🙂A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $2,669 in Bega NSW, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $3,755 in Bega NSW, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $4,840 in Bega NSW, rent included.
🙂Medellin is about 39% cheaper than Bega NSW, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Medellin and Bega NSW sit above the global median – Medellin by 19%, Bega NSW by 94%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Bega NSW
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04COP 24.8K
$17.59A$24.52
-54.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29COP 148.6K
$87.0A$121
-44.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42COP 29.0K
$10.92A$15.23
-13.74%
Cappuccino
$2.94COP 9,040
$4.18A$5.83
-29.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86COP 5,735
$2.92A$4.07
-36.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46COP 4,479
$2.24A$3.13
-34.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21COP 9,882
$7.73A$10.78
-58.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71COP 17.6K
$7.41A$10.33
-22.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Bega NSW
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,428
$1.70A$2.38
-15.29%
White Bread(500g)
$2.40COP 7,389
$2.68A$3.74
-10.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,228
$2.36A$3.29
-27.97%
Eggs
$2.89COP 8,896
$5.05A$7.04
-42.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.06COP 30.9K
$9.32A$12.99
7.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.97COP 30.7K
$9.61A$13.40
3.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.20COP 43.7K
$14.91A$20.79
-4.76%
Apples(1kg)
$3.98COP 12.3K
$3.65A$5.09
9.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58COP 4,878
$3.11A$4.34
-49.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15COP 6,624
$3.45A$4.81
-37.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,078
$4.75A$6.62
-51.58%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00COP 6,169
$2.64A$3.68
-24.24%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,646
$2.49A$3.47
-39.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20COP 3,701
$2.45A$3.41
-51.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28COP 3,946
$1.64A$2.29
-21.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84COP 11.8K
$39.73A$55.4
-90.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.1K
$14.62A$20.38
-4.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71COP 5,256
$5.00A$6.97
-65.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74COP 8,440
$5.52A$7.69
-50.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Bega NSW
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.25COP 3,834
$3.05A$4.25
-59.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.9COP 239.7K
$84.4A$118
-7.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,016
$3.50A$4.88
-62.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.17COP 6,680
$1.62A$2.26
33.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.29COP 25.5K
$40.67A$56.7
-79.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,172
$1.32A$1.84
3.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
$28.4KA$39.6K
-3.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
$30.4KA$42.4K
20.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Bega NSW
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169COP 519.2K
$217A$303
-22.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57COP 41.8K
$27.50A$38.33
-50.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32COP 87.2K
$57.3A$79.9
-50.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Bega NSW
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.71COP 140.7K
$57.8A$80.5
-20.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22COP 53.0K
$18.18A$25.34
-5.28%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.5K
$15.69A$21.88
-57.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Bega NSW
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$803COP 2.5M
$2,182A$3,042
-63.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,190COP 28.3M
$20.8KA$29.0K
-55.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Bega NSW
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4COP 268.8K
$80.0A$112
9.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4COP 182.7K
$56.3A$78.5
5.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$139COP 427.5K
$113A$157
23.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 314.0K
$126A$176
-19.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Bega NSW
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,071COP 3.3M
$1,453A$2,026
-26.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653COP 2.0M
$1,293A$1,803
-49.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,925COP 5.9M
$2,327A$3,244
-17.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,048COP 3.2M
$1,902A$2,651
-44.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,123COP 12.7M
$6,539A$9,117
-36.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,697COP 5.2M
$5,212A$7,266
-67.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Bega NSW
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$655COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
5.85
87.01%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Last update for Bega NSW: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,071 in Medellin versus $1,453 in Bega NSW. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $87.0 in Bega NSW. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $376 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Bega NSW: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bega NSW cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Bega NSW is pricier by about 63%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,462 per month in Medellin and $4,003 in Bega NSW. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $803 per month in Medellin and $2,182 in Bega NSW. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Bega NSW?
Groceries cost about 25% more in Bega NSW, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Bega NSW?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,641, than in Bega NSW at $2,669. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bega NSW it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Bega NSW more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Bega NSW?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bega NSW makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.