๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,498 in Beaufort, SC versus $1,030 in Medellin.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,589 in Beaufort, SC versus $1,586 in Medellin.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,679 in Beaufort, SC versus $2,143 in Medellin.
๐Living in Beaufort, SC is roughly 143% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Beaufort, SC is 86% above, Medellin is 23% below.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Beaufort, SC
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.72$18.72
$5.92COPย 21.2K
216.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$88.2$88.2
$33.17COPย 118.7K
165.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.16$12.16
$7.25COPย 25.9K
67.72%
Cappuccino
$4.74$4.74
$1.71COPย 6,137
177.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40$2.40
$1.09COPย 3,915
120.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02$2.02
$0.77COPย 2,743
162.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.77$3.77
$1.75COPย 6,254
115.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.05$4.05
$3.18COPย 11.4K
27.36%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Beaufort, SC
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.02$1.02
$1.06COPย 3,792
-3.77%
White Bread(500g)
$3.38$3.38
$1.30COPย 4,657
160.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.10$3.10
$1.38COPย 4,926
124.64%
Eggs
$4.09$4.09
$2.21COPย 7,908
85.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.96$8.96
$4.52COPย 16.2K
98.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.02$6.02
$5.80COPย 20.7K
3.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.83$10.83
$8.97COPย 32.1K
20.74%
Apples(1kg)
$4.48$4.48
$2.29COPย 8,182
95.63%
Banana(1kg)
$1.28$1.28
$1.06COPย 3,791
20.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.17$3.17
$1.51COPย 5,411
109.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.93$1.93
$1.36COPย 4,869
41.91%
Potato(1kg)
$2.47$2.47
$1.16COPย 4,146
112.93%
Onion(1kg)
$2.14$2.14
$1.17COPย 4,174
82.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.03$2.03
$0.83COPย 2,960
144.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.62$2.62
$0.85COPย 3,043
208.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.09$8.09
$2.35COPย 8,423
244.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.82$14.82
$11.09COPย 39.7K
33.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.97$1.97
$1.15COPย 4,133
71.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32$3.32
$2.47COPย 8,853
34.41%
๐ Getting Around
Beaufort, SC
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.04$2.04
$0.79COPย 2,827
158.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.85COPย 149.8K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.93$3.93
$1.44COPย 5,140
172.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.45$2.45
$1.90COPย 6,793
28.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.73$24.73
$7.70COPย 27.6K
221.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85$0.85
$1.03COPย 3,680
-17.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3K$26.3K
$17.7KCOPย 63.3M
48.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.8K$20.8K
$27.0KCOPย 96.7M
-23.10%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beaufort, SC
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$92.7$92.7
$81.4COPย 291.4K
13.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.86$43.86
$9.42COPย 33.7K
365.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.7$60.7
$23.77COPย 85.1K
155.20%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Beaufort, SC
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.23$25.23
$25.86COPย 92.6K
-2.44%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.34COPย 69.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.85$9.85
$4.05COPย 14.5K
143.21%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Beaufort, SC
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,298$1,298
$312COPย 1.1M
315.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.2K$11.2K
$6,067COPย 21.7M
84.29%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Beaufort, SC
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.0$56.0
$58.9COPย 210.7K
-4.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.60$45.60
$32.82COPย 117.5K
38.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.8$87.8
$100COPย 359.6K
-12.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.5$87.5
$106COPย 380.3K
-17.71%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Beaufort, SC
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,627$1,627
$490COPย 1.8M
232.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,441$1,441
$371COPย 1.3M
288.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,838$2,838
$838COPย 3.0M
238.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,313$2,313
$715COPย 2.6M
223.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,645$3,645
$2,952COPย 10.6M
23.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,668$3,668
$1,394COPย 5.0M
163.13%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Beaufort, SC
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,827$3,827
$532COPย 1.9M
619.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.53
13.43
-51.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Beaufort, SC: April 21, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,627 in Beaufort, SC and $490 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐBeaufort, SC pays 619% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $88 in Beaufort, SC vs $33 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $312 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
Beaufort, SC vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Beaufort, SC?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 143% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Beaufort, SC or Medellin?
Beaufort, SC pays 619% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Beaufort, SC and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,627 in Beaufort, SC versus $490 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Beaufort, SC and Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 64% higher in Beaufort, SC. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Beaufort, SC vs Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $2,498 per month in Beaufort, SC versus $1,030 in Medellin โ a 143% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Beaufort, SC or Medellin?
At $1,030 in Medellin versus $2,498 in Beaufort, SC, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Beaufort, SC. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Beaufort, SC or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Beaufort, SC, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 143% less than in Beaufort, SC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Beaufort, SC vs other spots: cost of living compared