😐A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $952 in Bakaly, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,491 in Bakaly, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $2,031 in Bakaly, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 5% more than Bakaly, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Medellin and Bakaly are more affordable than the global median – Medellin25% lower, Bakaly29% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Bakaly
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91COP 18.6K
$8.73₽695
-32.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96COP 103.8K
$38.29₽3,047
-13.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.43COP 23.4K
$4.54₽361
63.66%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,207
$2.29₽182
-27.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,468
$1.34₽106
-17.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,458
$0.43₽33.93
81.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,412
$2.78₽221
-38.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COP 10.0K
$2.46₽196
29.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Bakaly
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10COP 3,474
$1.05₽83.9
4.76%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 3,962
$0.69₽54.9
82.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,349
$1.69₽135
-18.34%
Eggs
$2.18COP 6,858
$1.80₽143
21.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.49COP 14.1K
$14.11₽1,123
-68.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.79COP 18.2K
$3.71₽296
56.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COP 28.2K
$8.63₽687
3.94%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32COP 7,308
$1.71₽136
35.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,352
$1.98₽158
-46.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 4,774
$1.37₽109
10.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,270
$2.84₽226
-52.11%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,552
$1.13₽90.1
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,689
$0.99₽78.5
18.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90COP 2,838
$1.53₽122
-41.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COP 2,823
$0.61₽48.56
47.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23COP 7,034
$2.97₽237
-24.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.12COP 38.2K
$7.87₽626
54.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 3,743
$0.85₽67.4
40.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 7,815
$1.93₽153
28.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Bakaly
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85COP 2,687
$0.53₽42.14
60.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.62COP 131.0K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,459
$3.14₽250
-54.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.95COP 6,141
$0.32₽25.78
509.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.89COP 24.8K
$7.57₽602
4.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,118
$0.73₽57.9
35.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
$31.7K₽2.5M
-44.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
$32.1K₽2.6M
-16.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Bakaly
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0COP 261.4K
$98.1₽7,807
-15.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70COP 30.5K
$4.71₽375
105.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52COP 74.1K
$7.18₽571
227.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Bakaly
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.26COP 79.5K
$35.25₽2,805
-28.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10COP 60.1K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.95COP 12.4K
$4.95₽394
-20.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Bakaly
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$316COP 994.2K
$326₽25.9K
-3.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,975COP 18.8M
$7,013₽558.1K
-14.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Bakaly
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0COP 188.9K
$71.2₽5,663
-15.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 100.2K
$44.05₽3,506
-27.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102COP 320.1K
$113₽9,017
-10.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 338.3K
$105₽8,347
2.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Bakaly
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$475COP 1.5M
$441₽35.1K
7.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$374COP 1.2M
$304₽24.2K
22.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$849COP 2.7M
$756₽60.2K
12.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$719COP 2.3M
$516₽41.1K
39.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,265COP 10.3M
$2,278₽181.3K
43.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441COP 4.5M
$1,475₽117.4K
-2.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Bakaly
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$624COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
16.33
-17.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Last update for Bakaly: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $441 in Bakaly. 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 $38.00 in Bakaly. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $201 – 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 Bakaly: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Bakaly?
Medellin costs about 5% more than Bakaly, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin and in Bakaly?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,427 in Bakaly. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Medellin or Bakaly?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bakaly, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin and in Bakaly?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $38.00 in Bakaly. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or in Bakaly?
Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or in Bakaly?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bakaly, where all-in costs run around $952, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Bakaly it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Bakaly?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bakaly costs $952 versus $1,003 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Medellin or to Bakaly?
If budget matters most, go with Bakaly. 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.