Cost of Living Comparison Between Budaiya and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Budaiya and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $670 in Budaiya versus $1,017 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,135 in Budaiya versus $1,602 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,600 in Budaiya versus $2,188 in Medellin.

Living in Budaiya costs roughly 34% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Budaiya 50% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Budaiya
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.28 BHD 1.99
$5.95 COP 20.8K
-11.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.9 BHD 19.92
$33.33 COP 116.3K
58.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.12 BHD 2.68
$7.23 COP 25.2K
-1.52%
Cappuccino
$4.90 BHD 1.85
$1.63 COP 5,687
200.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 BHD 0.31
$1.09 COP 3,821
-24.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 BHD 0.11
$0.73 COP 2,548
-61.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.83 BHD 2.95
$1.74 COP 6,065
350.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.42 BHD 3.93
$3.23 COP 11.3K
222.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Budaiya
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 BHD 0.65
$1.05 COP 3,662
63.81%
White Bread (500g)
$1.29 BHD 0.49
$1.29 COP 4,515
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 BHD 0.44
$1.32 COP 4,617
-11.36%
Eggs
$1.56 BHD 0.59
$2.27 COP 7,927
-31.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.63 BHD 0.99
$4.35 COP 15.2K
-39.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.56 BHD 2.85
$5.88 COP 20.5K
28.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.90 BHD 1.47
$8.61 COP 30.0K
-54.70%
Apples (1kg)
$2.38 BHD 0.90
$2.25 COP 7,844
5.78%
Banana (1kg)
$2.10 BHD 0.79
$1.07 COP 3,733
96.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.67 BHD 0.63
$1.52 COP 5,322
9.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.08 BHD 0.41
$1.42 COP 4,964
-23.94%
Potato (1kg)
$0.79 BHD 0.30
$1.17 COP 4,084
-32.48%
Onion (1kg)
$1.07 BHD 0.40
$1.17 COP 4,077
-8.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.31 BHD 0.49
$0.89 COP 3,096
47.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 BHD 0.21
$0.90 COP 3,146
-40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.78 BHD 2.18
$2.25 COP 7,837
156.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.05 BHD 4.92
$11.04 COP 38.5K
18.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 BHD 0.64
$1.14 COP 3,977
48.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 BHD 0.66
$2.38 COP 8,301
-26.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Budaiya
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.84 COP 2,916
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$41.95 COP 146.4K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 BHD 1.03
$1.41 COP 4,912
93.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.61 BHD 0.98
$1.90 COP 6,634
37.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.78 BHD 10.10
$7.75 COP 27.0K
245.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.38 BHD 0.14
$1.01 COP 3,509
-62.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.1K BHD 14.0K
$17.6K COP 61.4M
111.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4K BHD 7,688
$26.5K COP 92.5M
-23.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Budaiya
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.5 BHD 33.34
$83.7 COP 292.1K
5.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.19 BHD 10.25
$9.45 COP 33.0K
187.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.05 BHD 10.19
$24.11 COP 84.1K
12.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Budaiya
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$25.31 COP 88.3K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.14 COP 66.8K
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.08 BHD 3.05
$4.10 COP 14.3K
97.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Budaiya
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$393 BHD 148
$312 COP 1.1M
25.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,922 BHD 3,363
$5,993 COP 20.9M
48.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Budaiya
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.41 BHD 17.11
$58.0 COP 202.6K
-21.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.6 BHD 23.58
$32.56 COP 113.6K
92.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.7 BHD 31.92
$99.6 COP 347.7K
-14.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.3 BHD 32.92
$109 COP 378.8K
-19.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Budaiya
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$482 COP 1.7M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$379 COP 1.3M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$837 COP 2.9M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$723 COP 2.5M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,840 COP 9.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,223 COP 4.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Budaiya
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$541 COP 1.9M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.56
13.43
-36.26%

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

Last update for Budaiya: June 7, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $53.0 in Budaiya vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $189 vs $190, with Budaiya 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
Budaiya vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Budaiya or Medellin?
Budaiya wins on cost – living expenses run 52% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Budaiya the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Budaiya vs Medellin?
You'd need roughly $1,005 in Budaiya and $1,525 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Are groceries more expensive in Budaiya or Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 0% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Budaiya compared to Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $670 per month in Budaiya versus $1,017 in Medellin – a 52% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Budaiya or Medellin?
At $670 in Budaiya versus $1,017 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Budaiya but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Budaiya the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Budaiya or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Budaiya delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $670 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Budaiya hard to pass up.
How safe is Budaiya compared to Medellin?
Safety-wise, Budaiya 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 Budaiya gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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