😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,681 in Medellin versus $1,342 in Badajoz.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,445 in Medellin versus $2,001 in Badajoz.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,210 in Medellin versus $2,661 in Badajoz.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 25% more expensive than in Badajoz, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, Badajoz is 2% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Badajoz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 24.9K
$14.92€12.93
-46.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 148.7K
$51.2€44.40
-6.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 30.7K
$11.63€10.08
-14.96%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,724
$1.90€1.65
64.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 5,928
$2.85€2.47
-32.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,692
$1.40€1.22
7.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,705
$2.26€1.95
38.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 17.9K
$3.57€3.09
61.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Badajoz
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,489
$1.11€0.96
29.73%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,725
$1.33€1.15
87.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,510
$1.65€1.43
7.27%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,195
$2.99€2.59
-1.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.3K
$15.17€13.15
-33.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.4K
$8.10€7.02
24.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 44.4K
$12.56€10.89
13.85%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 12.8K
$2.24€1.94
84.82%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 4,997
$2.77€2.40
-41.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 6,976
$2.13€1.85
5.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 6,997
$2.50€2.16
-10.00%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,347
$1.94€1.68
5.15%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,769
$1.87€1.62
-17.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,635
$0.99€0.86
18.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,059
$0.57€0.49
129.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.1K
$5.78€5.01
-32.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.5K
$7.08€6.13
97.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,415
$1.73€1.50
0.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 8,917
$2.42€2.09
18.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Badajoz
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,776
$1.37€1.19
-10.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 250.0K
$25.86€22.41
211.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,066
$2.84€2.46
-53.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,796
$1.46€1.27
50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.1K
$22.01€19.07
-60.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,241
$1.78€1.54
-23.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 86.5M
$26.1K€22.7K
6.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 111.1M
$28.4K€24.7K
25.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Badajoz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 550.8K
$135€117
31.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.1K
$18.48€16.02
-24.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 92.4K
$34.33€29.75
-13.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Badajoz
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 139.4K
$42.34€36.69
6.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 53.2K
$4.61€3.99
271.37%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.6K
$8.81€7.63
-24.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Badajoz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.5M
$365€316
122.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 28.5M
$6,210€5,382
47.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Badajoz
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 278.0K
$99.4€86.1
-9.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 183.2K
$31.67€27.45
86.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 429.4K
$60.1€52.1
129.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 317.3K
$73.2€63.5
39.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Badajoz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
$610€528
74.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$481€417
37.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 5.9M
$879€762
114.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
$715€620
43.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.0M
$1,818€1,575
130.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.2M
$1,450€1,256
15.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Badajoz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.1M
$1,549€1,342
-56.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
2.77
294.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Badajoz: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,062 in Medellin and $610 in Badajoz. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Badajoz pays 128% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $51.0 in Badajoz. Groceries flip the comparison at $305 vs $263, with Badajoz cheaper for home cooking.
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
Medellin vs Badajoz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Badajoz cheaper than Medellin?
Badajoz is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 25% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Badajoz?
On paper, salaries run 128% lower in Badajoz. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Badajoz?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,062 in Medellin versus $610 in Badajoz. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Badajoz?
All in, you'll spend $1,681 per month in Medellin versus $1,342 in Badajoz – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Badajoz runs roughly 211% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Badajoz?
At $1,342 in Badajoz versus $1,681 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Badajoz but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Badajoz the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Badajoz more family-friendly?
For families, Badajoz is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Badajoz?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Badajoz are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Badajoz gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.