😐A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $593 in Bakuriani, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $956 in Bakuriani, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $1,319 in Bakuriani, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 74% more than Bakuriani, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Medellin and Bakuriani are more affordable than the global median – Medellin23% lower, Bakuriani56% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Bakuriani
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COP 21.4K
$8.67₾23.31
-31.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COP 118.2K
$29.28₾78.8
11.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COP 26.0K
$7.38₾19.86
-2.44%
Cappuccino
$1.70COP 6,140
$2.65₾7.13
-35.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,966
$0.85₾2.28
29.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COP 2,605
$0.41₾1.10
75.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COP 6,022
$1.50₾4.03
11.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COP 11.2K
$2.18₾5.86
42.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Bakuriani
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,809
$1.79₾4.83
-40.78%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COP 4,497
$0.51₾1.36
145.10%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COP 5,022
$1.54₾4.14
-9.74%
Eggs
$2.26COP 8,168
$2.30₾6.19
-1.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COP 15.6K
$7.03₾18.92
-38.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COP 21.1K
$5.09₾13.70
14.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COP 31.9K
$8.79₾23.66
0.46%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COP 8,099
$1.07₾2.88
109.35%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COP 3,882
$1.43₾3.84
-24.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 5,522
$1.29₾3.48
18.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,950
$1.73₾4.64
-20.81%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 4,078
$0.56₾1.50
101.79%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COP 4,036
$0.52₾1.40
115.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 3,057
$1.30₾3.50
-34.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 3,281
$0.64₾1.73
42.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COP 8,414
$3.00₾8.08
-22.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COP 40.2K
$5.62₾15.13
98.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 4,309
$1.30₾3.49
-8.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COP 8,553
$1.94₾5.22
22.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Bakuriani
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,838
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COP 148.5K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COP 5,184
$1.07₾2.88
34.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COP 6,901
$0.55₾1.48
247.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COP 28.9K
$2.90₾7.80
176.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COP 3,385
$1.17₾3.14
-19.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
$14.7K₾39.5K
22.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
$18.3K₾49.2K
46.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Bakuriani
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COP 303.1K
$73.9₾199
13.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COP 34.7K
$10.64₾28.62
-9.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COP 87.2K
$17.09₾45.98
41.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Bakuriani
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COP 93.4K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COP 68.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COP 14.1K
$5.55₾14.92
-29.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Bakuriani
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COP 1.1M
$241₾649
27.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COP 21.4M
$2,881₾7,749
105.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Bakuriani
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COP 209.1K
$86.7₾233
-33.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 114.9K
$41.55₾112
-23.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COP 360.6K
$120₾322
-16.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 386.8K
$103₾277
3.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Bakuriani
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
Bakuriani
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
12.17
10.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Last update for Bakuriani: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $29.00 in Bakuriani. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $176 – making Bakuriani 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 Bakuriani: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Bakuriani?
Medellin costs about 74% more than Bakuriani, 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 vs Bakuriani?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,550 per month in Medellin and $890 in Bakuriani. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to Bakuriani?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,034 in Medellin and $593 in Bakuriani. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Medellin and Bakuriani?
Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Medellin and $241 in Bakuriani. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or Bakuriani?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bakuriani, where all-in costs run around $593, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Bakuriani 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 Bakuriani?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bakuriani costs $593 versus $1,034 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Medellin compared to Bakuriani?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Medellin or Bakuriani?
If budget matters most, go with Bakuriani. 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.