😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,703 in Busselton versus $1,641 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,845 in Busselton versus $2,447 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,987 in Busselton versus $3,253 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Busselton is roughly 65% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Busselton96% above, Medellin19% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Busselton
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.96A$25.03
$8.04COP 24.8K
123.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.7A$119
$48.29COP 148.6K
77.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.88A$15.17
$9.42COP 29.0K
15.50%
Cappuccino
$4.68A$6.53
$2.94COP 9,040
59.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18A$3.04
$1.86COP 5,735
17.20%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18A$3.05
$1.46COP 4,479
49.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.85A$12.34
$3.21COP 9,882
175.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.74A$12.19
$5.71COP 17.6K
53.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Busselton
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.69A$2.36
$1.44COP 4,428
17.36%
White Bread(500g)
$3.04A$4.24
$2.40COP 7,389
26.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.12A$2.95
$1.70COP 5,228
24.71%
Eggs
$5.54A$7.72
$2.89COP 8,896
91.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.96A$12.49
$10.06COP 30.9K
-10.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.55A$13.31
$9.97COP 30.7K
-4.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.60A$20.36
$14.20COP 43.7K
2.82%
Apples(1kg)
$4.73A$6.60
$3.98COP 12.3K
18.84%
Banana(1kg)
$3.24A$4.52
$1.58COP 4,878
105.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.47A$4.84
$2.15COP 6,624
61.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.22A$7.27
$2.30COP 7,078
126.96%
Potato(1kg)
$2.95A$4.11
$2.00COP 6,169
47.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97A$2.75
$1.51COP 4,646
30.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.41A$3.36
$1.20COP 3,701
100.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.36A$1.90
$1.28COP 3,946
6.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$42.83A$59.7
$3.84COP 11.8K
1015.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.86A$17.93
$14.01COP 43.1K
-8.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.44A$6.20
$1.71COP 5,256
159.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60A$5.02
$2.74COP 8,440
31.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Busselton
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.06A$4.27
$1.25COP 3,834
144.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$87.2A$122
$77.9COP 239.7K
11.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.65A$5.08
$1.31COP 4,016
178.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48A$2.07
$2.17COP 6,680
-31.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$42.05A$58.6
$8.29COP 25.5K
407.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29A$1.80
$1.36COP 4,172
-5.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1KA$39.2K
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
2.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5KA$42.5K
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
-16.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Busselton
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$207A$289
$169COP 519.2K
22.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.48A$46.68
$13.57COP 41.8K
146.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.3A$89.6
$28.32COP 87.2K
126.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Busselton
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.6A$78.9
$45.71COP 140.7K
23.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.28A$25.48
$17.22COP 53.0K
6.16%
Cinema Ticket
$17.16A$23.92
$6.65COP 20.5K
158.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Busselton
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,364A$3,296
$803COP 2.5M
194.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.5KA$32.8K
$9,190COP 28.3M
155.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Busselton
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.6A$108
$87.4COP 268.8K
-11.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$69.7A$97.2
$59.4COP 182.7K
17.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$124A$172
$139COP 427.5K
-11.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$161A$225
$102COP 314.0K
57.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Busselton
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,434A$1,999
$1,071COP 3.3M
33.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,308A$1,823
$653COP 2.0M
100.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,259A$3,150
$1,925COP 5.9M
17.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,897A$2,645
$1,048COP 3.2M
81.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,731A$9,384
$4,123COP 12.7M
63.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,231A$7,293
$1,697COP 5.2M
208.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Busselton
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$655COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.92
10.94
-45.89%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Busselton: September 6, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,434 in Busselton and $1,071 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $86.0 in Busselton vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $373 vs $300 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 in Medellin?
Busselton and Medellin differ by about 65% in total monthly costs ($2,703 vs $1,641 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 $4,054 in Busselton and $2,462 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 in Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,434 in Busselton versus $1,071 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 $2,364 in Busselton versus $803 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 24% higher in Busselton. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $1,641 in Medellin versus $2,703 in Busselton, a $2,500 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 65% less than in Busselton. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.