🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,031 in Medellin versus $1,315 in Beau Vallon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,599 in Medellin versus $2,079 in Beau Vallon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,167 in Medellin versus $2,844 in Beau Vallon.
🌍Living in Medellin costs roughly 22% less than in Beau Vallon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin23% lower, Beau Vallon2% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Beau Vallon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 20.1K
$18.56SCR 266
-66.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 106.1K
$69.5SCR 996
-53.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.9K
$7.19SCR 103
2.09%
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,599
$5.69SCR 81.6
-69.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,420
$1.53SCR 21.96
-31.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,515
$1.08SCR 15.47
-28.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,487
$9.53SCR 137
-82.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.3K
$4.97SCR 71.2
-36.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Beau Vallon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,423
$2.66SCR 38.07
-60.53%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,236
$1.51SCR 21.65
-13.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,544
-
-
Eggs
$2.16COP 7,046
-
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.3K
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 19.1K
$6.08SCR 87.2
-3.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 28.1K
$6.03SCR 86.4
43.28%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,425
$1.96SCR 28.12
16.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,603
$1.98SCR 28.43
-43.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,982
$1.98SCR 28.43
-22.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,410
$10.12SCR 145
-86.66%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,674
-
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,692
$1.03SCR 14.71
9.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,753
$1.98SCR 28.44
-57.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,975
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,629
$29.46SCR 422
-92.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 40.3K
$11.32SCR 162
9.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,909
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,104
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Beau Vallon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,727
$0.88SCR 12.56
-4.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 132.1K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,623
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,235
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.9K
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,223
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Beau Vallon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8COP 263.1K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.4K
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 78.7K
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Beau Vallon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 81.6K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 62.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 13.0K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Beau Vallon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 993.4K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.7M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Beau Vallon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 189.2K
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 104.8K
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 327.9K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 350.8K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Beau Vallon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.6M
$1,226SCR 17.6K
-61.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
$802SCR 11.5K
-53.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
$2,188SCR 31.4K
-61.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.4M
$1,388SCR 19.9K
-47.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.5M
$1,283SCR 18.4K
150.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.5M
$646SCR 9,251
112.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Beau Vallon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Last update for Beau Vallon: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $477 in Medellin and $1,226 in Beau Vallon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $69.0 in Beau Vallon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $203 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?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out. The 28% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,546 in Medellin and $1,972 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: $477 in Medellin versus $1,226 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 in Beau Vallon?
Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Beau Vallon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Beau Vallon?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $69.0 in Beau Vallon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Beau Vallon?
At $1,031 in Medellin versus $1,315 in Beau Vallon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Beau Vallon. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Beau Vallon more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Beau Vallon, 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 Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Beau Vallon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.