😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,034 in Medellin versus $573 in Bakixanov.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,577 in Medellin versus $965 in Bakixanov.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,120 in Medellin versus $1,357 in Bakixanov.
😐Living in Medellin is roughly 80% more expensive than Bakixanov, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin23% lower, Bakixanov57% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Bakixanov
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COP 21.4K
$8.73₼14.84
-32.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COP 118.2K
$35.31₼60.0
-7.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COP 26.0K
$5.77₼9.81
24.78%
Cappuccino
$1.70COP 6,140
$2.61₼4.44
-34.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,966
$0.61₼1.04
80.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COP 2,605
$0.28₼0.47
157.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COP 6,022
$1.15₼1.95
45.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COP 11.2K
$1.72₼2.92
80.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Bakixanov
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,809
$1.34₼2.28
-20.90%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COP 4,497
$0.51₼0.86
145.10%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COP 5,022
$2.33₼3.97
-40.34%
Eggs
$2.26COP 8,168
$1.35₼2.29
67.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COP 15.6K
$5.20₼8.83
-16.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COP 21.1K
$4.70₼7.99
24.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COP 31.9K
$10.42₼17.72
-15.26%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COP 8,099
$1.33₼2.26
68.42%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COP 3,882
$1.76₼2.99
-38.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 5,522
$1.53₼2.60
-
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,950
$1.80₼3.05
-23.89%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 4,078
$0.78₼1.33
44.87%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COP 4,036
$0.49₼0.83
128.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 3,057
$0.43₼0.72
97.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 3,281
$0.65₼1.11
40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COP 8,414
$3.48₼5.91
-33.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COP 40.2K
$8.92₼15.16
24.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 4,309
$1.38₼2.35
-13.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COP 8,553
$2.82₼4.79
-15.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Bakixanov
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,838
$0.30₼0.51
163.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COP 148.5K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COP 5,184
$2.11₼3.59
-31.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COP 6,901
$0.56₼0.96
241.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COP 28.9K
$3.45₼5.86
132.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COP 3,385
$0.70₼1.19
34.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
$20.6K₼35.0K
-12.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
$22.6K₼38.4K
18.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Bakixanov
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COP 303.1K
$61.2₼104
37.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COP 34.7K
$11.92₼20.27
-19.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COP 87.2K
$15.11₼25.69
59.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Bakixanov
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COP 93.4K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COP 68.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COP 14.1K
$6.04₼10.27
-35.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Bakixanov
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COP 1.1M
$254₼431
20.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COP 21.4M
$6,663₼11.3K
-11.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Bakixanov
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COP 209.1K
$58.6₼99.6
-1.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 114.9K
$54.6₼92.9
-41.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COP 360.6K
$122₼208
-18.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 386.8K
$97.9₼166
9.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Bakixanov
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COP 1.8M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COP 1.3M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COP 3.0M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COP 2.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COP 10.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COP 5.1M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Bakixanov
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
8.87
51.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Last update for Bakixanov: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $35.00 in Bakixanov. Groceries flip the comparison at $190 vs $179, with Bakixanov cheaper for home cooking.
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 Bakixanov?
Medellin and Bakixanov differ by about 80% in total monthly costs ($1,034 vs $573 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 $1,550 in Medellin and $860 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 6% 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 $1,034 per month in Medellin versus $573 in Bakixanov – a 80% 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 $573 in Bakixanov versus $1,034 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 80% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.