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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $803 per month in Buenaventura vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,225 per month in Buenaventura vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,648 per month in Buenaventura vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Buenaventura is about 21% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Buenaventura and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Buenaventura 40% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.98 COP 14.2K

$5.95 COP 21.2K

-33.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.67 COP 84.4K

$33.33 COP 118.9K

-28.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.47 COP 26.6K

$7.23 COP 25.8K

3.32%

Cappuccino

$1.50 COP 5,349

$1.63 COP 5,811

-7.98%

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

$0.86 COP 3,067

$1.09 COP 3,904

-21.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.62 COP 2,201

$0.73 COP 2,604

-15.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.21 COP 4,312

$1.74 COP 6,197

-30.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 COP 7,978

$3.23 COP 11.5K

-30.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 COP 3,814

$1.05 COP 3,742

1.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,450

$1.29 COP 4,614

-3.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 COP 4,082

$1.32 COP 4,718

-13.64%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,693

$2.27 COP 8,101

-4.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.4K

$4.35 COP 15.5K

-0.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.27 COP 18.8K

$5.88 COP 21.0K

-10.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.55 COP 26.9K

$8.61 COP 30.7K

-12.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.51 COP 8,934

$2.25 COP 8,015

11.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,947

$1.07 COP 3,814

3.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 COP 4,625

$1.52 COP 5,438

-14.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.87 COP 3,091

$1.42 COP 5,073

-38.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,029

$1.17 COP 4,173

-3.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 3,999

$1.17 COP 4,166

-4.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 COP 3,130

$0.89 COP 3,163

-1.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 COP 2,497

$0.90 COP 3,215

-22.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.30 COP 8,195

$2.25 COP 8,008

2.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.24 COP 36.5K

$11.04 COP 39.4K

-7.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 4,055

$1.14 COP 4,063

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 COP 6,102

$2.38 COP 8,483

-28.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 COP 2,609

$0.84 COP 2,979

-13.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.19 COP 107.7K

$41.95 COP 149.6K

-28.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 5,081

$1.41 COP 5,019

0.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 COP 6,121

$1.90 COP 6,779

-9.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.97 COP 21.3K

$7.75 COP 27.6K

-22.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 COP 3,583

$1.01 COP 3,586

-0.99%

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

$17.7K COP 63.0M

$17.6K COP 62.7M

0.51%

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

$25.6K COP 91.3M

$26.5K COP 94.5M

-3.35%

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

$83.1 COP 296.2K

$83.7 COP 298.4K

-0.74%

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

$8.91 COP 31.8K

$9.45 COP 33.7K

-5.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.83 COP 81.4K

$24.11 COP 86.0K

-5.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.22 COP 82.8K

$25.31 COP 90.3K

-8.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 68.3K

Cinema Ticket

$4.01 COP 14.3K

$4.10 COP 14.6K

-2.20%

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

$235 COP 836.4K

$312 COP 1.1M

-24.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,923 COP 21.1M

$5,993 COP 21.4M

-1.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 COP 208.9K

$58.0 COP 207.0K

0.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.76 COP 116.8K

$32.56 COP 116.1K

0.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.2 COP 300.2K

$99.6 COP 355.3K

-15.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 COP 261.8K

$109 COP 387.1K

-32.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$282 COP 1.0M

$482 COP 1.7M

-41.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 COP 850.3K

$379 COP 1.4M

-37.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$520 COP 1.9M

$837 COP 3.0M

-37.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$425 COP 1.5M

$723 COP 2.6M

-41.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,606 COP 5.7M

$2,840 COP 10.1M

-43.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,236 COP 4.4M

$1,223 COP 4.4M

1.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$553 COP 2.0M

$541 COP 1.9M

2.33%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $282 in Buenaventura versus $482 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 2% 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 $24.00 in Buenaventura versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $174 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: $803 in Buenaventura, $1,017 in Medellin – roughly 27% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,204 per month in Buenaventura and $1,525 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 9% 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 $803, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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 $803 in Buenaventura to $1,017 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.