Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Barrigada Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Barrigada

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,013 in Medellin versus $2,967 in Barrigada.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $3,782 in Barrigada.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $4,597 in Barrigada.

Living in Medellin costs roughly 66% less than in Barrigada, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 24% below, Barrigada is 121% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.2K

$99.0 $99.0

-66.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,105

$3.67 $3.67

-53.41%

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

$1.10 COP 3,918

$1.86 $1.86

-40.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,776

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,987

$2.89 $2.89

-41.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 10.9K

$3.64 $3.64

-15.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,899

$3.51 $3.51

-68.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,500

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,914

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,813

$4.75 $4.75

-53.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.7K

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,334

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,771

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,365

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,915

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,104

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,148

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,176

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,992

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,131

$6.93 $6.93

-67.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 37.9K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,276

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,809

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,051

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,255

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 6,997

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,403

$1.56 $1.56

-39.10%

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

$18.1K COP 64.6M

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

$26.5K COP 94.4M

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

$82.3 COP 293.2K

$416 $416

-80.23%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$98.2 $98.2

-90.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.4K

$79.5 $79.5

-69.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$717 $717

-56.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.1K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.3K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 365.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 386.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$2,440 $2,440

-80.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$2,208 $2,208

-82.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$3,336 $3,336

-74.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$3,218 $3,218

-77.50%

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

$4,802 $4,802

-89.34%

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 Barrigada: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $2,440 in Barrigada. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barrigada pays 838% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $99.0 in Barrigada. Groceries flip the comparison at $188 vs $54.0, with Barrigada cheaper for home cooking.

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 Barrigada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 193% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Barrigada earns 838% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $476 in Medellin versus $2,440 in Barrigada. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Barrigada pay roughly 249% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,013 per month in Medellin versus $2,967 in Barrigada – a 193% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,013 in Medellin versus $2,967 in Barrigada, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Barrigada. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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

Safety-wise, Medellin and Barrigada 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 Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 193% less than in Barrigada. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.