Cost of Living Comparison Between Brest and MedellinCost of Living Comparison Between Brest and Medellin
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,498 in Brest versus $1,681 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Brest versus $2,445 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,095 in Brest versus $3,210 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Brest costs roughly 11% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Brest10% above, Medellin23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brest
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.03€13.98
$8.02COP 25.0K
99.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.69€40.70
$47.87COP 149.4K
-2.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.65€10.15
$9.89COP 30.8K
17.80%
Cappuccino
$3.17€2.76
$3.13COP 9,767
1.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80€2.44
$1.91COP 5,954
46.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11€1.84
$1.51COP 4,712
39.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.78€5.91
$3.12COP 9,747
117.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.75€4.14
$5.75COP 17.9K
-17.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brest
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15€1.00
$1.44COP 4,509
-20.14%
White Bread(500g)
$1.66€1.45
$2.49COP 7,759
-33.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.54€2.21
$1.77COP 5,535
43.50%
Eggs
$3.77€3.29
$2.96COP 9,235
27.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.68€16.28
$10.07COP 31.4K
85.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.44€9.97
$10.12COP 31.6K
13.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.67€12.79
$14.30COP 44.6K
2.59%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95€2.57
$4.14COP 12.9K
-28.74%
Banana(1kg)
$2.05€1.78
$1.61COP 5,019
27.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.05€3.53
$2.25COP 7,007
80.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.20€2.79
$2.25COP 7,028
42.22%
Potato(1kg)
$1.75€1.53
$2.04COP 6,375
-14.22%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07€1.80
$1.54COP 4,790
34.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.25
$1.17COP 3,651
23.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45€0.39
$1.31COP 4,077
-65.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.80€12.03
$3.90COP 12.2K
253.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.77€5.90
$14.01COP 43.7K
-51.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.59€3.13
$1.74COP 5,439
106.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01€2.62
$2.87COP 8,956
4.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Brest
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.00€1.74
$1.22COP 3,792
63.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.60€36.27
$80.5COP 251.1K
-48.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.40€7.32
$1.31COP 4,084
541.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19€1.90
$2.19COP 6,825
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$31.96€27.86
$8.71COP 27.2K
266.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.79
$1.37COP 4,260
50.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.4K€32.6K
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
34.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.2K€30.7K
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
-1.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brest
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$164€143
$177COP 553.2K
-7.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.83€25.13
$13.88COP 43.3K
107.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.68€25.00
$29.72COP 92.8K
-3.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brest
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.87€32.14
$44.88COP 140.1K
-17.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.23€21.12
$17.12COP 53.4K
41.53%
Cinema Ticket
$13.92€12.14
$6.65COP 20.7K
109.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brest
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$230€200
$813COP 2.5M
-71.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9K€10.4K
$9,187COP 28.7M
29.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brest
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.2€50.7
$89.5COP 279.3K
-34.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.33€38.64
$59.0COP 184.0K
-24.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.3€63.0
$138COP 431.2K
-47.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.0€81.9
$102COP 318.7K
-7.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brest
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$535€466
$1,062COP 3.3M
-49.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$403€351
$663COP 2.1M
-39.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$896€781
$1,888COP 5.9M
-52.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$763€665
$1,027COP 3.2M
-25.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,833€2,469
$4,183COP 13.1M
-32.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,585€2,253
$1,675COP 5.2M
54.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brest
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,722€2,373
$678COP 2.1M
301.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.82
10.94
-65.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Brest: September 12, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $535 in Brest and $1,062 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Brest pays 302% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Brest vs $48.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $328 vs $305, with Medellin cheaper for home cooking.
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?
Brest wins on cost – living expenses run 12% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Brest the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Brest or in Medellin?
Average pay runs 302% higher in Brest, 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 Brest compared to Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $535 in Brest versus $1,062 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Brest and in Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Brest – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $48.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Brest compared to Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $1,498 per month in Brest versus $1,681 in Medellin – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Brest or in Medellin?
At $1,498 in Brest versus $1,681 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Brest but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Brest the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Brest or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Brest delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,498 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Brest hard to pass up.
How safe is Brest compared to Medellin?
Safety-wise, Brest 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 Brest gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.