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: $1,013 in Medellin versus $888 in Ballasalla.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $2,259 in Ballasalla.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $3,631 in Ballasalla.

Living in Medellin is roughly 14% more expensive than Ballasalla, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 24% lower, Ballasalla 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.3K

$16.13 IMP 12.02

-62.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 116.9K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.2K

$11.77 IMP 8.77

-39.76%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,093

$8.10 IMP 6.03

-78.89%

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

$1.10 COP 3,910

$2.62 IMP 1.95

-58.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,771

$2.82 IMP 2.10

-72.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,976

$5.49 IMP 4.09

-69.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 10.9K

$6.24 IMP 4.65

-50.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,892

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,492

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,905

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,799

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.0K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.6K

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,319

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,764

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,355

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,906

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,097

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,141

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,170

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,986

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,116

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 37.9K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,268

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,793

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,045

$4.88 IMP 3.64

-82.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.3K

$68.8 IMP 51.3

-39.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,245

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 6,984

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.5K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,397

$1.85 IMP 1.38

-48.65%

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

$18.1K COP 64.5M

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

$26.5K COP 94.2M

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

$82.3 COP 292.7K

$272 IMP 203

-69.78%

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

$9.50 COP 33.8K

$40.54 IMP 30.21

-76.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.2K

$54.5 IMP 40.63

-55.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.1K

$53.6 IMP 39.92

-51.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.6K

$27.37 IMP 20.39

-30.58%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$26.70 IMP 19.89

-85.28%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 208.7K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.1K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 365.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 385.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$1,289 IMP 960

-63.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$2,547 IMP 1,897

-67.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$2,176 IMP 1,621

-66.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ballasalla: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $1,289 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 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,519 in Medellin and $1,331 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: $476 in Medellin versus $1,289 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 66% 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 $1,013 per month in Medellin versus $888 in Ballasalla – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $888 in Ballasalla versus $1,013 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 14% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.