😐A single person spends $2,667 per month in Bathurst vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,748 per month in Bathurst vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,828 per month in Bathurst vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Bathurst costs about 63% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Bathurst and Medellin sit above the global median – Bathurst by 93%, Medellin by 19%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bathurst
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.15A$22.56
$8.04COP 24.8K
100.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.9A$120
$48.29COP 149.1K
77.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.02A$15.39
$9.42COP 29.1K
16.99%
Cappuccino
$3.87A$5.41
$2.94COP 9,070
31.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03A$4.23
$1.86COP 5,754
62.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40A$3.36
$1.46COP 4,494
64.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.02A$7.02
$3.21COP 9,915
56.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.89A$11.03
$5.71COP 17.6K
38.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bathurst
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.02A$2.82
$1.44COP 4,443
40.28%
White Bread(500g)
$2.79A$3.90
$2.40COP 7,413
16.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.42A$3.38
$1.70COP 5,245
42.35%
Eggs
$4.84A$6.76
$2.89COP 8,925
67.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.69A$13.53
$10.06COP 31.1K
-3.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.65A$13.48
$9.97COP 30.8K
-3.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.53A$18.90
$14.20COP 43.9K
-4.72%
Apples(1kg)
$3.67A$5.13
$3.98COP 12.3K
-7.79%
Banana(1kg)
$2.71A$3.78
$1.58COP 4,894
71.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.53A$4.93
$2.15COP 6,646
64.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.28A$5.98
$2.30COP 7,101
86.09%
Potato(1kg)
$2.91A$4.07
$2.00COP 6,189
45.50%
Onion(1kg)
$2.47A$3.45
$1.51COP 4,661
63.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.69A$3.76
$1.20COP 3,713
124.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.42A$1.99
$1.28COP 3,959
10.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$40.96A$57.2
$3.84COP 11.8K
966.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.07A$21.05
$14.01COP 43.3K
7.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$5.20A$7.26
$1.71COP 5,273
204.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.33A$7.44
$2.74COP 8,468
94.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Bathurst
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.09A$4.32
$1.25COP 3,847
147.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$83.8A$117
$77.9COP 240.5K
7.59%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.02A$5.62
$1.31COP 4,030
206.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59A$2.23
$2.17COP 6,702
-26.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$40.32A$56.3
$8.29COP 25.6K
386.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27A$1.78
$1.36COP 4,186
-6.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7KA$34.4K
$27.5KCOP 84.8M
-10.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6KA$42.7K
$36.5KCOP 112.8M
-16.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bathurst
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$217A$303
$169COP 521.0K
28.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.11A$60.2
$13.57COP 41.9K
217.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.8A$89.1
$28.32COP 87.5K
125.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bathurst
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.5A$73.3
$45.71COP 141.1K
14.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.52A$24.47
$17.22COP 53.2K
1.74%
Cinema Ticket
$16.02A$22.37
$6.65COP 20.5K
140.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bathurst
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,122A$2,964
$803COP 2.5M
164.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$20.0KA$27.9K
$9,190COP 28.4M
117.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bathurst
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.3A$96.8
$87.4COP 269.7K
-20.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.2A$85.5
$59.4COP 183.3K
3.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114A$159
$139COP 428.9K
-18.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135A$189
$102COP 315.1K
32.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bathurst
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,478A$2,064
$1,071COP 3.3M
37.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,316A$1,838
$653COP 2.0M
101.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,294A$3,205
$1,925COP 5.9M
19.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,927A$2,691
$1,048COP 3.2M
83.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,090A$8,508
$4,123COP 12.7M
47.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,804A$6,710
$1,697COP 5.2M
182.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bathurst
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$655COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.84
10.94
-46.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bathurst: September 5, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,478 in Bathurst versus $1,071 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 $86.0 in Bathurst versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $373 vs $300 – 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
Bathurst vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Bathurst?
Yes – Bathurst is pricier by about 63%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,001 per month in Bathurst and $2,462 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 8% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $2,122 per month in Bathurst and $803 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Bathurst or in Medellin?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,641, than in Bathurst at $2,667. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bathurst it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Bathurst or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Bathurst or Medellin?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bathurst makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.