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 $152 per month in Big Bend vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $286 per month in Big Bend vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $420 per month in Big Bend vs $2,167 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 89% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.71 SZL 28.21

$6.16 COP 20.1K

-72.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.38 SZL 321

$32.60 COP 106.1K

-40.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.87 SZL 64.0

$7.34 COP 23.9K

-47.28%

Cappuccino

$1.36 SZL 22.52

$1.72 COP 5,600

-20.93%

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

$0.70 SZL 11.54

$1.05 COP 3,420

-33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 SZL 6.64

$0.77 COP 2,515

-48.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.15 SZL 18.98

$1.69 COP 5,488

-31.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 SZL 16.92

$3.17 COP 10.3K

-67.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 SZL 13.33

$1.30 COP 4,236

-37.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

Eggs

$2.18 SZL 36.07

$2.16 COP 7,047

0.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,426

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,604

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,983

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 SZL 14.42

$0.85 COP 2,753

2.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 SZL 14.24

$0.91 COP 2,975

-5.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,630

Wine (Bottle)

$3.69 SZL 61.0

$12.37 COP 40.3K

-70.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,728

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

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

$305 COP 993.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.02 SZL 546

$58.1 COP 189.2K

-43.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.42 SZL 371

$32.20 COP 104.8K

-30.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$34.22 SZL 566

$101 COP 327.9K

-66.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$50.7 SZL 838

$108 COP 350.8K

-52.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$197 SZL 3,252

$3,215 COP 10.5M

-93.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$143 SZL 2,367

$1,372 COP 4.5M

-89.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$782 SZL 12.9K

$617 COP 2.0M

26.77%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 27% 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 $19.00 in Big Bend versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $38.00 vs $193 – 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: $152 in Big Bend, $1,031 in Medellin – roughly 578% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $228 per month in Big Bend and $1,546 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 $19.00 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 $152 in Big Bend and $1,031 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 $152, than in Medellin at $1,031. 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 $152 in Big Bend to $1,031 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.