Cost of Living Comparison Between Brest and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Brest and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $854 per month in Brest vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,334 per month in Brest vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,814 per month in Brest vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

Brest is about 50% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Brest sits 38% below the global median, while Medellin is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brest
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.25 BYN 40.82
$8.03 COP 25.2K
65.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.77 BYN 113
$48.26 COP 151.7K
-23.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.34 BYN 19.53
$9.77 COP 30.7K
-35.11%
Cappuccino
$2.03 BYN 6.25
$2.91 COP 9,149
-30.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01 BYN 3.10
$1.94 COP 6,110
-47.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 BYN 2.51
$1.52 COP 4,783
-46.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 BYN 9.33
$3.09 COP 9,721
-1.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 BYN 11.96
$5.74 COP 18.1K
-32.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brest
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.16 BYN 3.59
$1.36 COP 4,287
-14.71%
White Bread (500g)
$1.01 BYN 3.10
$2.39 COP 7,505
-57.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.02 BYN 3.15
$1.70 COP 5,346
-40.00%
Eggs
$1.60 BYN 4.92
$2.87 COP 9,021
-44.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.65 BYN 20.48
$9.94 COP 31.2K
-33.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.48 BYN 10.72
$10.78 COP 33.9K
-67.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.37 BYN 10.38
$14.73 COP 46.3K
-77.12%
Apples (1kg)
$2.01 BYN 6.19
$4.09 COP 12.8K
-50.86%
Banana (1kg)
$2.46 BYN 7.57
$1.57 COP 4,940
56.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 BYN 6.56
$2.13 COP 6,682
-
Tomato (1kg)
$2.42 BYN 7.46
$2.21 COP 6,959
9.50%
Potato (1kg)
$0.81 BYN 2.49
$2.05 COP 6,435
-60.49%
Onion (1kg)
$1.66 BYN 5.12
$1.50 COP 4,728
10.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.94 BYN 5.98
$1.19 COP 3,740
63.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 BYN 3.92
$1.16 COP 3,640
9.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.54 BYN 7.81
$3.90 COP 12.2K
-34.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.59 BYN 23.39
$14.44 COP 45.4K
-47.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17 BYN 3.61
$1.58 COP 4,978
-25.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 BYN 5.92
$2.83 COP 8,889
-32.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Brest
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 BYN 1.06
$1.17 COP 3,672
-70.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.75 BYN 48.51
$77.7 COP 244.3K
-79.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.75 BYN 2.30
$1.28 COP 4,038
-41.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.56 BYN 1.72
$2.09 COP 6,576
-73.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.45 BYN 50.7
$8.62 COP 27.1K
90.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 BYN 2.71
$1.30 COP 4,080
-32.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7K BYN 57.5K
$27.7K COP 86.9M
-32.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K BYN 81.9K
$35.5K COP 111.6M
-25.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brest
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.6 BYN 193
$176 COP 553.4K
-64.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.00 BYN 33.87
$13.37 COP 42.0K
-17.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.38 BYN 68.9
$29.89 COP 94.0K
-25.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brest
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.18 BYN 99.1
$44.76 COP 140.7K
-28.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.80 BYN 24.03
$17.06 COP 53.6K
-54.28%
Cinema Ticket
$5.36 BYN 16.52
$6.20 COP 19.5K
-13.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brest
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$321 BYN 990
$793 COP 2.5M
-59.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,161 BYN 19.0K
$9,019 COP 28.4M
-31.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brest
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.0 BYN 160
$85.6 COP 269.1K
-39.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.38 BYN 115
$58.5 COP 183.8K
-36.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$129 BYN 398
$136 COP 428.4K
-5.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.1 BYN 262
$103 COP 324.1K
-17.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brest
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$358 BYN 1,102
$1,060 COP 3.3M
-66.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$182 BYN 561
$680 COP 2.1M
-73.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$500 BYN 1,541
$2,012 COP 6.3M
-75.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$318 BYN 980
$1,169 COP 3.7M
-72.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,385 BYN 7,345
$4,111 COP 12.9M
-42.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,708 BYN 8,342
$1,701 COP 5.3M
59.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brest
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$514 BYN 1,582
$665 COP 2.1M
-22.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11
10.94
0.55%

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

Last update for Brest: August 31, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $358 in Brest versus $1,060 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 30% higher in Medellin, 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 $37.00 in Brest versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $179 vs $303 – making Brest 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
Brest vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Brest or Medellin?
Medellin costs about 101% more than Brest, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Brest and in Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,281 per month in Brest and $2,574 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Brest or Medellin?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Brest, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Brest or in Medellin?
Groceries cost about 70% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Brest and in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Brest and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Brest or in Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Brest, where all-in costs run around $854, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Brest it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Brest or Medellin?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Brest costs $854 versus $1,716 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Brest compared to Medellin?
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.
Should I move to Brest or to Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Brest. 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.

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