🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $908 in Bellville versus $1,017 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,422 in Bellville versus $1,602 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,937 in Bellville versus $2,188 in Medellin.
🙂Living in Bellville costs roughly 11% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Bellville32% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bellville
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.88R 176
$5.95COP 20.8K
82.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.38R 362
$33.33COP 116.3K
-32.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.05R 81.7
$7.23COP 25.2K
-30.15%
Cappuccino
$1.84R 29.77
$1.63COP 5,687
12.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10R 17.85
$1.09COP 3,821
0.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81R 13.13
$0.73COP 2,548
10.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.05R 33.13
$1.74COP 6,065
17.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56R 41.43
$3.23COP 11.3K
-20.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bellville
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04R 16.89
$1.05COP 3,662
-0.95%
White Bread(500g)
$0.86R 13.86
$1.29COP 4,515
-33.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.44R 23.29
$1.32COP 4,617
9.09%
Eggs
$2.51R 40.52
$2.27COP 7,927
10.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.43R 71.6
$4.35COP 15.2K
1.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.32R 69.8
$5.88COP 20.5K
-26.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.08R 114
$8.61COP 30.0K
-17.77%
Apples(1kg)
$1.07R 17.37
$2.25COP 7,844
-52.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44R 23.24
$1.07COP 3,733
34.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.08R 17.46
$1.52COP 5,322
-28.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.14R 18.41
$1.42COP 4,964
-19.72%
Potato(1kg)
$1.11R 17.97
$1.17COP 4,084
-5.13%
Onion(1kg)
$1.24R 20.09
$1.17COP 4,077
5.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.74R 11.97
$0.89COP 3,096
-16.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99R 15.96
$0.90COP 3,146
10.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.48R 40.11
$2.25COP 7,837
10.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.04R 97.6
$11.04COP 38.5K
-45.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99R 16.04
$1.14COP 3,977
-13.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70R 27.46
$2.38COP 8,301
-28.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Bellville
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.68R 27.22
$0.84COP 2,916
100.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.19R 326
$41.95COP 146.4K
-51.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.54R 8.74
$1.41COP 4,912
-61.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.39R 6.34
$1.90COP 6,634
-79.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.71R 43.82
$7.75COP 27.0K
-65.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23R 19.93
$1.01COP 3,509
21.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9KR 337.4K
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
18.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8KR 319.8K
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
-25.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bellville
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$56.9R 919
$83.7COP 292.1K
-32.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.34R 523
$9.45COP 33.0K
242.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.97R 452
$24.11COP 84.1K
16.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bellville
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.47R 509
$25.31COP 88.3K
24.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.14COP 66.8K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.61R 107
$4.10COP 14.3K
61.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bellville
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$85.4R 1,381
$312COP 1.1M
-72.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,215R 84.3K
$5,993COP 20.9M
-12.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bellville
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.98R 404
$58.0COP 202.6K
-56.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$11.38R 184
$32.56COP 113.6K
-65.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.9R 1,341
$99.6COP 347.7K
-16.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.6R 818
$109COP 378.8K
-53.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bellville
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$363R 5,864
$482COP 1.7M
-24.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$335R 5,409
$379COP 1.3M
-11.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$690R 11.2K
$837COP 2.9M
-17.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$702R 11.3K
$723COP 2.5M
-2.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$936R 15.1K
$2,840COP 9.9M
-67.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$682R 11.0K
$1,223COP 4.3M
-44.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bellville
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$541COP 1.9M
-
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $363 in Bellville and $482 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $22.00 in Bellville vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $156 vs $190 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 12% 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 vs Medellin?
You'd need roughly $1,362 in Bellville and $1,525 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 vs Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $363 in Bellville versus $482 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Bellville or Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 22% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Bellville vs Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Bellville – a meal for two runs $22.00 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 Medellin?
At $908 in Bellville versus $1,017 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 $908 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 12% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.