Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Barra Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Barra

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,716 per month in Medellin vs $104 in Barra, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,527 per month in Medellin vs $174 in Barra, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,338 per month in Medellin vs $245 in Barra, rent included.

Medellin costs about 1554% more than Barra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 25% above the global median, while Barra is 92% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.03 COP 25.1K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.26 COP 150.8K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.77 COP 30.5K

Cappuccino

$2.91 COP 9,095

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

$1.94 COP 6,074

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 COP 4,754

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 COP 9,663

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.74 COP 17.9K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 COP 4,262

White Bread (500g)

$2.39 COP 7,460

$0.92 GMD 67.4

159.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 COP 5,314

Eggs

$2.87 COP 8,967

$2.36 GMD 173

21.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.94 COP 31.1K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.78 COP 33.7K

$6.99 GMD 514

54.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.73 COP 46.0K

Apples (1kg)

$4.09 COP 12.8K

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 COP 4,911

$2.00 GMD 147

-21.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.13 COP 6,642

$2.63 GMD 193

-19.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.21 COP 6,917

$1.98 GMD 145

11.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 COP 6,396

$1.07 GMD 78.3

91.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 COP 4,700

$0.84 GMD 61.5

78.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 COP 3,718

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 COP 3,619

$0.45 GMD 33.02

157.78%

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

$1.10 GMD 81.0

43.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 COP 8,836

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.17 COP 3,650

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.7 COP 242.9K

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

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

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

$13.37 COP 41.8K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.89 COP 93.4K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.76 COP 139.8K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.06 COP 53.3K

Cinema Ticket

$6.20 COP 19.4K

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-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 COP 2.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,012 COP 6.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,169 COP 3.7M

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 Barra: August 30, 2026

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 Barra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 1554%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,574 per month in Medellin and $156 in Barra. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,716 in Medellin and $104 in Barra. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 198% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Barra, where all-in costs run around $104, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Barra it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Barra – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Barra. 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.