Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bathurst

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,614 a month against $1,735 in Bathurst, rent and utilities included – about $1,500 less a year. The total is higher in Bathurst despite lower rent and utilities.

Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,614
/mo nomad
Bathurst
🇨🇦 Canada
$1,735
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Bathurst

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Bathurst actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,614 per month in Medellin vs $1,735 in Bathurst, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,614
  • Bathurst $1,735

A couple spends around $2,402 per month in Medellin vs $2,012 in Bathurst, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,402
  • Bathurst $2,012

A family of three spends $3,190 per month in Medellin vs $2,289 in Bathurst, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,190
  • Bathurst $2,289

Medellin is about 7% cheaper than Bathurst, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both Medellin and Bathurst sit above the global median – Medellin by 20%, Bathurst by 29%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Bathurst
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.93 COP 25.2K
$16.04 CA$22.81
-50.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.13 COP 146.7K
$41.48 CA$59.0
11.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.2K
$11.34 CA$16.12
-16.23%
Cappuccino
$3.11 COP 9,897
$3.36 CA$4.78
-7.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 COP 5,818
$1.90 CA$2.70
-3.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 COP 4,374
$1.56 CA$2.21
-11.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.05 COP 9,702
$5.02 CA$7.14
-39.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.50 COP 17.5K
$5.02 CA$7.14
9.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Bathurst
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 COP 4,614
$1.76 CA$2.50
-17.61%
White Bread (500g)
$2.36 COP 7,519
$2.59 CA$3.69
-8.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.68 COP 5,345
$2.47 CA$3.52
-31.98%
Eggs
$2.86 COP 9,106
$3.57 CA$5.08
-19.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.4K
$10.86 CA$15.44
-6.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.53 COP 30.3K
$9.22 CA$13.10
3.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.04 COP 44.7K
$6.33 CA$9.00
121.80%
Apples (1kg)
$4.07 COP 12.9K
$4.36 CA$6.20
-6.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 COP 4,757
$1.58 CA$2.24
-5.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.17 COP 6,913
$4.57 CA$6.50
-52.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.31 COP 7,333
$1.88 CA$2.67
22.87%
Potato (1kg)
$1.93 COP 6,132
$2.53 CA$3.59
-23.72%
Onion (1kg)
$1.64 COP 5,212
$1.49 CA$2.11
10.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 COP 3,582
$2.10 CA$2.98
-46.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 COP 3,966
$1.62 CA$2.30
-22.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.99 COP 12.7K
$9.68 CA$13.77
-58.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.35 COP 42.5K
$12.03 CA$17.10
10.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 COP 5,400
$3.13 CA$4.45
-45.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 7,549
$4.39 CA$6.24
-46.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Bathurst
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.21 COP 3,839
$3.43 CA$4.88
-64.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.5 COP 243.3K
$61.8 CA$87.9
23.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.32 COP 4,193
$2.87 CA$4.08
-54.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.14 COP 6,795
$1.35 CA$1.92
58.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.47 COP 26.9K
$20.81 CA$29.58
-59.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 COP 4,127
$1.20 CA$1.70
8.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K COP 89.0M
$28.2K CA$40.1K
-0.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4K COP 112.6M
$18.8K CA$26.7K
88.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Bathurst
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 COP 547.3K
$101 CA$143
70.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 COP 42.5K
$68.9 CA$97.9
-80.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.73 COP 91.4K
$60.0 CA$85.4
-52.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Bathurst
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.24 COP 143.9K
$44.21 CA$62.9
2.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.04 COP 54.2K
$31.92 CA$45.39
-46.62%
Cinema Ticket
$6.28 COP 20.0K
$9.03 CA$12.84
-30.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Bathurst
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$770 COP 2.4M
$565 CA$803
36.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,011 COP 28.7M
$1,662 CA$2,363
442.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Bathurst
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.4 COP 274.8K
$48.48 CA$68.9
78.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.1 COP 181.7K
$39.24 CA$55.8
45.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$137 COP 434.3K
$75.8 CA$108
80.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 311.4K
$79.1 CA$113
23.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Bathurst
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,055 COP 3.4M
$724 CA$1,030
45.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$616 COP 2.0M
$686 CA$976
-10.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,892 COP 6.0M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,023 COP 3.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,059 COP 12.9M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,678 COP 5.3M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Bathurst
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$652 COP 2.1M
$1,998 CA$2,841
-67.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
4.77
129.35%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 12, 2026

Last update for Bathurst: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$616
Bathurst
$686 11.4% $70
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$295
Bathurst
$311 5.6% $16
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$214
Bathurst
$230 7.2% $16
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$170
Bathurst
$109 35.8% $61
Eating Out
Medellin
$168
Bathurst
$252 49.4% $83
Getting Around
Medellin
$93
Bathurst
$85 8.8% $8.2
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Bathurst
$62 7.7% $4.5

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,055 in Medellin versus $724 in Bathurst. 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 206% higher in Bathurst, 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 $46.00 in Medellin versus $41.00 in Bathurst. Groceries tell a different story – $295 in Medellin vs $311 in Bathurst – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇨🇦 Bathurst
🕒 Local time
13:52 1:52 PM
15:52 3:52 PM
2 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
12,157
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 14, 2026: 1 USD = 3,181 COP (10,000 COP = 3.14 USD). 1 EUR = 3,564 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 14, 2026: 1 USD = 1.42 CAD (1 CAD = 0.703 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.628 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Bathurst 4,690 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Bathurst

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Bathurst: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bathurst cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Bathurst is pricier by about 7%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in utilities.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,421 per month in Medellin and $2,603 in Bathurst. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Bathurst?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,614 in Medellin and $1,735 in Bathurst. That's a gap of about 7%.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 24% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Bathurst?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,614, than in Bathurst at $1,735. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bathurst it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Bathurst more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bathurst makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Medellin vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?