😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,641 in Medellin versus $526 in Bakixanov.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,447 in Medellin versus $906 in Bakixanov.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,253 in Medellin versus $1,287 in Bakixanov.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 212% more expensive than in Bakixanov, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 19% above, Bakixanov is 62% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Bakixanov
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04COP 24.8K
$8.65₼14.71
-7.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29COP 148.7K
$41.68₼70.8
15.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42COP 29.0K
$6.02₼10.23
56.48%
Cappuccino
$2.94COP 9,045
$2.75₼4.67
6.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86COP 5,738
$0.85₼1.45
118.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46COP 4,481
$0.58₼0.98
151.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21COP 9,887
$1.21₼2.06
165.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71COP 17.6K
$2.33₼3.96
145.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Bakixanov
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,431
$1.34₼2.28
7.46%
White Bread(500g)
$2.40COP 7,393
$0.32₼0.55
650.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,230
$2.41₼4.10
-29.46%
Eggs
$2.89COP 8,901
$1.17₼1.99
147.01%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.06COP 31.0K
$2.80₼4.76
259.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.97COP 30.7K
$4.63₼7.86
115.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.20COP 43.7K
$8.85₼15.04
60.45%
Apples(1kg)
$3.98COP 12.3K
$0.66₼1.13
503.03%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58COP 4,880
$1.56₼2.65
1.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15COP 6,627
$1.44₼2.44
49.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,082
$1.05₼1.79
119.05%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00COP 6,172
$0.60₼1.02
233.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,648
$0.49₼0.83
208.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20COP 3,703
$0.46₼0.79
160.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28COP 3,948
$0.56₼0.95
128.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84COP 11.8K
$3.05₼5.18
25.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.1K
$5.35₼9.09
161.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71COP 5,259
$0.86₼1.46
98.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74COP 8,444
$1.95₼3.32
40.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Bakixanov
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.25COP 3,836
$0.28₼0.47
346.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.9COP 239.9K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,018
$0.30₼0.51
336.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.17COP 6,684
$0.28₼0.47
675.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.29COP 25.5K
$3.44₼5.85
140.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,174
$0.64₼1.09
112.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KCOP 84.6M
$23.5K₼39.9K
17.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5KCOP 112.5M
$21.1K₼35.8K
73.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Bakixanov
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169COP 519.5K
$33.80₼57.4
399.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57COP 41.8K
$11.30₼19.20
20.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32COP 87.2K
$14.90₼25.33
90.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Bakixanov
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.71COP 140.8K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22COP 53.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.5K
$5.96₼10.13
11.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Bakixanov
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$803COP 2.5M
$280₼476
186.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,190COP 28.3M
$6,824₼11.6K
34.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Bakixanov
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4COP 269.0K
$67.8₼115
28.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4COP 182.8K
$55.6₼94.5
6.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$139COP 427.7K
$130₼221
6.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 314.2K
$115₼196
-11.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Bakixanov
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,071COP 3.3M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653COP 2.0M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,925COP 5.9M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,048COP 3.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,123COP 12.7M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,697COP 5.2M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Bakixanov
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$655COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
7
56.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Last update for Bakixanov: September 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $42.00 in Bakixanov for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $300 vs $143 per month, with Bakixanov 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 Bakixanov: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and in Bakixanov?
Medellin and Bakixanov differ by about 212% in total monthly costs ($1,641 vs $526 including rent). Bakixanov is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Bakixanov?
You'd need roughly $2,462 in Medellin and $789 in Bakixanov to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 110% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Bakixanov?
All in, you'll spend $1,641 per month in Medellin versus $526 in Bakixanov – a 212% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $526 in Bakixanov versus $1,641 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bakixanov but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Bakixanov the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Bakixanov?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Medellin or Bakixanov safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Bakixanov are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Medellin or Bakixanov?
Expats usually find Bakixanov gentler on the wallet – expenses run 212% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.