😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,450 in Baytown, TX versus $1,017 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,516 in Baytown, TX versus $1,602 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,581 in Baytown, TX versus $2,188 in Medellin.
😐Living in Baytown, TX is roughly 141% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Baytown, TX is 82% above, Medellin is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Baytown, TX
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.29$18.29
$5.95COP 20.8K
207.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.90$39.90
$33.33COP 116.3K
19.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.14$8.14
$7.23COP 25.2K
12.59%
Cappuccino
$3.95$3.95
$1.63COP 5,687
142.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05$2.05
$1.09COP 3,821
88.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18$2.18
$0.73COP 2,548
198.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.14$6.14
$1.74COP 6,065
252.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.08$4.08
$3.23COP 11.3K
26.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Baytown, TX
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.77$0.77
$1.05COP 3,662
-26.67%
White Bread(500g)
$3.44$3.44
$1.29COP 4,515
166.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.43$3.43
$1.32COP 4,617
159.85%
Eggs
$4.23$4.23
$2.27COP 7,927
86.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.97$10.97
$4.35COP 15.2K
152.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.66$10.66
$5.88COP 20.5K
81.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.09$7.09
$8.61COP 30.0K
-17.65%
Apples(1kg)
$3.32$3.32
$2.25COP 7,844
47.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51$1.51
$1.07COP 3,733
41.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.60$4.60
$1.52COP 5,322
202.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.95$3.95
$1.42COP 4,964
178.17%
Potato(1kg)
$2.84$2.84
$1.17COP 4,084
142.74%
Onion(1kg)
$2.77$2.77
$1.17COP 4,077
136.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.95$1.95
$0.89COP 3,096
119.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.24$2.24
$0.90COP 3,146
148.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.77$8.77
$2.25COP 7,837
289.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.86$14.86
$11.04COP 38.5K
34.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34$2.34
$1.14COP 3,977
105.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44$3.44
$2.38COP 8,301
44.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Baytown, TX
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.98$1.98
$0.84COP 2,916
135.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.95COP 146.4K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.37$4.37
$1.41COP 4,912
209.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.76$1.76
$1.90COP 6,634
-7.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.46$34.46
$7.75COP 27.0K
344.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.63$0.63
$1.01COP 3,509
-37.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.1K$25.1K
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
42.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K$26.6K
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
0.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baytown, TX
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177$177
$83.7COP 292.1K
111.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.63$39.63
$9.45COP 33.0K
319.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.8$57.8
$24.11COP 84.1K
139.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Baytown, TX
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.63$42.63
$25.31COP 88.3K
68.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.14COP 66.8K
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.78$8.78
$4.10COP 14.3K
114.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Baytown, TX
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,390$1,390
$312COP 1.1M
345.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$22.5K$22.5K
$5,993COP 20.9M
275.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Baytown, TX
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2$56.2
$58.0COP 202.6K
-3.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.43$46.43
$32.56COP 113.6K
42.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.1$85.1
$99.6COP 347.7K
-14.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118$118
$109COP 378.8K
8.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Baytown, TX
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,612$1,612
$482COP 1.7M
234.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,339$1,339
$379COP 1.3M
252.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,644$2,644
$837COP 2.9M
215.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,209$2,209
$723COP 2.5M
205.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,840COP 9.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,223COP 4.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Baytown, TX
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,624$3,624
$541COP 1.9M
570.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.45
13.43
-51.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Baytown, TX: June 9, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Baytown, TX and $482 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Baytown, TX pays 570% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $40.00 in Baytown, TX vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $341 vs $190 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.
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
Baytown, TX vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Baytown, TX or Medellin?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 141% lower than in Baytown, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Baytown, TX or Medellin?
Baytown, TX pays 570% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Baytown, TX vs Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,612 in Baytown, TX versus $482 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Baytown, TX and Medellin?
Childcare runs $1,390 in Baytown, TX versus $312 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Baytown, TX vs Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $40.00 in Baytown, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Baytown, TX or Medellin?
At $1,017 in Medellin versus $2,450 in Baytown, TX, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Baytown, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Baytown, TX or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,017 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 141% less than in Baytown, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Baytown, TX vs other spots: cost of living compared