Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Beau Vallon Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Beau Vallon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,716 in Medellin versus $2,266 in Beau Vallon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,527 in Medellin versus $3,374 in Beau Vallon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,338 in Medellin versus $4,483 in Beau Vallon.

Living in Medellin costs roughly 24% less than in Beau Vallon, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medellin 25% above, Beau Vallon 65% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Beau Vallon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03 COP 25.1K
$13.37 SCR 191
-39.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.26 COP 150.8K
$54.2 SCR 777
-11.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.77 COP 30.5K
$6.92 SCR 99.2
41.18%
Cappuccino
$2.91 COP 9,095
$5.08 SCR 72.7
-42.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 COP 6,074
$1.55 SCR 22.15
25.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 COP 4,754
$1.09 SCR 15.59
39.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 COP 9,663
$10.05 SCR 144
-69.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74 COP 17.9K
$5.87 SCR 84.1
-2.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Beau Vallon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 COP 4,262
$2.39 SCR 34.24
-43.10%
White Bread (500g)
$2.39 COP 7,460
$1.86 SCR 26.70
28.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,314
$2.93 SCR 41.96
-41.98%
Eggs
$2.87 COP 8,967
$5.20 SCR 74.4
-44.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.94 COP 31.1K
$15.71 SCR 225
-36.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.78 COP 33.7K
$8.55 SCR 122
26.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.73 COP 46.0K
$10.35 SCR 148
42.32%
Apples (1kg)
$4.09 COP 12.8K
$2.83 SCR 40.54
44.52%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 COP 4,911
$2.88 SCR 41.30
-45.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 COP 6,642
$2.04 SCR 29.23
4.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.21 COP 6,917
$13.90 SCR 199
-84.10%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 COP 6,396
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 COP 4,700
$1.20 SCR 17.16
25.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 COP 3,718
$2.08 SCR 29.77
-42.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 COP 3,619
$1.07 SCR 15.28
8.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.2K
$22.41 SCR 321
-82.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.44 COP 45.1K
$10.69 SCR 153
35.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 COP 4,948
$3.55 SCR 50.9
-55.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 COP 8,836
$4.25 SCR 60.8
-33.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Beau Vallon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,650
$0.71 SCR 10.13
64.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.7 COP 242.9K
$14.66 SCR 210
430.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 COP 4,014
$29.09 SCR 417
-95.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.09 COP 6,537
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.62 COP 26.9K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 COP 4,056
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K COP 86.4M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5K COP 110.9M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Beau Vallon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 COP 550.1K
$193 SCR 2,759
-8.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 COP 41.8K
$41.89 SCR 600
-68.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.89 COP 93.4K
$106 SCR 1,522
-71.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Beau Vallon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.76 COP 139.8K
$180 SCR 2,571
-75.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06 COP 53.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.20 COP 19.4K
$14.36 SCR 206
-56.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Beau Vallon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$793 COP 2.5M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,019 COP 28.2M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Beau Vallon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6 COP 267.5K
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.5 COP 182.7K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$136 COP 425.9K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 COP 322.2K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Beau Vallon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,060 COP 3.3M
$1,135 SCR 16.3K
-6.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$680 COP 2.1M
$1,036 SCR 14.8K
-34.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,012 COP 6.3M
$2,230 SCR 31.9K
-9.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,169 COP 3.7M
$1,901 SCR 27.2K
-38.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,111 COP 12.8M
$1,250 SCR 17.9K
228.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,701 COP 5.3M
$626 SCR 8,963
171.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Beau Vallon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$665 COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
0
-

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

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Last update for Beau Vallon: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,060 in Medellin and $1,135 in Beau Vallon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $54.0 in Beau Vallon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $303 vs $376 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, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 32% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,574 in Medellin and $3,399 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: $1,060 in Medellin versus $1,135 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 24% higher in Beau Vallon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Beau Vallon?
All in, you'll spend $1,716 per month in Medellin versus $2,266 in Beau Vallon – a 32% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Beau Vallon?
At $1,716 in Medellin versus $2,266 in Beau Vallon, a $2,500 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 32% less than in Beau Vallon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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