😐A single person spends $1,687 per month in Medellin vs $1,666 in Badalona, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,535 per month in Medellin vs $3,245 in Badalona, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,383 per month in Medellin vs $4,823 in Badalona, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 1% more than Badalona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Medellin and Badalona sit above the global median – Medellin by 23%, Badalona by 22%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Badalona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.89COP 24.2K
$17.44€14.92
-54.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.53COP 136.5K
$56.6€48.42
-21.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.29COP 28.5K
$11.43€9.78
-18.72%
Cappuccino
$2.90COP 8,874
$2.47€2.11
17.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81COP 5,541
$2.73€2.34
-33.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55COP 4,741
$1.89€1.61
-17.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25COP 9,962
$3.47€2.97
-6.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88COP 18.0K
$4.57€3.90
28.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Badalona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38COP 4,230
$1.18€1.01
16.95%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45COP 7,517
$2.20€1.88
11.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,617
$1.86€1.59
-18.82%
Eggs
$2.78COP 8,516
$3.06€2.62
-9.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.05COP 27.7K
$14.97€12.81
-39.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.65COP 32.6K
$9.23€7.90
15.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.63COP 44.8K
$15.35€13.13
-4.69%
Apples(1kg)
$3.97COP 12.2K
$2.59€2.22
53.28%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,219
$2.03€1.73
-32.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,056
$1.62€1.39
41.98%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.02COP 6,185
$2.47€2.11
-18.22%
Potato(1kg)
$2.09COP 6,390
$1.86€1.59
12.37%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63COP 4,996
$1.90€1.63
-14.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08COP 3,313
$1.56€1.34
-30.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25COP 3,843
$0.60€0.51
108.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03COP 12.4K
$7.08€6.05
-43.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.47COP 41.3K
$5.90€5.05
128.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60COP 4,904
$1.04€0.89
53.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00COP 9,189
$2.50€2.14
20.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Badalona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.18COP 3,611
$1.70€1.45
-30.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.9COP 244.9K
$46.28€39.59
72.73%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.61COP 4,920
$3.41€2.91
-52.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13COP 6,533
$1.80€1.54
18.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.52COP 26.1K
$14.85€12.70
-42.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35COP 4,142
$1.70€1.45
-20.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KCOP 86.8M
$35.7K€30.5K
-20.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KCOP 109.4M
$31.4K€26.9K
13.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Badalona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151COP 463.8K
$120€103
26.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.10COP 40.1K
$16.13€13.79
-18.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.30COP 99.0K
$25.67€21.96
25.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Badalona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.33COP 141.9K
$60.4€51.6
-23.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.26COP 52.9K
$16.22€13.88
6.41%
Cinema Ticket
$6.43COP 19.7K
$9.32€7.97
-31.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Badalona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$835COP 2.6M
$572€490
45.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,887COP 27.2M
$10.3K€8,797
-13.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Badalona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3COP 273.7K
$64.4€55.1
38.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3COP 169.5K
$21.58€18.46
156.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$137COP 418.5K
$110€93.8
24.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COP 335.1K
$124€106
-11.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Badalona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$952COP 2.9M
$1,395€1,193
-31.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$668COP 2.0M
$714€610
-6.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,020COP 6.2M
$1,367€1,169
47.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,148COP 3.5M
$2,551€2,183
-54.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,696COP 11.3M
$3,427€2,931
7.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,586COP 4.9M
$2,211€1,891
-28.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Badalona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$625COP 1.9M
$2,072€1,772
-69.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.43
3.3
216.06%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026
Last update for Badalona: August 17, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $952 in Medellin versus $1,395 in Badalona. 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 231% higher in Badalona, 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 $45.00 in Medellin versus $57.0 in Badalona. Groceries tell a different story – $297 in Medellin vs $279 in Badalona – so Badalona wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Badalona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Medellin and in Badalona compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,687 in Medellin, $1,666 in Badalona – roughly 1% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Badalona?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,530 per month in Medellin and $2,499 in Badalona. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Medellin and Badalona?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Badalona, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Badalona?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,687 in Medellin and $1,666 in Badalona. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Medellin and in Badalona?
Public transport costs about 73% less in Badalona. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Badalona, where all-in costs run around $1,666, than in Medellin at $1,687. In Badalona it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Badalona?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,666 in Badalona to $1,687 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Medellin or Badalona safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Medellin and Badalona?
If budget matters most, go with Badalona. 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.