πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,002 in Baie du Tombeau.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $1,658 in Baie du Tombeau.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $2,314 in Baie du Tombeau.
πLiving in Medellin is roughly 1% more expensive than Baie du Tombeau, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Medellin24% lower, Baie du Tombeau25% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Baie du Tombeau
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99COPΒ 21.4K
$6.69MURΒ 316
-10.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86COPΒ 117.4K
$43.28MURΒ 2,045
-24.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09COPΒ 25.3K
$6.46MURΒ 305
9.75%
Cappuccino
$1.71COPΒ 6,115
$2.68MURΒ 127
-36.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,924
$0.98MURΒ 46.27
12.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COPΒ 2,781
$0.56MURΒ 26.66
39.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68COPΒ 5,997
$2.07MURΒ 97.9
-18.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07COPΒ 11.0K
$2.76MURΒ 131
11.23%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Baie du Tombeau
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09COPΒ 3,906
$1.50MURΒ 71.0
-27.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COPΒ 4,508
$0.69MURΒ 32.84
82.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,922
$1.32MURΒ 62.6
4.55%
Eggs
$2.19COPΒ 7,827
$2.24MURΒ 106
-2.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.40COPΒ 15.7K
$9.81MURΒ 463
-55.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63COPΒ 20.1K
$6.01MURΒ 284
-6.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89COPΒ 31.8K
$10.43MURΒ 493
-14.77%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COPΒ 8,349
$2.07MURΒ 97.6
13.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COPΒ 3,777
$1.99MURΒ 94.2
-46.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50COPΒ 5,374
$1.43MURΒ 67.6
4.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,924
$2.64MURΒ 125
-47.73%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COPΒ 4,111
$1.03MURΒ 48.53
11.65%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COPΒ 4,155
$0.94MURΒ 44.53
23.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,182
$0.85MURΒ 40.10
4.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COPΒ 2,997
$0.58MURΒ 27.20
44.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28COPΒ 8,145
$6.10MURΒ 288
-62.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.64COPΒ 38.0K
$8.25MURΒ 390
28.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COPΒ 4,284
$1.79MURΒ 84.7
-32.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COPΒ 8,824
$2.16MURΒ 102
14.35%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Baie du Tombeau
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86COPΒ 3,056
$1.05MURΒ 49.51
-18.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.40COPΒ 147.9K
$29.22MURΒ 1,381
41.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COPΒ 5,264
$4.38MURΒ 207
-66.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96COPΒ 7,009
$2.71MURΒ 128
-27.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.74COPΒ 27.6K
$15.60MURΒ 737
-50.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95COPΒ 3,409
$1.41MURΒ 66.6
-32.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOPΒ 64.7M
$35.8KMURΒ 1.7M
-49.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 94.6M
$29.1KMURΒ 1.4M
-8.92%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Baie du Tombeau
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.3COPΒ 293.7K
$48.83MURΒ 2,307
68.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50COPΒ 33.9K
$18.71MURΒ 884
-49.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23COPΒ 86.5K
$32.89MURΒ 1,554
-26.33%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Baie du Tombeau
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.89COPΒ 92.4K
$38.41MURΒ 1,815
-32.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00COPΒ 67.9K
$6.68MURΒ 316
184.43%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93COPΒ 14.0K
$6.20MURΒ 293
-36.61%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Baie du Tombeau
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309COPΒ 1.1M
$154MURΒ 7,256
101.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,965COPΒ 21.3M
$3,987MURΒ 188.4K
49.63%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Baie du Tombeau
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COPΒ 209.5K
$51.2MURΒ 2,417
14.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35COPΒ 115.5K
$43.13MURΒ 2,038
-24.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103COPΒ 366.4K
$82.2MURΒ 3,884
24.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COPΒ 387.2K
$78.1MURΒ 3,689
38.89%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Baie du Tombeau
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COPΒ 1.7M
$520MURΒ 24.6K
-8.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.4M
$349MURΒ 16.5K
8.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COPΒ 3.0M
$967MURΒ 45.7K
-13.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$724COPΒ 2.6M
$730MURΒ 34.5K
-0.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,791COPΒ 10.0M
$5,310MURΒ 250.9K
-47.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,211COPΒ 4.3M
$4,255MURΒ 201.1K
-71.53%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Baie du Tombeau
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$512COPΒ 1.8M
$645MURΒ 30.5K
-20.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
6.25
114.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Last update for Baie du Tombeau: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $520 in Baie du Tombeau. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Baie du Tombeau pays 26% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
πDining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $43.00 in Baie du Tombeau for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $213 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.
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 Baie du Tombeau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Baie du Tombeau cheaper than Medellin?
Baie du Tombeau is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Baie du Tombeau?
On paper, Baie du Tombeau earns 26% less. 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 Baie du Tombeau?
Rent for a central apartment: $476 in Medellin versus $520 in Baie du Tombeau. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Baie du Tombeau?
All in, you'll spend $1,013 per month in Medellin versus $1,002 in Baie du Tombeau β a 1% 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 Baie du Tombeau runs roughly 42% 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 Medellin or Baie du Tombeau?
At $1,002 in Baie du Tombeau versus $1,013 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Baie du Tombeau but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Baie du Tombeau the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Baie du Tombeau more family-friendly?
For families, Baie du Tombeau 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 Baie du Tombeau?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Baie du Tombeau 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 Baie du Tombeau gentler on the wallet β expenses run 1% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.