🙂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: Medellin25% above, Beau Vallon65% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Beau Vallon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03COP 25.1K
$13.37SCR 191
-39.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.26COP 150.8K
$54.2SCR 777
-11.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.77COP 30.5K
$6.92SCR 99.2
41.18%
Cappuccino
$2.91COP 9,095
$5.08SCR 72.7
-42.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94COP 6,074
$1.55SCR 22.15
25.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52COP 4,754
$1.09SCR 15.59
39.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09COP 9,663
$10.05SCR 144
-69.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74COP 17.9K
$5.87SCR 84.1
-2.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Beau Vallon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,262
$2.39SCR 34.24
-43.10%
White Bread(500g)
$2.39COP 7,460
$1.86SCR 26.70
28.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,314
$2.93SCR 41.96
-41.98%
Eggs
$2.87COP 8,967
$5.20SCR 74.4
-44.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.94COP 31.1K
$15.71SCR 225
-36.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.78COP 33.7K
$8.55SCR 122
26.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.73COP 46.0K
$10.35SCR 148
42.32%
Apples(1kg)
$4.09COP 12.8K
$2.83SCR 40.54
44.52%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57COP 4,911
$2.88SCR 41.30
-45.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13COP 6,642
$2.04SCR 29.23
4.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.21COP 6,917
$13.90SCR 199
-84.10%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05COP 6,396
-
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.50COP 4,700
$1.20SCR 17.16
25.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19COP 3,718
$2.08SCR 29.77
-42.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16COP 3,619
$1.07SCR 15.28
8.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$22.41SCR 321
-82.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.44COP 45.1K
$10.69SCR 153
35.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58COP 4,948
$3.55SCR 50.9
-55.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83COP 8,836
$4.25SCR 60.8
-33.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Beau Vallon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.17COP 3,650
$0.71SCR 10.13
64.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.7COP 242.9K
$14.66SCR 210
430.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.28COP 4,014
$29.09SCR 417
-95.60%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.09COP 6,537
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.62COP 26.9K
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30COP 4,056
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7KCOP 86.4M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5KCOP 110.9M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Beau Vallon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$176COP 550.1K
$193SCR 2,759
-8.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37COP 41.8K
$41.89SCR 600
-68.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.89COP 93.4K
$106SCR 1,522
-71.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Beau Vallon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.76COP 139.8K
$180SCR 2,571
-75.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06COP 53.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.20COP 19.4K
$14.36SCR 206
-56.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Beau Vallon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$793COP 2.5M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,019COP 28.2M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Beau Vallon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6COP 267.5K
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.5COP 182.7K
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$136COP 425.9K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103COP 322.2K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Beau Vallon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,060COP 3.3M
$1,135SCR 16.3K
-6.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$680COP 2.1M
$1,036SCR 14.8K
-34.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,012COP 6.3M
$2,230SCR 31.9K
-9.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,169COP 3.7M
$1,901SCR 27.2K
-38.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,111COP 12.8M
$1,250SCR 17.9K
228.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,701COP 5.3M
$626SCR 8,963
171.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Beau Vallon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$665COP 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.