Cost of Living Comparison Between Buenaventura and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Buenaventura and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $797 per month in Buenaventura vs $1,030 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,202 per month in Buenaventura vs $1,586 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,608 per month in Buenaventura vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Buenaventura is about 23% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Buenaventura and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Buenaventura 41% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.11 COP 14.7K

$5.92 COP 21.2K

-30.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.58 COP 84.4K

$33.17 COP 118.7K

-28.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.07 COP 25.3K

$7.25 COP 25.9K

-2.48%

Cappuccino

$1.55 COP 5,545

$1.71 COP 6,137

-9.36%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 COP 3,307

$1.09 COP 3,915

-15.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 COP 2,014

$0.77 COP 2,743

-27.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.16 COP 4,139

$1.75 COP 6,254

-33.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 COP 7,656

$3.18 COP 11.4K

-32.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,781

$1.06 COP 3,792

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 COP 4,400

$1.30 COP 4,657

-5.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,105

$1.38 COP 4,926

-16.67%

Eggs

$2.15 COP 7,680

$2.21 COP 7,908

-2.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.38 COP 15.7K

$4.52 COP 16.2K

-3.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.26 COP 18.8K

$5.80 COP 20.7K

-9.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.18 COP 25.7K

$8.97 COP 32.1K

-19.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.42 COP 8,653

$2.29 COP 8,182

5.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,831

$1.06 COP 3,791

0.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,850

$1.51 COP 5,411

-9.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.93 COP 3,338

$1.36 COP 4,869

-31.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,178

$1.16 COP 4,146

0.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,185

$1.17 COP 4,174

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 COP 3,106

$0.83 COP 2,960

4.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 COP 2,455

$0.85 COP 3,043

-18.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.31 COP 8,250

$2.35 COP 8,423

-1.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.11 COP 32.6K

$11.09 COP 39.7K

-17.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$1.15 COP 4,133

-5.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 COP 6,307

$2.47 COP 8,853

-28.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 COP 2,446

$0.79 COP 2,827

-13.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.84 COP 106.8K

$41.85 COP 149.8K

-28.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.48 COP 5,308

$1.44 COP 5,140

2.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.73 COP 6,184

$1.90 COP 6,793

-8.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.91 COP 21.1K

$7.70 COP 27.6K

-23.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 COP 3,643

$1.03 COP 3,680

-0.97%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.6K COP 63.1M

$17.7K COP 63.3M

-0.35%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.7K COP 91.8M

$27.0K COP 96.7M

-5.01%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.1 COP 293.8K

$81.4 COP 291.4K

0.82%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$8.94 COP 32.0K

$9.42 COP 33.7K

-5.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.34 COP 79.9K

$23.77 COP 85.1K

-6.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.31 COP 83.4K

$25.86 COP 92.6K

-9.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.34 COP 69.2K

Cinema Ticket

$4.06 COP 14.5K

$4.05 COP 14.5K

0.25%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$237 COP 847.8K

$312 COP 1.1M

-24.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,929 COP 21.2M

$6,067 COP 21.7M

-2.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 210.2K

$58.9 COP 210.7K

-0.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.13 COP 118.6K

$32.82 COP 117.5K

0.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.2 COP 297.8K

$100 COP 359.6K

-17.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.6 COP 256.1K

$106 COP 380.3K

-32.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$287 COP 1.0M

$490 COP 1.8M

-41.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 COP 847.6K

$371 COP 1.3M

-36.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$531 COP 1.9M

$838 COP 3.0M

-36.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$432 COP 1.5M

$715 COP 2.6M

-39.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,652 COP 5.9M

$2,952 COP 10.6M

-44.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,366 COP 4.9M

$1,394 COP 5.0M

-2.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$550 COP 2.0M

$532 COP 1.9M

3.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.18

13.43

-1.86%

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

Last update for Buenaventura: April 21, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $287 in Buenaventura versus $490 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 3% higher in Buenaventura, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $24 in Buenaventura versus $33 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $170 vs $190 – making Buenaventura the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Buenaventura vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $797 in Buenaventura, $1,030 in Medellin – roughly 29% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,195 per month in Buenaventura and $1,544 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Buenaventura, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 12% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Buenaventura and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Buenaventura, where all-in costs run around $797, than in Medellin at $1,030. In Buenaventura it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $797 in Buenaventura to $1,030 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Buenaventura. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.