πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,013 in Medellin versus $810 in Bayawan City.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $1,271 in Bayawan City.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $1,733 in Bayawan City.
πLiving in Medellin is roughly 25% more expensive than Bayawan City, driven mainly by Getting Around.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Medellin24% lower, Bayawan City40% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Bayawan City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99COPΒ 21.4K
$4.42β±272
35.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86COPΒ 117.4K
$23.64β±1,457
39.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09COPΒ 25.3K
$4.34β±268
63.36%
Cappuccino
$1.71COPΒ 6,115
$2.54β±157
-32.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,924
$0.78β±48.19
41.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COPΒ 2,781
$0.42β±25.99
85.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68COPΒ 5,997
$1.53β±94.4
9.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07COPΒ 11.0K
$2.17β±134
41.47%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Bayawan City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09COPΒ 3,906
$1.93β±119
-43.52%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COPΒ 4,508
$1.57β±96.9
-19.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,922
$0.76β±46.92
81.58%
Eggs
$2.19COPΒ 7,827
$2.35β±145
-6.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.40COPΒ 15.7K
$12.65β±780
-65.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63COPΒ 20.1K
$5.23β±322
7.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89COPΒ 31.8K
$7.57β±467
17.44%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COPΒ 8,349
$3.53β±218
-33.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COPΒ 3,777
$1.50β±92.7
-29.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50COPΒ 5,374
$3.45β±213
-56.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,924
$2.19β±135
-36.99%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COPΒ 4,111
$2.63β±162
-56.27%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COPΒ 4,155
$2.53β±156
-54.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,182
$1.00β±61.5
-11.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COPΒ 2,997
$0.83β±51.5
1.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28COPΒ 8,145
$3.25β±200
-29.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.64COPΒ 38.0K
$4.82β±297
120.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COPΒ 4,284
$0.90β±55.5
33.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COPΒ 8,824
$2.35β±145
5.11%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Bayawan City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86COPΒ 3,056
$0.28β±17.36
207.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.40COPΒ 147.9K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COPΒ 5,264
$0.83β±51.4
77.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96COPΒ 7,009
$0.25β±15.53
684.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.74COPΒ 27.6K
$2.60β±161
197.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95COPΒ 3,409
$1.15β±70.7
-17.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOPΒ 64.7M
$30.7Kβ±1.9M
-40.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 94.6M
$27.7Kβ±1.7M
-4.46%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Bayawan City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.3COPΒ 293.7K
$98.4β±6,069
-16.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50COPΒ 33.9K
$34.84β±2,149
-72.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23COPΒ 86.5K
$29.40β±1,813
-17.59%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Bayawan City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.89COPΒ 92.4K
$34.22β±2,110
-24.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00COPΒ 67.9K
$4.52β±279
320.35%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93COPΒ 14.0K
$1.74β±107
125.86%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Bayawan City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309COPΒ 1.1M
$234β±14.4K
32.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,965COPΒ 21.3M
$3,966β±244.5K
50.42%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Bayawan City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COPΒ 209.5K
$46.35β±2,858
26.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35COPΒ 115.5K
$23.07β±1,423
40.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103COPΒ 366.4K
$75.5β±4,654
35.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COPΒ 387.2K
$55.9β±3,447
93.94%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Bayawan City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COPΒ 1.7M
$271β±16.7K
75.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.4M
$176β±10.9K
115.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COPΒ 3.0M
$586β±36.2K
42.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$724COPΒ 2.6M
$390β±24.1K
85.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,791COPΒ 10.0M
$2,480β±152.9K
12.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,211COPΒ 4.3M
$988β±60.9K
22.66%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Bayawan City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$512COPΒ 1.8M
$112β±6,930
355.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
8
67.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Last update for Bayawan City: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $271 in Bayawan City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Medellin pays 355% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $24.00 in Bayawan City. Groceries flip the comparison at $188 vs $232, with Medellin 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 Bayawan City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and Bayawan City?
Medellin and Bayawan City differ by about 25% in total monthly costs ($1,013 vs $810 including rent). Bayawan City is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Medellin or Bayawan City?
Medellin pays 355% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and Bayawan City?
Rent for a central apartment: $476 in Medellin versus $271 in Bayawan City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Medellin and Bayawan City?
Childcare runs $309 in Medellin versus $234 in Bayawan City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Bayawan City β a meal for two runs $24.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $810 in Bayawan City versus $1,013 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bayawan City but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Bayawan City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Bayawan City?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Medellin or Bayawan City?
Expats usually find Bayawan City gentler on the wallet β expenses run 25% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.