πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,017 in Medellin versus $978 in Beau Vallon.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $1,604 in Beau Vallon.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,188 in Medellin versus $2,230 in Beau Vallon.
πLiving in Medellin is roughly 4% more expensive than Beau Vallon, driven mainly by Getting Around.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Medellin24% lower, Beau Vallon27% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Beau Vallon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95COPΒ 20.8K
$6.48MURΒ 305
-8.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.33COPΒ 116.3K
$44.66MURΒ 2,103
-25.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.23COPΒ 25.2K
$6.47MURΒ 305
11.75%
Cappuccino
$1.63COPΒ 5,687
$2.65MURΒ 125
-38.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09COPΒ 3,821
$1.03MURΒ 48.47
5.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73COPΒ 2,548
$0.55MURΒ 26.06
32.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.74COPΒ 6,065
$2.16MURΒ 102
-19.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23COPΒ 11.3K
$2.68MURΒ 126
20.52%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Beau Vallon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COPΒ 3,662
$1.50MURΒ 70.5
-30.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29COPΒ 4,515
$0.65MURΒ 30.71
98.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32COPΒ 4,617
$1.32MURΒ 62.0
-
Eggs
$2.27COPΒ 7,927
$2.35MURΒ 111
-3.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.35COPΒ 15.2K
$9.99MURΒ 471
-56.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COPΒ 20.5K
$6.11MURΒ 288
-3.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.61COPΒ 30.0K
$10.59MURΒ 499
-18.70%
Apples(1kg)
$2.25COPΒ 7,844
$1.97MURΒ 92.8
14.21%
Banana(1kg)
$1.07COPΒ 3,733
$1.98MURΒ 93.1
-45.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COPΒ 5,322
$1.45MURΒ 68.4
4.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42COPΒ 4,964
$2.71MURΒ 127
-47.60%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,084
$0.99MURΒ 46.39
18.18%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,077
$0.95MURΒ 44.57
23.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,096
$0.85MURΒ 40.22
4.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COPΒ 3,146
$0.58MURΒ 27.10
55.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25COPΒ 7,837
$6.03MURΒ 284
-62.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.04COPΒ 38.5K
$9.03MURΒ 425
22.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14COPΒ 3,977
$1.78MURΒ 83.7
-35.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38COPΒ 8,301
$2.20MURΒ 104
8.18%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Beau Vallon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COPΒ 2,916
$1.05MURΒ 49.41
-20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.95COPΒ 146.4K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41COPΒ 4,912
$4.47MURΒ 210
-68.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90COPΒ 6,634
$2.74MURΒ 129
-30.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.75COPΒ 27.0K
$15.11MURΒ 711
-48.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COPΒ 3,509
$1.40MURΒ 66.0
-27.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOPΒ 61.4M
$35.6KMURΒ 1.7M
-50.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 92.5M
$28.9KMURΒ 1.4M
-8.39%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Beau Vallon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.7COPΒ 292.1K
$49.27MURΒ 2,320
69.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.45COPΒ 33.0K
$18.63MURΒ 877
-49.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.11COPΒ 84.1K
$32.82MURΒ 1,545
-26.54%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Beau Vallon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.31COPΒ 88.3K
$38.87MURΒ 1,830
-34.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14COPΒ 66.8K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.10COPΒ 14.3K
$5.89MURΒ 277
-30.39%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Beau Vallon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312COPΒ 1.1M
$156MURΒ 7,336
100.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,993COPΒ 20.9M
$3,906MURΒ 183.9K
53.42%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Beau Vallon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0COPΒ 202.6K
$50.2MURΒ 2,364
15.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56COPΒ 113.6K
$43.61MURΒ 2,054
-25.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.6COPΒ 347.7K
$83.6MURΒ 3,936
19.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COPΒ 378.8K
$79.5MURΒ 3,743
36.56%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Beau Vallon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$482COPΒ 1.7M
$522MURΒ 24.6K
-7.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.3M
$355MURΒ 16.7K
6.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$837COPΒ 2.9M
$961MURΒ 45.3K
-12.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$723COPΒ 2.5M
$729MURΒ 34.3K
-0.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,840COPΒ 9.9M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,223COPΒ 4.3M
-
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Beau Vallon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$541COPΒ 1.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
6.25
114.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Last update for Beau Vallon: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $482 in Medellin and $522 in Beau Vallon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
πDining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $45.00 in Beau Vallon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $216 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.
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 Beau Vallon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Beau Vallon cheaper than Medellin?
Beau Vallon is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,525 in Medellin and $1,467 in Beau Vallon to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Beau Vallon?
Rent for a central apartment: $482 in Medellin versus $522 in Beau Vallon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and Beau Vallon?
Shoppers in Medellin pay roughly 14% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Beau Vallon?
All in, you'll spend $1,017 per month in Medellin versus $978 in Beau Vallon β a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Beau Vallon?
At $978 in Beau Vallon versus $1,017 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Beau Vallon but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Beau Vallon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Beau Vallon more family-friendly?
For families, Beau Vallon is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Beau Vallon?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Beau Vallon are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Beau Vallon gentler on the wallet β expenses run 4% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.