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

🙂 Solo nomad: Bucaramanga is 19.3% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 22.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Bucaramanga is 23.1% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 31% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bucaramanga
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.13 COP 11.3K
$6.14 COP 22.2K
-49.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.12 COP 69.0K
$33.05 COP 119.3K
-42.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.86 COP 24.8K
$7.32 COP 26.4K
-6.28%
Cappuccino
$1.32 COP 4,748
$1.66 COP 5,987
-20.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 COP 2,727
$1.10 COP 3,987
-30.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 COP 2,131
$0.78 COP 2,822
-24.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.41 COP 5,096
$1.71 COP 6,188
-17.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 COP 7,647
$3.17 COP 11.5K
-33.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bucaramanga
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 COP 4,263
$1.11 COP 4,012
6.31%
White Bread (500g)
$1.11 COP 4,025
$1.31 COP 4,719
-15.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.21 COP 4,366
$1.38 COP 4,980
-12.32%
Eggs
$2.26 COP 8,154
$2.22 COP 8,009
1.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.05 COP 14.6K
$4.34 COP 15.7K
-6.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.74 COP 20.7K
$5.80 COP 20.9K
-1.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.52 COP 27.1K
$8.98 COP 32.4K
-16.26%
Apples (1kg)
$2.58 COP 9,318
$2.26 COP 8,164
14.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.19 COP 4,293
$1.11 COP 4,023
7.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.89 COP 3,210
$1.46 COP 5,284
-39.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.86 COP 3,088
$1.37 COP 4,929
-37.23%
Potato (1kg)
$1.20 COP 4,342
$1.11 COP 4,009
8.11%
Onion (1kg)
$0.95 COP 3,424
$1.16 COP 4,199
-18.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.91 COP 3,286
$0.89 COP 3,211
2.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 COP 2,670
$0.87 COP 3,124
-14.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.65 COP 5,966
$2.35 COP 8,495
-29.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.37 COP 30.2K
$10.86 COP 39.2K
-22.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 COP 3,064
$1.20 COP 4,330
-29.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 COP 5,404
$2.48 COP 8,946
-39.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Bucaramanga
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.69 COP 2,507
$0.79 COP 2,842
-12.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.46 COP 142.5K
$40.77 COP 147.2K
-3.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.76 COP 6,342
$1.42 COP 5,137
23.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.54 COP 5,574
$1.91 COP 6,900
-19.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.01 COP 21.7K
$7.65 COP 27.6K
-21.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.98 COP 3,532
$0.97 COP 3,490
1.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K COP 69.2M
$18.1K COP 65.3M
5.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.6K COP 99.8M
$26.3K COP 95.0M
5.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bucaramanga
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$74.4 COP 268.6K
$81.3 COP 293.5K
-8.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.61 COP 31.1K
$9.63 COP 34.8K
-10.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.49 COP 74.0K
$24.36 COP 88.0K
-15.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bucaramanga
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.37 COP 84.3K
$26.02 COP 93.9K
-10.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.44 COP 55.7K
$18.92 COP 68.3K
-18.39%
Cinema Ticket
$3.90 COP 14.1K
$3.89 COP 14.0K
0.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bucaramanga
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$241 COP 870.5K
$304 COP 1.1M
-20.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,430 COP 8.8M
$5,902 COP 21.3M
-58.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bucaramanga
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.2 COP 235.4K
$58.7 COP 211.8K
11.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.34 COP 116.7K
$32.48 COP 117.2K
-0.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.0 COP 303.2K
$102 COP 367.3K
-17.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.15 COP 137.7K
$108 COP 390.4K
-64.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bucaramanga
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$286 COP 1.0M
$474 COP 1.7M
-39.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 COP 849.4K
$371 COP 1.3M
-36.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$483 COP 1.7M
$848 COP 3.1M
-43.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$370 COP 1.3M
$716 COP 2.6M
-48.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,060 COP 3.8M
$2,871 COP 10.4M
-63.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,424 COP 5.1M
$1,375 COP 5.0M
3.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bucaramanga
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 COP 1.8M
$542 COP 2.0M
-6.25%
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: April 14, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 13, 2026

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

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