🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,681 in Medellin versus $2,443 in Baytown, TX.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,445 in Medellin versus $3,106 in Baytown, TX.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,210 in Medellin versus $3,769 in Baytown, TX.
🌍Living in Medellin costs roughly 31% less than in Baytown, TX, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medellin23% above, Baytown, TX79% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Baytown, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.4K
$20.10$20.10
-60.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 152.0K
$40.50$40.50
18.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 31.4K
$11.16$11.16
-11.38%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,937
$5.68$5.68
-44.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 6,058
$2.20$2.20
-13.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,794
$1.98$1.98
-23.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,917
$6.07$6.07
-48.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 18.3K
$6.52$6.52
-11.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Baytown, TX
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,587
$1.07$1.07
34.58%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,894
$3.26$3.26
-23.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,631
$3.34$3.34
-47.01%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,396
$3.78$3.78
-21.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 32.0K
$12.86$12.86
-21.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 32.1K
$10.19$10.19
-0.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 45.4K
$17.29$17.29
-17.29%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 13.1K
$4.40$4.40
-5.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,106
$1.43$1.43
12.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,129
$4.74$4.74
-52.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,150
$4.49$4.49
-49.89%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,486
$2.78$2.78
-26.62%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,873
$2.59$2.59
-40.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,715
$1.28$1.28
-8.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,148
$1.95$1.95
-32.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.4K
$7.63$7.63
-48.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 44.5K
$15.14$15.14
-7.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,534
$2.92$2.92
-40.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 9,112
$3.29$3.29
-12.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Baytown, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,858
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 255.5K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,155
$2.80$2.80
-53.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,944
$1.63$1.63
34.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.7K
$34.87$34.87
-75.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,334
$0.79$0.79
73.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 88.4M
$36.1K$36.1K
-22.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 113.6M
$27.3K$27.3K
30.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Baytown, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 562.9K
$198$198
-10.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 44.1K
$40.23$40.23
-65.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 94.4K
$67.9$67.9
-56.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Baytown, TX
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 142.5K
$15.19$15.19
195.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 54.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 21.1K
$8.91$8.91
-25.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Baytown, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.6M
$1,500$1,500
-45.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 29.2M
$21.6K$21.6K
-57.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Baytown, TX
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 284.1K
$51.3$51.3
74.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 187.2K
$43.35$43.35
36.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 438.8K
$85.7$85.7
61.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 324.2K
$103$103
-1.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Baytown, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.4M
$1,314$1,314
-19.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$1,303$1,303
-49.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 6.0M
$1,854$1,854
1.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.3M
$1,371$1,371
-25.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.3M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Baytown, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.2M
$3,597$3,597
-81.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
6.47
69.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Baytown, TX: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,062 in Medellin and $1,314 in Baytown, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Baytown, TX pays 431% 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: $48.00 in Medellin vs $40.00 in Baytown, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $305 vs $379, 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 Baytown, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Baytown, TX?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 45% lower than in Baytown, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or in Baytown, TX?
On paper, salaries run 431% lower in Baytown, TX. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin compared to Baytown, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,062 in Medellin versus $1,314 in Baytown, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Medellin and in Baytown, TX?
Childcare runs $813 in Medellin versus $1,500 in Baytown, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin and in Baytown, TX?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $48.00 versus $40.00 in Baytown, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Medellin or in Baytown, TX?
At $1,681 in Medellin versus $2,443 in Baytown, TX, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Baytown, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Baytown, TX?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,681 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 45% less than in Baytown, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.