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: $1,716 in Medellin versus $885 in Ballasalla.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,527 in Medellin versus $2,238 in Ballasalla.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,338 in Medellin versus $3,591 in Ballasalla.

Living in Medellin is roughly 94% more expensive than in Ballasalla, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 25% above, Ballasalla is 36% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.03 COP 25.1K

$16.38 IMP 12.12

-50.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.26 COP 150.8K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.77 COP 30.5K

$11.67 IMP 8.64

-16.28%

Cappuccino

$2.91 COP 9,095

$8.30 IMP 6.14

-64.94%

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

$1.94 COP 6,074

$2.65 IMP 1.96

-26.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 COP 4,754

$2.78 IMP 2.06

-45.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 COP 9,663

$5.51 IMP 4.08

-43.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.74 COP 17.9K

$6.21 IMP 4.60

-7.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 COP 4,262

White Bread (500g)

$2.39 COP 7,460

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 COP 5,314

Eggs

$2.87 COP 8,967

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.94 COP 31.1K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.78 COP 33.7K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.73 COP 46.0K

Apples (1kg)

$4.09 COP 12.8K

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 COP 4,911

Oranges (1kg)

$2.13 COP 6,642

Tomato (1kg)

$2.21 COP 6,917

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 COP 6,396

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 COP 4,700

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 COP 3,718

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 COP 3,619

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.2K

Wine (Bottle)

$14.44 COP 45.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 COP 4,948

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 COP 8,836

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.17 COP 3,650

$4.64 IMP 3.43

-74.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.7 COP 242.9K

$66.5 IMP 49.19

16.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.28 COP 4,014

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.09 COP 6,537

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.62 COP 26.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 COP 4,056

$1.90 IMP 1.41

-31.58%

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

$27.7K COP 86.4M

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

$35.5K COP 110.9M

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

$176 COP 550.1K

$273 IMP 202

-35.50%

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

$13.37 COP 41.8K

$40.70 IMP 30.12

-67.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.89 COP 93.4K

$54.3 IMP 40.16

-44.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.76 COP 139.8K

$54.5 IMP 40.34

-17.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.06 COP 53.3K

$27.30 IMP 20.20

-37.51%

Cinema Ticket

$6.20 COP 19.4K

$26.94 IMP 19.94

-76.99%

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

$793 COP 2.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,019 COP 28.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.6 COP 267.5K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.5 COP 182.7K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$136 COP 425.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 COP 322.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,060 COP 3.3M

$1,263 IMP 935

-16.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 COP 2.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,012 COP 6.3M

$2,555 IMP 1,891

-21.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,169 COP 3.7M

$2,185 IMP 1,617

-46.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,111 COP 12.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,701 COP 5.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$665 COP 2.1M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

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

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Last update for Ballasalla: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,060 in Medellin and $1,263 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, Getting Around. The 94% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $2,574 in Medellin and $1,327 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: $1,060 in Medellin versus $1,263 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 17% 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 $1,716 per month in Medellin versus $885 in Ballasalla – a 94% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $885 in Ballasalla versus $1,716 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 94% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.