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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $806 per month in Buenaventura vs $1,018 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,234 per month in Buenaventura vs $1,609 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,661 per month in Buenaventura vs $2,200 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

$4.04 COP 13.0K

$5.93 COP 19.1K

-31.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.92 COP 77.0K

$33.12 COP 106.6K

-27.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.12 COP 22.9K

Cappuccino

$1.50 COP 4,828

$1.71 COP 5,487

-12.28%

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

$0.93 COP 2,994

$1.05 COP 3,374

-11.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 COP 1,811

$0.72 COP 2,324

-22.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.21 COP 3,908

$1.72 COP 5,531

-29.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 COP 6,872

$3.17 COP 10.2K

-32.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,397

$1.06 COP 3,426

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,019

$1.31 COP 4,215

-4.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,635

$1.33 COP 4,279

-15.04%

Eggs

$2.15 COP 6,933

$2.28 COP 7,338

-5.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.36 COP 14.0K

$4.42 COP 14.2K

-1.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.16 COP 16.6K

$5.92 COP 19.0K

-12.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.16 COP 23.1K

$8.64 COP 27.8K

-17.13%

Apples (1kg)

$2.48 COP 7,971

$2.34 COP 7,545

5.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 COP 3,588

$1.10 COP 3,546

1.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.31 COP 4,201

$1.47 COP 4,724

-10.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.87 COP 2,799

$1.38 COP 4,439

-36.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,629

$1.17 COP 3,774

-3.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,773

$1.17 COP 3,765

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.81 COP 2,598

$0.90 COP 2,905

-10.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 COP 2,105

$0.84 COP 2,708

-22.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 7,508

$2.33 COP 7,490

Wine (Bottle)

$10.87 COP 35.0K

$11.92 COP 38.3K

-8.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 COP 3,629

$1.15 COP 3,693

-1.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 COP 5,770

$2.42 COP 7,791

-26.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 COP 2,305

$0.84 COP 2,702

-14.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.68 COP 95.5K

$40.83 COP 131.4K

-27.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 4,621

$1.41 COP 4,541

2.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 COP 5,285

$1.91 COP 6,160

-14.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.18 COP 19.9K

$7.83 COP 25.2K

-21.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,070

$0.94 COP 3,037

1.06%

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

$17.7K COP 56.9M

$17.8K COP 57.3M

-0.75%

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

$25.4K COP 81.7M

$27.1K COP 87.1M

-6.23%

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

$83.3 COP 268.1K

$83.3 COP 267.9K

0.08%

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

$8.87 COP 28.5K

$9.66 COP 31.1K

-8.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.32 COP 71.8K

$24.22 COP 77.9K

-7.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.66 COP 76.1K

$25.22 COP 81.2K

-6.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.33 COP 62.2K

Cinema Ticket

$4.02 COP 12.9K

$4.07 COP 13.1K

-1.23%

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

$235 COP 756.2K

$307 COP 986.5K

-23.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,945 COP 19.1M

$5,981 COP 19.2M

-0.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.1 COP 193.2K

$60.0 COP 192.9K

0.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.17 COP 103.5K

$32.65 COP 105.1K

-1.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.8 COP 269.6K

$101 COP 325.2K

-17.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.1 COP 238.4K

$108 COP 347.6K

-31.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$282 COP 907.8K

$476 COP 1.5M

-40.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 COP 761.3K

$379 COP 1.2M

-37.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$536 COP 1.7M

$816 COP 2.6M

-34.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 COP 1.4M

$707 COP 2.3M

-38.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,731 COP 5.6M

$3,190 COP 10.3M

-45.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,400 COP 4.5M

$1,446 COP 4.7M

-3.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$623 COP 2.0M

$622 COP 2.0M

0.17%

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: July 22, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $282 in Buenaventura versus $476 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 0% 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: $173 vs $192 – 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: $806 in Buenaventura, $1,018 in Medellin – roughly 26% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,210 per month in Buenaventura and $1,527 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 11% 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 $806, than in Medellin at $1,018. 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 $806 in Buenaventura to $1,018 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.