Cost of Living Comparison Between Bucaramanga and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Bucaramanga and Medellin

🙂 Solo nomad: Bucaramanga is 19.2% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 25.7% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Bucaramanga is 21.7% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 29.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bucaramanga
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.07 COP 11.5K
$6.03 COP 22.7K
-49.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.31 COP 72.6K
$33.17 COP 124.7K
-41.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.63 COP 24.9K
$7.29 COP 27.4K
-9.05%
Cappuccino
$1.35 COP 5,069
$1.63 COP 6,128
-17.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 COP 2,698
$1.05 COP 3,944
-31.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 COP 2,088
$0.77 COP 2,896
-27.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.40 COP 5,281
$1.73 COP 6,505
-19.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 COP 7,624
$3.18 COP 12.0K
-36.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bucaramanga
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 COP 4,613
$1.07 COP 4,013
14.95%
White Bread (500g)
$1.11 COP 4,162
$1.31 COP 4,931
-15.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.25 COP 4,685
$1.38 COP 5,191
-9.42%
Eggs
$2.26 COP 8,486
$2.25 COP 8,451
0.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.22 COP 15.9K
$4.48 COP 16.9K
-5.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.83 COP 21.9K
$5.74 COP 21.6K
1.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.29 COP 27.4K
$8.86 COP 33.3K
-17.72%
Apples (1kg)
$2.59 COP 9,725
$2.24 COP 8,432
15.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,426
$1.06 COP 3,985
11.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.89 COP 3,353
$1.51 COP 5,693
-41.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.91 COP 3,429
$1.36 COP 5,116
-33.09%
Potato (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,451
$1.12 COP 4,215
5.36%
Onion (1kg)
$0.95 COP 3,572
$1.17 COP 4,397
-18.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.92 COP 3,447
$0.90 COP 3,393
2.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 COP 2,971
$0.84 COP 3,148
-5.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.74 COP 6,556
$2.26 COP 8,495
-23.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.71 COP 29.0K
$9.97 COP 37.5K
-22.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,933
$1.18 COP 4,448
-33.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 COP 5,886
$2.39 COP 8,987
-34.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Bucaramanga
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.69 COP 2,592
$0.86 COP 3,231
-19.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.35 COP 144.2K
$41.45 COP 155.9K
-7.48%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.76 COP 6,633
$1.47 COP 5,517
19.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.54 COP 5,776
$1.95 COP 7,317
-21.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.93 COP 22.3K
$7.76 COP 29.2K
-23.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 COP 3,782
$0.97 COP 3,638
4.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.3K COP 72.8M
$17.9K COP 67.5M
7.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1K COP 105.9M
$26.7K COP 100.5M
5.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bucaramanga
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$74.4 COP 279.9K
$81.1 COP 305.0K
-8.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.96 COP 33.7K
$9.40 COP 35.4K
-4.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.58 COP 77.4K
$23.61 COP 88.8K
-12.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bucaramanga
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.37 COP 87.9K
$25.55 COP 96.1K
-8.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.97 COP 60.1K
$19.29 COP 72.5K
-17.21%
Cinema Ticket
$3.79 COP 14.3K
$4.10 COP 15.4K
-7.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bucaramanga
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$236 COP 886.9K
$306 COP 1.2M
-22.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,405 COP 9.0M
$5,899 COP 22.2M
-59.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bucaramanga
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.9 COP 240.3K
$59.8 COP 224.9K
6.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.17 COP 121.0K
$31.96 COP 120.2K
0.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.7 COP 318.4K
$103 COP 386.2K
-17.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.67 COP 145.4K
$108 COP 405.6K
-64.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bucaramanga
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$291 COP 1.1M
$483 COP 1.8M
-39.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 COP 883.4K
$377 COP 1.4M
-37.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$481 COP 1.8M
$822 COP 3.1M
-41.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$378 COP 1.4M
$721 COP 2.7M
-47.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,263 COP 4.7M
$2,784 COP 10.5M
-54.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,369 COP 5.1M
$1,320 COP 5.0M
3.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bucaramanga
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$479 COP 1.8M
$538 COP 2.0M
-10.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
15.25
13.43
13.55%

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

Last update for Bucaramanga: March 2, 2026

Last update for Medellin: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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