😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,220 in Busselton versus $1,003 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,257 in Busselton versus $1,573 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,295 in Busselton versus $2,143 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Busselton is roughly 121% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Busselton is 67% above, Medellin is 25% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Busselton
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.51A$23.72
$5.91COP 18.9K
179.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.0A$112
$32.96COP 105.2K
136.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.44A$13.56
$7.43COP 23.7K
27.05%
Cappuccino
$3.70A$5.32
$1.65COP 5,276
124.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45A$3.52
$1.10COP 3,514
122.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93A$2.78
$0.78COP 2,491
147.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.96A$11.43
$1.72COP 5,484
362.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.36A$9.14
$3.18COP 10.1K
100.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Busselton
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.84A$1.20
$1.10COP 3,521
-23.64%
White Bread(500g)
$1.15A$1.65
$1.26COP 4,015
-8.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.94A$1.35
$1.38COP 4,407
-31.88%
Eggs
$3.16A$4.53
$2.18COP 6,950
44.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.70A$12.49
$4.49COP 14.3K
93.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.61A$10.93
$5.79COP 18.5K
31.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.89A$19.96
$8.97COP 28.6K
54.85%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23A$4.64
$2.32COP 7,405
39.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.93A$2.77
$1.06COP 3,397
82.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.88A$4.14
$1.52COP 4,838
89.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.49A$6.45
$1.36COP 4,327
230.15%
Potato(1kg)
$2.46A$3.53
$1.13COP 3,599
117.70%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79A$2.57
$1.17COP 3,738
52.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.01A$2.89
$0.90COP 2,876
123.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.44A$2.07
$0.90COP 2,861
60.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.11A$20.27
$2.23COP 7,128
532.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.36A$19.19
$12.12COP 38.7K
10.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.92A$5.63
$1.19COP 3,793
229.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.22A$6.06
$2.48COP 7,920
70.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Busselton
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.57A$3.70
$0.85COP 2,723
202.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$66.2A$95.1
$41.62COP 132.8K
59.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.06A$5.83
$1.42COP 4,518
185.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.16A$3.10
$1.95COP 6,223
10.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$50.3A$72.2
$7.89COP 25.2K
537.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17A$1.68
$0.99COP 3,160
18.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3KA$42.1K
$17.6KCOP 56.2M
66.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.1KA$34.6K
$26.8KCOP 85.5M
-10.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Busselton
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$154A$222
$83.0COP 264.9K
85.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.81A$39.94
$9.70COP 30.9K
186.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.64A$71.3
$23.52COP 75.0K
111.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Busselton
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.38A$69.5
$25.26COP 80.6K
91.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.87A$22.80
$19.10COP 60.9K
-16.91%
Cinema Ticket
$16.40A$23.56
$3.95COP 12.6K
315.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Busselton
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,824A$2,620
$316COP 1.0M
477.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9KA$17.2K
$5,975COP 19.1M
99.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Busselton
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.2A$92.2
$60.0COP 191.4K
6.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.59A$69.8
$31.82COP 101.5K
52.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103A$148
$102COP 324.4K
1.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107A$153
$107COP 342.8K
-0.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Busselton
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,274A$1,830
$475COP 1.5M
168.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,074A$1,543
$374COP 1.2M
187.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,010A$2,887
$849COP 2.7M
136.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,692A$2,430
$719COP 2.3M
135.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,747A$9,691
$3,265COP 10.4M
106.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,860A$6,981
$1,441COP 4.6M
237.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Busselton
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$624COP 2.0M
-
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: July 26, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,274 in Busselton and $475 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 $193 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 121% in total monthly costs ($2,220 vs $1,003 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 $3,329 in Busselton and $1,504 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: $1,274 in Busselton versus $475 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 $1,824 in Busselton versus $316 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 53% 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 $1,003 in Medellin versus $2,220 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 121% less than in Busselton. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.