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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $163 in Baidoa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $292 in Baidoa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $421 in Baidoa, rent included.

Medellin costs about 514% more than Baidoa, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Baidoa are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Baidoa 88% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.95 SOS 1,108

-43.59%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$1.19 SOS 674

15.97%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$3.55 SOS 2,013

-38.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$8.89 SOS 5,041

-34.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$7.15 SOS 4,054

25.45%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

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

$316 COP 994.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$9.88 SOS 5,604

507.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$20.26 SOS 11.5K

401.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$29.42 SOS 16.7K

265.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$50.4 SOS 28.6K

843.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$29.59 SOS 16.8K

1163.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$147 SOS 83.6K

476.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$91.3 SOS 51.7K

688.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Baidoa: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $50.4 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: $1,003 in Medellin, $163 in Baidoa – roughly 514% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $245 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 $1,003 in Medellin and $163 in Baidoa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 85% 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 $163, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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 $163 in Baidoa to $1,003 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.