🙂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: Budaiya50% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Budaiya
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.28BHD 1.99
$5.95COP 20.8K
-11.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.9BHD 19.92
$33.33COP 116.3K
58.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.12BHD 2.68
$7.23COP 25.2K
-1.52%
Cappuccino
$4.90BHD 1.85
$1.63COP 5,687
200.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82BHD 0.31
$1.09COP 3,821
-24.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28BHD 0.11
$0.73COP 2,548
-61.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.83BHD 2.95
$1.74COP 6,065
350.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.42BHD 3.93
$3.23COP 11.3K
222.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Budaiya
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.72BHD 0.65
$1.05COP 3,662
63.81%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29BHD 0.49
$1.29COP 4,515
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17BHD 0.44
$1.32COP 4,617
-11.36%
Eggs
$1.56BHD 0.59
$2.27COP 7,927
-31.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$2.63BHD 0.99
$4.35COP 15.2K
-39.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.56BHD 2.85
$5.88COP 20.5K
28.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.90BHD 1.47
$8.61COP 30.0K
-54.70%
Apples(1kg)
$2.38BHD 0.90
$2.25COP 7,844
5.78%
Banana(1kg)
$2.10BHD 0.79
$1.07COP 3,733
96.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.67BHD 0.63
$1.52COP 5,322
9.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.08BHD 0.41
$1.42COP 4,964
-23.94%
Potato(1kg)
$0.79BHD 0.30
$1.17COP 4,084
-32.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.07BHD 0.40
$1.17COP 4,077
-8.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.31BHD 0.49
$0.89COP 3,096
47.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54BHD 0.21
$0.90COP 3,146
-40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.78BHD 2.18
$2.25COP 7,837
156.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.05BHD 4.92
$11.04COP 38.5K
18.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69BHD 0.64
$1.14COP 3,977
48.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75BHD 0.66
$2.38COP 8,301
-26.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Budaiya
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.84COP 2,916
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.95COP 146.4K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.73BHD 1.03
$1.41COP 4,912
93.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.61BHD 0.98
$1.90COP 6,634
37.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$26.78BHD 10.10
$7.75COP 27.0K
245.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.38BHD 0.14
$1.01COP 3,509
-62.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.1KBHD 14.0K
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
111.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4KBHD 7,688
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
-23.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Budaiya
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.5BHD 33.34
$83.7COP 292.1K
5.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.19BHD 10.25
$9.45COP 33.0K
187.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.05BHD 10.19
$24.11COP 84.1K
12.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Budaiya
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$25.31COP 88.3K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.14COP 66.8K
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.08BHD 3.05
$4.10COP 14.3K
97.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Budaiya
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$393BHD 148
$312COP 1.1M
25.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,922BHD 3,363
$5,993COP 20.9M
48.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Budaiya
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.41BHD 17.11
$58.0COP 202.6K
-21.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.6BHD 23.58
$32.56COP 113.6K
92.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.7BHD 31.92
$99.6COP 347.7K
-14.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.3BHD 32.92
$109COP 378.8K
-19.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Budaiya
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$482COP 1.7M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$379COP 1.3M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$837COP 2.9M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$723COP 2.5M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,840COP 9.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,223COP 4.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Budaiya
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$541COP 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.