😐A single person spends $2,648 per month in Braintree vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,823 per month in Braintree vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,998 per month in Braintree vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Braintree costs about 161% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Braintree sits 98% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Braintree
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.64£13.86
$5.99COP 21.4K
211.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.8£60.0
$32.86COP 117.4K
145.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.01£5.96
$7.09COP 25.3K
12.98%
Cappuccino
$2.28£1.69
$1.71COP 6,115
33.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.20£0.89
$1.10COP 3,924
9.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93£0.69
$0.78COP 2,781
19.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.00£4.46
$1.68COP 5,997
257.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.20£4.61
$3.07COP 11.0K
101.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Braintree
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.95£1.45
$1.09COP 3,906
78.90%
White Bread(500g)
$2.35£1.75
$1.26COP 4,508
86.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.01£1.49
$1.38COP 4,922
45.65%
Eggs
$4.38£3.26
$2.19COP 7,827
100.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.94£7.39
$4.40COP 15.7K
125.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.90£9.59
$5.63COP 20.1K
129.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.91£14.80
$8.89COP 31.8K
123.96%
Apples(1kg)
$2.36£1.76
$2.34COP 8,349
0.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.87£1.39
$1.06COP 3,777
76.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.61£2.69
$1.50COP 5,374
140.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.62£3.44
$1.38COP 4,924
234.78%
Potato(1kg)
$1.74£1.30
$1.15COP 4,111
51.30%
Onion(1kg)
$1.52£1.13
$1.16COP 4,155
31.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19£0.88
$0.89COP 3,182
33.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.79£1.33
$0.84COP 2,997
113.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$19.34£14.38
$2.28COP 8,145
748.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.92£8.12
$10.64COP 38.0K
2.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.26£2.42
$1.20COP 4,284
171.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26£2.42
$2.47COP 8,824
31.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Braintree
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.42£2.54
$0.86COP 3,056
297.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$87.5£65.0
$41.40COP 147.9K
111.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.82£5.07
$1.47COP 5,264
363.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.42£1.80
$1.96COP 7,009
23.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.52£17.48
$7.74COP 27.6K
203.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.94£1.44
$0.95COP 3,409
104.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7K£28.0K
$18.1KCOP 64.7M
108.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.2K£30.6K
$26.5KCOP 94.6M
55.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Braintree
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$343£255
$82.3COP 293.7K
316.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.97£8.15
$9.50COP 33.9K
15.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.30£27.72
$24.23COP 86.5K
53.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Braintree
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.35£24.79
$25.89COP 92.4K
28.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.00COP 67.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.74£10.21
$3.93COP 14.0K
249.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Braintree
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,415£1,052
$309COP 1.1M
357.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.4K£9,244
$5,965COP 21.3M
108.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Braintree
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105£78.3
$58.7COP 209.5K
79.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.64£31.70
$32.35COP 115.5K
31.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$61.8£45.92
$103COP 366.4K
-39.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123£91.4
$108COP 387.2K
13.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Braintree
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,227£912
$476COP 1.7M
157.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,286£956
$379COP 1.4M
239.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,008£1,493
$838COP 3.0M
139.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,181£1,621
$724COP 2.6M
201.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,633£4,187
$2,791COP 10.0M
101.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,211COP 4.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Braintree
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,101£1,562
$512COP 1.8M
310.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.9
13.43
-56.07%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Braintree: June 1, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,227 in Braintree versus $476 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 311% higher in Braintree, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $81.0 in Braintree versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $362 vs $188 – making Medellin 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
Braintree vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Braintree and Medellin compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,648 in Braintree, $1,013 in Medellin – roughly 161% apart. Braintree costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Braintree compared to Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,972 per month in Braintree and $1,519 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Braintree and Medellin?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 92% more in Braintree, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $81.0 in Braintree and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Braintree at $2,648. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Braintree it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Braintree and Medellin?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,013 in Medellin to $2,648 in Braintree. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Braintree or Medellin safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Braintree and Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Braintree makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.