Cost of Living Comparison Between Big Bend and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Big Bend and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $157 per month in Big Bend vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $284 per month in Big Bend vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $411 per month in Big Bend vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Big Bend is about 85% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Big Bend and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Big Bend 88% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.72 SZL 27.87

$5.99 COP 21.4K

-71.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.68 SZL 320

$32.86 COP 117.4K

-40.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.00 SZL 64.9

$7.09 COP 25.3K

-43.58%

Cappuccino

$1.44 SZL 23.40

$1.71 COP 6,115

-15.79%

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

$0.70 SZL 11.30

$1.10 COP 3,924

-36.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 SZL 6.53

$0.78 COP 2,781

-48.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.10 SZL 17.82

$1.68 COP 5,997

-34.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 SZL 15.93

$3.07 COP 11.0K

-68.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 SZL 12.25

$1.26 COP 4,508

-40.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

Eggs

$2.16 SZL 35.09

$2.19 COP 7,827

-1.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 SZL 14.25

$0.89 COP 3,182

-1.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 SZL 14.04

$0.84 COP 2,997

2.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

Wine (Bottle)

$3.65 SZL 59.3

$10.64 COP 38.0K

-65.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

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

$82.3 COP 293.7K

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

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

$309 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.93 SZL 551

$58.7 COP 209.5K

-42.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.20 SZL 361

$32.35 COP 115.5K

-31.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$34.01 SZL 552

$103 COP 366.4K

-66.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$51.0 SZL 827

$108 COP 387.2K

-53.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$198 SZL 3,212

$2,791 COP 10.0M

-92.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$142 SZL 2,299

$1,211 COP 4.3M

-88.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$812 SZL 13.2K

$512 COP 1.8M

58.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

-32.99%

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

Last update for Big Bend: June 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 59% 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 $20.00 in Big Bend versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $37.00 vs $188 – making Big Bend the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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: $157 in Big Bend, $1,013 in Medellin – roughly 545% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $235 per month in Big Bend and $1,519 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Big Bend and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $157 in Big Bend and $1,013 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Big Bend, where all-in costs run around $157, than in Medellin at $1,013. 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 $157 in Big Bend to $1,013 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Big Bend. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.