Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Big Bend and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Big Bend: $707 a month against $1,692 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $11,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

34

Cost of Living Index in Big Bend
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Big Bend Living Index
80

Cost of Living Index in Medellin
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Medellin Living Index

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Big Bend

🇸🇿 Eswatini

$707

/mo nomad

Medellin

🇨🇴 Colombia

$1,692

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Big Bend and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Big Bend and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $707 per month in Big Bend vs $1,692 in Medellin, rent included.

Big Bend $707
Medellin $1,692

A couple spends around $1,392 per month in Big Bend vs $2,471 in Medellin, rent included.

Big Bend $1,392
Medellin $2,471

A family of three spends $2,076 per month in Big Bend vs $3,249 in Medellin, rent included.

Big Bend $2,076
Medellin $3,249

Big Bend is about 58% cheaper than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Big Bend sits 48% below the global median, while Medellin is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.95 SZL 65.8

$8.34 COP 26.9K

-52.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.97 SZL 449

$46.53 COP 150.2K

-42.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.93 SZL 82.1

$9.47 COP 30.6K

-47.94%

Cappuccino

$1.47 SZL 24.54

$3.13 COP 10.1K

-53.04%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 SZL 11.64

$1.77 COP 5,702

-60.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 SZL 7.29

$1.42 COP 4,599

-69.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.48 SZL 24.69

$3.15 COP 10.2K

-53.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 SZL 25.68

$5.70 COP 18.4K

-72.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 SZL 20.24

$1.53 COP 4,948

-20.26%

White Bread (500g)

$0.86 SZL 14.33

$2.29 COP 7,397

-62.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 SZL 26.30

$1.94 COP 6,279

-18.56%

Eggs

$4.62 SZL 76.9

$3.07 COP 9,900

50.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.22 SZL 303

$9.99 COP 32.3K

82.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.19 SZL 203

$10.45 COP 33.7K

16.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.74 SZL 79.0

$13.96 COP 45.1K

-66.05%

Apples (1kg)

$4.22 SZL 70.3

$4.05 COP 13.1K

4.20%

Banana (1kg)

$0.57 SZL 9.54

$1.53 COP 4,934

-62.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 SZL 30.23

$2.10 COP 6,794

-13.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 SZL 19.50

$2.29 COP 7,405

-48.91%

Potato (1kg)

$2.45 SZL 40.71

$2.11 COP 6,810

16.11%

Onion (1kg)

$2.14 SZL 35.66

$1.71 COP 5,518

25.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 SZL 15.25

$1.17 COP 3,778

-21.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 SZL 14.74

$1.58 COP 5,101

-43.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.71 SZL 95.1

$3.91 COP 12.6K

46.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.63 SZL 60.5

$14.04 COP 45.3K

-74.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 SZL 9.80

$1.76 COP 5,688

-66.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 SZL 15.41

$2.71 COP 8,756

-65.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 SZL 20.40

$1.18 COP 3,809

3.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.66 SZL 394

$76.3 COP 246.3K

-68.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.82 SZL 30.29

$1.81 COP 5,833

0.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 SZL 24.40

$2.13 COP 6,874

-30.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.51 SZL 58.4

$8.13 COP 26.3K

-56.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 SZL 18.40

$1.28 COP 4,117

-13.28%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$12.0K SZL 200.3K

$34.4K COP 111.2M

-65.07%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$18.2K SZL 303.5K

$34.1K COP 110.2M

-46.60%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$127 SZL 2,122

$178 COP 573.8K

-28.28%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$24.33 SZL 405

$13.89 COP 44.8K

75.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.83 SZL 397

$30.74 COP 99.2K

-22.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.76 SZL 296

$41.94 COP 135.4K

-57.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$2.38 SZL 39.55

$16.80 COP 54.2K

-85.83%

Cinema Ticket

$2.99 SZL 49.86

$7.47 COP 24.1K

-59.97%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$790 COP 2.6M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.3K COP 39.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.69 SZL 594

$86.3 COP 278.7K

-58.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.82 SZL 397

$59.3 COP 191.3K

-59.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$35.60 SZL 593

$138 COP 446.6K

-74.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.8 SZL 912

$98.8 COP 319.0K

-44.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$109 SZL 1,817

$1,341 COP 4.3M

-91.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$72.5 SZL 1,208

$667 COP 2.2M

-89.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,068 SZL 17.8K

$1,976 COP 6.4M

-45.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$708 SZL 11.8K

$1,033 COP 3.3M

-31.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$198 SZL 3,302

$4,098 COP 13.2M

-95.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$143 SZL 2,388

$1,940 COP 6.3M

-92.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$798 SZL 13.3K

$646 COP 2.1M

23.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

-17.73%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Big Bend: November 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Groceries & Markets

Big Bend

$251 35.5%

Medellin

$307 18.2% 22.4% $56

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Big Bend

$176 24.8%

Medellin

$222 13.1% 26.6% $47

Eating Out

Big Bend

$79 11.2%

Medellin

$173 10.2% 118% $93

Accommodation & Living

Big Bend

$73 10.3%

Medellin

$667 39.4% 820% $595

Clothing & Footwear

Big Bend

$67 9.5%

Medellin

$172 10.2% 155% $105

Getting Around

Big Bend

$38 5.3%

Medellin

$93 5.5% 148% $56

Sport & Entertainment

Big Bend

$24 3.4%

Medellin

$57 3.4% 140% $33

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $109 in Big Bend versus $1,341 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 23% higher in Big Bend, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27 in Big Bend versus $47 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $307 – making Big Bend the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇸🇿 Big Bend

🇨🇴 Medellin

🕒 Local time

01:35 1:35 AM

18:35 6:35 PM

7 h behind Big Bend

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

6,433

2,486,723

💱 Currency

Eswatini Lilangeni SZL L

Colombian Peso COP $

📈 Exchange rate

100 SZL = 6.01 USD

100 SZL = 5.37 EUR

10,000 COP = 3.1 USD

10,000 COP = 2.77 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to SZL – Eswatini Lilangeni Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇸🇿 Eswatini Lilangeni (L)

Eswatini Lilangeni exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 16.65 SZL (100 SZL = 6.01 USD). 1 EUR = 18.62 SZL (100 SZL = 5.37 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 3,229 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,610 COP (10,000 COP = 2.77 EUR).

USD to SZL in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Big Bend Medellin 12,060 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight

From you

Big Bend
Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Big Bend vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $707 in Big Bend, $1,692 in Medellin – Big Bend comes out roughly 58% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in clothing.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,061 per month in Big Bend and $2,538 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Big Bend, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $109 there versus $1,341 in Medellin.

Public transport costs about 69% less in Big Bend. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 22% more in Medellin, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A $1,200 monthly budget goes further in Big Bend, where all-in costs run around $707, than in Medellin at $1,692. In Big Bend it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $707 in Big Bend to $1,692 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

For expats, Big Bend is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 58% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.