Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bahia de Caraquez Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bahia de Caraquez

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $923 in Bahia de Caraquez, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,428 in Bahia de Caraquez, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,933 in Bahia de Caraquez, rent included.

Medellin costs about 10% more than Bahia de Caraquez, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Bahia de Caraquez are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Bahia de Caraquez 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$3.57 $3.57

66.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$47.74 $47.74

-30.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$8.19 $8.19

-11.72%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$2.63 $2.63

-38.02%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.91 $0.91

19.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.62 $0.62

17.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$2.93 $2.93

-40.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$4.38 $4.38

-26.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.10 $1.10

-4.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$1.71 $1.71

-24.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$1.76 $1.76

-25.00%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$2.62 $2.62

-13.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$6.16 $6.16

-29.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$5.34 $5.34

10.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$6.10 $6.10

41.15%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$2.14 $2.14

5.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$1.08 $1.08

-0.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$1.09 $1.09

39.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$1.08 $1.08

31.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$1.81 $1.81

-35.36%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$1.39 $1.39

-15.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$0.74 $0.74

20.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$1.03 $1.03

-12.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$6.07 $6.07

-62.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$11.80 $11.80

-6.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$1.55 $1.55

-26.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$2.19 $2.19

8.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$0.36 $0.36

133.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

$24.21 $24.21

73.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$2.72 $2.72

-48.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$0.97 $0.97

95.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$9.98 $9.98

-22.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$0.63 $0.63

60.32%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$25.5K $25.5K

-31.05%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$29.4K $29.4K

-9.77%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$37.83 $37.83

121.20%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$13.42 $13.42

-29.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$31.52 $31.52

-23.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$30.12 $30.12

-15.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

$14.42 $14.42

32.73%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$7.83 $7.83

-47.64%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$312 COP 1.1M

$310 $310

0.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$5,896 $5,896

1.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$52.2 $52.2

11.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$42.68 $42.68

-23.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$105 $105

-4.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$110 $110

-1.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$337 $337

43.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$315 $315

20.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$624 $624

34.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$492 $492

47.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

$1,311 $1,311

116.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

$864 $864

41.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

9.35

43.64%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for Bahia de Caraquez: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $337 in Bahia de Caraquez. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $48.00 in Bahia de Caraquez. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $195 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Bahia de Caraquez: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,017 in Medellin, $923 in Bahia de Caraquez – roughly 10% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,385 in Bahia de Caraquez. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bahia de Caraquez, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $312 per month in Medellin and $310 in Bahia de Caraquez. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 3% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Bahia de Caraquez, where all-in costs run around $923, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Bahia de Caraquez it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Bahia de Caraquez has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $923 in Bahia de Caraquez to $1,017 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Bahia de Caraquez. 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.