Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ballasalla Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ballasalla

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,031 in Medellin versus $877 in Ballasalla.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,599 in Medellin versus $2,236 in Ballasalla.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,167 in Medellin versus $3,595 in Ballasalla.

Living in Medellin is roughly 18% more expensive than in Ballasalla, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 23% lower, Ballasalla 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$16.58 IMP 12.34

-62.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

$11.93 IMP 8.88

-38.47%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

$8.25 IMP 6.14

-79.15%

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

$2.71 IMP 2.02

-61.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$2.86 IMP 2.13

-73.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

$5.27 IMP 3.92

-67.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

$6.23 IMP 4.63

-49.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

$4.87 IMP 3.62

-82.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

$66.7 IMP 49.61

-39.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

$1.92 IMP 1.43

-48.44%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

$274 IMP 204

-70.50%

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

$41.46 IMP 30.85

-76.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$53.4 IMP 39.76

-54.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

$54.6 IMP 40.60

-54.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

$27.71 IMP 20.61

-30.89%

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

$27.53 IMP 20.48

-85.54%

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

$305 COP 993.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

$1,313 IMP 977

-63.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

$2,624 IMP 1,952

-67.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

$2,205 IMP 1,641

-66.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Ballasalla: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $477 in Medellin and $1,313 in Ballasalla. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

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 Ballasalla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ballasalla is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,546 in Medellin and $1,315 in Ballasalla 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $477 in Medellin versus $1,313 in Ballasalla. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Ballasalla runs roughly 64% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

All in, you'll spend $1,031 per month in Medellin versus $877 in Ballasalla – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $877 in Ballasalla versus $1,031 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ballasalla but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Ballasalla the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Ballasalla is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Medellin and Ballasalla are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Ballasalla gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.