😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,185 in Busselton versus $1,017 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,222 in Busselton versus $1,602 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,258 in Busselton versus $2,188 in Medellin.
😐Living in Busselton is roughly 115% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Busselton is 63% above, Medellin is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Busselton
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.48A$23.29
$5.95COP 20.8K
176.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.9A$110
$33.33COP 116.3K
133.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.31A$13.15
$7.23COP 25.2K
28.77%
Cappuccino
$3.57A$5.05
$1.63COP 5,687
119.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50A$3.53
$1.09COP 3,821
129.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00A$2.82
$0.73COP 2,548
173.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.78A$10.99
$1.74COP 6,065
347.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.38A$9.01
$3.23COP 11.3K
97.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Busselton
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.89A$1.26
$1.05COP 3,662
-15.24%
White Bread(500g)
$1.17A$1.65
$1.29COP 4,515
-9.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.96A$1.36
$1.32COP 4,617
-27.27%
Eggs
$3.13A$4.43
$2.27COP 7,927
37.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.75A$12.36
$4.35COP 15.2K
101.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.60A$10.74
$5.88COP 20.5K
29.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.00A$19.78
$8.61COP 30.0K
62.60%
Apples(1kg)
$3.31A$4.67
$2.25COP 7,844
47.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.98A$2.80
$1.07COP 3,733
85.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.82A$3.99
$1.52COP 5,322
85.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.59A$6.48
$1.42COP 4,964
223.24%
Potato(1kg)
$2.53A$3.57
$1.17COP 4,084
116.24%
Onion(1kg)
$1.72A$2.44
$1.17COP 4,077
47.01%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97A$2.78
$0.89COP 3,096
121.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.46A$2.06
$0.90COP 3,146
62.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.25A$20.13
$2.25COP 7,837
533.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.76A$18.03
$11.04COP 38.5K
15.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.75A$5.30
$1.14COP 3,977
228.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.05A$5.72
$2.38COP 8,301
70.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Busselton
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.54A$3.58
$0.84COP 2,916
202.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$66.2A$93.6
$41.95COP 146.4K
57.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.03A$5.69
$1.41COP 4,912
185.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.15A$3.04
$1.90COP 6,634
13.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$48.91A$69.1
$7.75COP 27.0K
531.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17A$1.65
$1.01COP 3,509
15.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.7KA$40.6K
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
63.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8KA$35.0K
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
-6.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Busselton
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$156A$220
$83.7COP 292.1K
85.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.33A$40.03
$9.45COP 33.0K
199.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.73A$70.3
$24.11COP 84.1K
106.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Busselton
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.87A$67.6
$25.31COP 88.3K
89.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.44A$21.81
$19.14COP 66.8K
-19.33%
Cinema Ticket
$16.09A$22.73
$4.10COP 14.3K
292.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Busselton
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,815A$2,564
$312COP 1.1M
481.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.8KA$16.7K
$5,993COP 20.9M
96.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Busselton
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.1A$90.5
$58.0COP 202.6K
10.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.48A$68.5
$32.56COP 113.6K
48.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104A$147
$99.6COP 347.7K
4.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107A$151
$109COP 378.8K
-1.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Busselton
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,278A$1,805
$482COP 1.7M
164.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,048A$1,481
$379COP 1.3M
176.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,028A$2,865
$837COP 2.9M
142.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,694A$2,394
$723COP 2.5M
134.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,615A$7,933
$2,840COP 9.9M
97.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,902A$8,338
$1,223COP 4.3M
382.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Busselton
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$541COP 1.9M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.42
13.43
-52.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Busselton: June 7, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,278 in Busselton and $482 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $78.0 in Busselton vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $295 vs $190 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.
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
Busselton vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Busselton and Medellin?
Busselton and Medellin differ by about 115% in total monthly costs ($2,185 vs $1,017 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Busselton compared to Medellin?
You'd need roughly $3,278 in Busselton 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Busselton and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,278 in Busselton versus $482 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Busselton and Medellin?
Childcare runs $1,815 in Busselton versus $312 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 55% higher in Busselton. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,017 in Medellin versus $2,185 in Busselton, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Busselton. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Busselton and Medellin?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Busselton or Medellin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Busselton 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.
Where should expats move: Busselton or Medellin?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 115% less than in Busselton. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.