below the global median, while Medellin is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.88 BND 4.93

$8.03 COP 25.3K

-51.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.86 BND 35.40

$48.26 COP 152.0K

-42.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.14 BND 7.81

$9.77 COP 30.8K

-37.15%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 BND 2.57

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 BND 3.09

Cappuccino

$3.84 BND 4.88

$2.91 COP 9,167

31.96%

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

$0.96 BND 1.22

$1.94 COP 6,122

-50.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 BND 0.64

$1.52 COP 4,792

-67.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 COP 9,740

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.74 COP 18.1K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 BND 2.39

$1.36 COP 4,296

38.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.76 BND 2.24

$2.39 COP 7,519

-26.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 BND 1.53

$1.70 COP 5,356

-29.41%

Eggs

$2.06 BND 2.62

$2.87 COP 9,038

-28.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.33 BND 11.86

$9.94 COP 31.3K

-6.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.64 BND 5.89

$10.78 COP 34.0K

-56.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 BND 13.86

$14.73 COP 46.4K

-26.00%

Apples (1kg)

$3.08 BND 3.92

$4.09 COP 12.9K

-24.69%

Banana (1kg)

$2.23 BND 2.83

$1.57 COP 4,950

42.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.89 BND 3.68

$2.13 COP 6,695

35.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.59 BND 3.30

$2.21 COP 6,972

17.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.68 BND 2.13

$2.05 COP 6,447

-18.05%

Onion (1kg)

$2.05 BND 2.60

$1.50 COP 4,737

36.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.21 BND 4.09

$1.19 COP 3,747

169.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 BND 1.04

$1.16 COP 3,647

-29.31%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$23.31 BND 29.62

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.43 BND 4.37

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.65 BND 19.89

$3.90 COP 12.3K

301.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.44 COP 45.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 COP 4,987

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 COP 8,905

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 BND 0.72

$1.17 COP 3,679

-52.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$0.75 BND 0.95

$77.7 COP 244.8K

-99.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.82 BND 4.85

$1.28 COP 4,045

198.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.38 BND 4.29

$2.09 COP 6,589

61.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.59 BND 14.73

$8.62 COP 27.1K

34.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.38 BND 0.49

$1.30 COP 4,088

-70.77%

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

$43.6K BND 55.5K

$27.7K COP 87.1M

57.74%

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

$37.0K BND 47.0K

$35.5K COP 111.8M

4.09%

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

$61.7 BND 78.4

$176 COP 554.5K

-64.96%

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

$20.53 BND 26.10

$13.37 COP 42.1K

53.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 BND 84.2

$29.89 COP 94.1K

121.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.04 BND 50.9

$44.76 COP 141.0K

-10.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.20 BND 9.16

$17.06 COP 53.7K

-57.80%

Cinema Ticket

$5.65 BND 7.18

$6.20 COP 19.5K

-8.87%

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

$218 BND 277

$793 COP 2.5M

-72.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,765 BND 12.4K

$9,019 COP 28.4M

8.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.8 BND 97.6

$85.6 COP 269.6K

-10.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$94.0 BND 120

$58.5 COP 184.1K

60.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 BND 137

$136 COP 429.3K

-21.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.5 BND 90.9

$103 COP 324.7K

-30.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$712 BND 904

$1,060 COP 3.3M

-32.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$471 BND 599

$680 COP 2.1M

-30.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,131 BND 1,438

$2,012 COP 6.3M

-43.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$689 BND 876

$1,169 COP 3.7M

-41.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,074 BND 3,907

$4,111 COP 12.9M

-25.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,364 BND 3,004

$1,701 COP 5.4M

38.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,807 BND 2,296

$665 COP 2.1M

171.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.88

10.94

-64.53%

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

Last update for Bandar Seri Begawan: August 29, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $712 in Bandar Seri Begawan 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.

Salaries run about 172% higher in Bandar Seri Begawan, 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 $28.00 in Bandar Seri Begawan versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $219 vs $303 – making Bandar Seri Begawan 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

Bandar Seri Begawan vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 47%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,753 per month in Bandar Seri Begawan and $2,574 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,168 in Bandar Seri Begawan and $1,716 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 10264% less in Bandar Seri Begawan. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bandar Seri Begawan, where all-in costs run around $1,168, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Bandar Seri Begawan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bandar Seri Begawan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Bandar Seri Begawan. 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.