Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Baidoa Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Baidoa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $161 in Baidoa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $290 in Baidoa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $419 in Baidoa, rent included.

Medellin costs about 542% more than Baidoa, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Baidoa are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Baidoa 88% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.5K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 119.1K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.2K

Cappuccino

$1.70 COP 6,186

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

$1.10 COP 3,996

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,625

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 COP 6,067

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 COP 11.3K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,837

$2.01 SOS 1,151

-47.26%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,531

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,060

$1.22 SOS 696

13.93%

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,229

$3.52 SOS 2,012

-35.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.8K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.2K

$8.93 SOS 5,106

-34.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 32.1K

$6.88 SOS 3,932

28.34%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,159

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,911

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,563

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,987

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,109

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,067

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,080

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,305

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,477

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,342

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,617

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,859

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 149.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,223

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,952

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 29.2K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,410

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

$17.9K COP 65.2M

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

$26.8K COP 97.4M

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

$84.0 COP 305.4K

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

$9.60 COP 34.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.9K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 94.1K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 69.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.2K

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

$306 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 210.6K

$9.98 SOS 5,707

480.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 115.7K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 363.3K

$20.13 SOS 11.5K

396.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 389.7K

$30.39 SOS 17.4K

252.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

$49.09 SOS 28.1K

891.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

$30.29 SOS 17.3K

1115.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

$151 SOS 86.1K

448.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

$88.5 SOS 50.6K

709.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

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

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Last update for Baidoa: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $49.09 in Baidoa. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

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 Baidoa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,034 in Medellin, $161 in Baidoa – roughly 542% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,550 per month in Medellin and $241 in Baidoa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,034 in Medellin and $161 in Baidoa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 82% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Baidoa, where all-in costs run around $161, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Baidoa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $161 in Baidoa to $1,034 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Baidoa. 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.