Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bakau Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bakau

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $323 in Bakau, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $731 in Bakau, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $1,139 in Bakau, rent included.

Medellin costs about 420% more than Bakau, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Bakau is 76% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.02 COP 24.9K

$5.65 GMD 416

41.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.87 COP 148.7K

$76.6 GMD 5,637

-37.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 COP 30.7K

$7.89 GMD 580

25.35%

Cappuccino

$3.13 COP 9,724

$3.95 GMD 291

-20.76%

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

$1.91 COP 5,928

$2.36 GMD 174

-19.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 COP 4,692

$1.15 GMD 84.3

31.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 COP 9,705

$3.67 GMD 270

-14.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 COP 17.9K

$3.74 GMD 275

53.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,489

$2.50 GMD 184

-42.40%

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 COP 7,725

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 COP 5,510

Eggs

$2.96 COP 9,195

$5.43 GMD 399

-45.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 COP 31.3K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.12 COP 31.4K

$16.35 GMD 1,203

-38.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 COP 44.4K

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 COP 12.8K

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 COP 4,997

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 COP 6,976

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 6,997

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 COP 6,347

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,769

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 COP 3,635

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 COP 4,059

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.1K

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 43.5K

$13.27 GMD 977

5.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 COP 5,415

$1.99 GMD 146

-12.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 COP 8,917

$2.67 GMD 197

7.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 COP 3,776

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 250.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,066

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 COP 6,796

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 COP 4,241

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

$27.8K COP 86.5M

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

$35.8K COP 111.1M

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

$177 COP 550.8K

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

$13.88 COP 43.1K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.72 COP 92.4K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.88 COP 139.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 53.2K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 20.6K

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

$813 COP 2.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 28.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.5 COP 278.0K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 COP 183.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 COP 429.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 317.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 COP 3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 COP 2.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,888 COP 5.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 COP 3.2M

$68.7 GMD 5,055

1395.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$678 COP 2.1M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Bakau: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $77.0 in Bakau. Groceries tell a different story – $305 in Medellin vs $170 in Bakau – so Bakau wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Bakau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 420% more than Bakau, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $485 in Bakau. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,681 in Medellin and $323 in Bakau. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 79% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bakau, where all-in costs run around $323, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Bakau it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bakau costs $323 versus $1,681 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Bakau. 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.