Cost of Living Comparison Between Bonn and MedellinCost of Living Comparison Between Bonn and Medellin
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,265 in Bonn versus $1,013 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,393 in Bonn versus $1,602 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,521 in Bonn versus $2,192 in Medellin.
😐Living in Bonn is roughly 124% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Bonn is 69% above, Medellin is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bonn
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.63€15.18
$5.99COP 21.4K
194.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.2€69.9
$32.86COP 117.2K
146.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.54€9.93
$7.09COP 25.3K
62.76%
Cappuccino
$3.38€2.91
$1.71COP 6,105
97.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67€2.30
$1.10COP 3,918
142.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22€1.91
$0.78COP 2,776
184.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.10€4.39
$1.68COP 5,987
203.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.43€4.67
$3.07COP 10.9K
76.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bonn
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32€1.13
$1.09COP 3,899
21.10%
White Bread(500g)
$2.37€2.04
$1.26COP 4,500
88.10%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.35€2.89
$1.38COP 4,914
142.75%
Eggs
$3.90€3.36
$2.19COP 7,813
78.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.75€12.70
$4.40COP 15.7K
235.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.03€13.81
$5.63COP 20.1K
184.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.61€19.47
$8.89COP 31.7K
154.33%
Apples(1kg)
$3.32€2.85
$2.34COP 8,334
41.88%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81€1.56
$1.06COP 3,771
70.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.27€1.95
$1.50COP 5,365
51.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.31€4.57
$1.38COP 4,915
284.78%
Potato(1kg)
$1.69€1.45
$1.15COP 4,104
46.96%
Onion(1kg)
$1.65€1.42
$1.16COP 4,148
42.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.11€1.81
$0.89COP 3,176
137.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21€1.04
$0.84COP 2,992
44.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.28€7.99
$2.28COP 8,131
307.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.66€4.88
$10.64COP 37.9K
-46.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11€0.95
$1.20COP 4,276
-7.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77€1.53
$2.47COP 8,809
-28.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Bonn
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.85€3.31
$0.86COP 3,051
347.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$58.0€49.92
$41.40COP 147.6K
40.02%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.74€4.08
$1.47COP 5,255
222.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.01€1.73
$1.96COP 6,997
2.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$37.06€31.91
$7.74COP 27.6K
378.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.00€1.73
$0.95COP 3,403
110.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.1K€26.8K
$18.1KCOP 64.6M
71.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.3K€33.0K
$26.5KCOP 94.4M
44.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bonn
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$372€320
$82.3COP 293.2K
351.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.97€24.08
$9.50COP 33.9K
194.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.9€43.81
$24.23COP 86.4K
109.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bonn
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.45€37.42
$25.89COP 92.3K
67.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.22€32.05
$19.00COP 67.7K
95.89%
Cinema Ticket
$16.26€14.01
$3.93COP 14.0K
313.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bonn
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$576€496
$309COP 1.1M
86.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.2K€12.2K
$5,965COP 21.3M
138.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bonn
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.6€68.5
$58.7COP 209.1K
35.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.39€34.78
$32.35COP 115.3K
24.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.3€83.8
$103COP 365.7K
-5.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€102
$108COP 386.5K
9.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bonn
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$976€840
$476COP 1.7M
104.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$807€695
$379COP 1.4M
112.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,046€1,762
$838COP 3.0M
144.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,577€1,358
$724COP 2.6M
117.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,528€5,621
$2,791COP 9.9M
133.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,559€3,926
$1,211COP 4.3M
276.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bonn
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,662€3,154
$512COP 1.8M
615.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.98
13.43
-70.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bonn: May 31, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $976 in Bonn and $476 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bonn pays 616% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $81.0 in Bonn vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $373 vs $188 per month, with Medellin 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
Bonn vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bonn or Medellin?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 124% lower than in Bonn. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Bonn or Medellin?
Bonn pays 616% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Bonn vs Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $976 in Bonn versus $476 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Bonn and Medellin?
Childcare runs $576 in Bonn versus $309 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Bonn or Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 98% higher in Bonn. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Bonn or Medellin?
At $1,013 in Medellin versus $2,265 in Bonn, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Bonn. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bonn or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,013 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
How safe is Bonn compared to Medellin?
Safety-wise, Bonn 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 Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 124% less than in Bonn. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.