🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $918 in Bellville versus $1,003 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,434 in Bellville versus $1,573 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,951 in Bellville versus $2,143 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Bellville costs roughly 8% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Bellville31% lower, Medellin25% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bellville
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.90R 182
$5.91COP 18.9K
84.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.60R 377
$32.96COP 105.2K
-31.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.98R 82.9
$7.43COP 23.7K
-32.97%
Cappuccino
$1.83R 30.45
$1.65COP 5,276
10.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16R 19.33
$1.10COP 3,514
5.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89R 14.82
$0.78COP 2,491
14.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.11R 35.10
$1.72COP 5,484
22.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48R 41.33
$3.18COP 10.1K
-22.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bellville
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08R 17.91
$1.10COP 3,521
-1.82%
White Bread(500g)
$0.87R 14.46
$1.26COP 4,015
-30.95%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.46R 24.30
$1.38COP 4,407
5.80%
Eggs
$2.37R 39.50
$2.18COP 6,950
8.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.41R 73.5
$4.49COP 14.3K
-1.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.46R 74.2
$5.79COP 18.5K
-22.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.43R 124
$8.97COP 28.6K
-17.17%
Apples(1kg)
$1.08R 18.04
$2.32COP 7,405
-53.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44R 23.92
$1.06COP 3,397
35.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.07R 17.88
$1.52COP 4,838
-29.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.09R 18.14
$1.36COP 4,327
-19.85%
Potato(1kg)
$1.07R 17.88
$1.13COP 3,599
-5.31%
Onion(1kg)
$1.20R 19.96
$1.17COP 3,738
2.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.75R 12.56
$0.90COP 2,876
-16.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02R 16.92
$0.90COP 2,861
13.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.53R 42.18
$2.23COP 7,128
13.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.93R 98.8
$12.12COP 38.7K
-51.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.03R 17.21
$1.19COP 3,793
-13.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71R 28.43
$2.48COP 7,920
-31.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Bellville
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.63R 27.18
$0.85COP 2,723
91.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.49R 341
$41.62COP 132.8K
-50.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.58R 9.74
$1.42COP 4,518
-59.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37R 6.16
$1.95COP 6,223
-81.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.76R 45.94
$7.89COP 25.2K
-65.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.21R 20.11
$0.99COP 3,160
22.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1KR 350.9K
$17.6KCOP 56.2M
19.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.5KR 324.2K
$26.8KCOP 85.5M
-27.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bellville
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$56.1R 935
$83.0COP 264.9K
-32.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.51R 542
$9.70COP 30.9K
235.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.11R 468
$23.52COP 75.0K
19.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bellville
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.50R 525
$25.26COP 80.6K
24.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.10COP 60.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.78R 113
$3.95COP 12.6K
71.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bellville
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$82.8R 1,380
$316COP 1.0M
-73.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,367R 89.4K
$5,975COP 19.1M
-10.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bellville
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.34R 422
$60.0COP 191.4K
-57.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$11.00R 183
$31.82COP 101.5K
-65.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.0R 1,400
$102COP 324.4K
-17.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.0R 833
$107COP 342.8K
-53.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bellville
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$359R 5,987
$475COP 1.5M
-24.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$336R 5,590
$374COP 1.2M
-10.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$689R 11.5K
$849COP 2.7M
-18.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$701R 11.7K
$719COP 2.3M
-2.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$885R 14.7K
$3,265COP 10.4M
-72.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$655R 10.9K
$1,441COP 4.6M
-54.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bellville
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$624COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.77
13.43
-12.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bellville: July 27, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $359 in Bellville and $475 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $23.00 in Bellville vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $158 vs $193 per month, with Bellville 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
Bellville vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bellville or Medellin?
Bellville wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bellville the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Bellville and in Medellin?
You'd need roughly $1,377 in Bellville and $1,504 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Bellville compared to Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $359 in Bellville versus $475 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Bellville or in Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 23% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Bellville and in Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Bellville – a meal for two runs $23.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Bellville or in Medellin?
At $918 in Bellville versus $1,003 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Bellville but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Bellville the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bellville or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bellville delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $918 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bellville hard to pass up.
How safe is Bellville compared to Medellin?
Safety-wise, Bellville and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Bellville gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.