Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bari Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bari

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $1,803 in Bari, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $2,656 in Bari, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $3,509 in Bari, rent included.

Medellin is about 44% cheaper than Bari, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Medellin sits 25% below the global median, while Bari is 35% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Bari
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91 COP 18.6K
$17.16 €14.86
-65.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96 COP 103.8K
$71.6 €62.0
-53.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.43 COP 23.4K
$12.54 €10.86
-40.75%
Cappuccino
$1.65 COP 5,207
$1.94 €1.68
-14.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,468
$2.14 €1.86
-48.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,458
$1.28 €1.11
-39.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 COP 5,412
$4.70 €4.07
-63.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 10.0K
$4.59 €3.97
-30.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Bari
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 COP 3,474
$1.80 €1.56
-38.89%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COP 3,962
$2.03 €1.75
-37.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,349
$3.01 €2.61
-54.15%
Eggs
$2.18 COP 6,858
$3.88 €3.36
-43.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.49 COP 14.1K
$14.54 €12.59
-69.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.79 COP 18.2K
$12.18 €10.55
-52.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.97 COP 28.2K
$17.59 €15.23
-49.01%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 COP 7,308
$2.24 €1.94
3.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,352
$2.00 €1.73
-47.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 COP 4,774
$2.07 €1.79
-26.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 4,270
$3.28 €2.84
-58.54%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,552
$1.72 €1.49
-34.30%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 3,689
$1.69 €1.46
-30.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 2,838
$1.31 €1.14
-31.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 COP 2,823
$0.52 €0.45
73.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23 COP 7,034
$7.12 €6.17
-68.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.12 COP 38.2K
$7.60 €6.59
59.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 3,743
$1.40 €1.21
-15.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 7,815
$2.00 €1.73
24.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Bari
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 COP 2,687
$1.21 €1.05
-29.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.62 COP 131.0K
$37.49 €32.47
11.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,459
$17.43 €15.10
-91.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 6,141
$2.02 €1.75
-3.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.89 COP 24.8K
$35.32 €30.59
-77.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,118
$2.05 €1.77
-51.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 55.4M
$35.7K €30.9K
-50.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 84.4M
$26.8K €23.2K
-0.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Bari
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 COP 261.4K
$187 €162
-55.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70 COP 30.5K
$13.57 €11.75
-28.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 COP 74.1K
$29.60 €25.63
-20.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Bari
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.26 COP 79.5K
$48.29 €41.82
-47.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10 COP 60.1K
$20.12 €17.42
-5.07%
Cinema Ticket
$3.95 COP 12.4K
$8.86 €7.67
-55.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Bari
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$316 COP 994.2K
$640 €554
-50.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,975 COP 18.8M
$18.9K €16.4K
-68.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Bari
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0 COP 188.9K
$101 €87.2
-40.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 100.2K
$49.22 €42.63
-35.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 COP 320.1K
$104 €90.3
-2.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 338.3K
$153 €133
-29.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Bari
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$475 COP 1.5M
$832 €721
-42.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$374 COP 1.2M
$677 €586
-44.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$849 COP 2.7M
$1,384 €1,198
-38.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$719 COP 2.3M
$1,016 €880
-29.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,265 COP 10.3M
$3,745 €3,243
-12.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,441 COP 4.5M
$2,060 €1,784
-30.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Bari
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$624 COP 2.0M
$1,915 €1,659
-67.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
4.74
183.33%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Bari: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $832 in Bari. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 207% higher in Bari, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $72.0 in Bari. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $317 – making Medellin 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 Bari: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Bari?
Bari costs about 80% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 and in Bari?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $2,704 in Bari. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Medellin or Bari?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Medellin and in Bari?
Kindergarten costs $316 per month in Medellin and $640 in Bari. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or in Bari?
Groceries cost about 64% more in Bari, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Medellin or in Bari?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Bari at $1,803. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bari it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Bari?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,003 versus $1,803 in Bari. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Medellin compared to Bari?
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 to Bari?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bari makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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