Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bega NSW

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,692 a month against $2,529 in Bega NSW, rent and utilities included – about $10,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Bega NSW, Australia
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,692
/mo nomad
Bega NSW
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,529
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Bega NSW

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Bega NSW actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,692 per month in Medellin vs $2,529 in Bega NSW, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,692
  • Bega NSW $2,529

A couple spends around $2,471 per month in Medellin vs $3,645 in Bega NSW, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,471
  • Bega NSW $3,645

A family of three spends $3,249 per month in Medellin vs $4,761 in Bega NSW, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,249
  • Bega NSW $4,761

Medellin is about 33% cheaper than Bega NSW, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Medellin and Bega NSW sit above the global median – Medellin by 25%, Bega NSW by 87%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Bega NSW
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.34 COP 26.9K
$17.70 A$25.28
-52.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.53 COP 150.1K
$84.4 A$120
-44.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.47 COP 30.6K
$10.40 A$14.85
-8.94%
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 10.1K
$4.11 A$5.87
-23.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 COP 5,700
$2.90 A$4.14
-38.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 COP 4,597
$2.24 A$3.20
-36.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.15 COP 10.2K
$7.88 A$11.26
-60.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.70 COP 18.4K
$7.74 A$11.06
-26.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Bega NSW
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 COP 4,946
$1.51 A$2.16
1.32%
White Bread (500g)
$2.29 COP 7,394
$2.72 A$3.89
-15.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.94 COP 6,276
$2.30 A$3.28
-15.65%
Eggs
$3.07 COP 9,895
$4.83 A$6.90
-36.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.99 COP 32.2K
$9.06 A$12.93
10.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.45 COP 33.7K
$9.07 A$12.95
15.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.96 COP 45.0K
$14.50 A$20.71
-3.72%
Apples (1kg)
$4.05 COP 13.1K
$3.75 A$5.36
8.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,932
$3.09 A$4.41
-50.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.10 COP 6,791
$3.16 A$4.52
-33.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.29 COP 7,402
$4.60 A$6.57
-50.22%
Potato (1kg)
$2.11 COP 6,807
$2.75 A$3.93
-23.27%
Onion (1kg)
$1.71 COP 5,515
$2.48 A$3.55
-31.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,776
$2.41 A$3.44
-51.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 COP 5,099
$1.56 A$2.22
1.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.91 COP 12.6K
$41.98 A$60.0
-90.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.04 COP 45.3K
$13.98 A$19.96
0.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 COP 5,685
$4.67 A$6.67
-62.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 COP 8,752
$5.26 A$7.51
-48.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Bega NSW
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.18 COP 3,807
$2.71 A$3.86
-56.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.3 COP 246.2K
$84.0 A$120
-9.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 COP 5,831
$3.47 A$4.95
-47.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.13 COP 6,871
$1.63 A$2.32
30.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.13 COP 26.2K
$40.93 A$58.5
-80.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 COP 4,115
$1.32 A$1.88
-3.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K COP 111.1M
$29.4K A$42.1K
16.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K COP 110.1M
$26.4K A$37.7K
29.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Bega NSW
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$178 COP 573.5K
$212 A$303
-16.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.89 COP 44.8K
$27.96 A$39.93
-50.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.74 COP 99.2K
$57.2 A$81.6
-46.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Bega NSW
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.94 COP 135.4K
$57.0 A$81.3
-26.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80 COP 54.2K
$17.93 A$25.61
-6.30%
Cinema Ticket
$7.47 COP 24.1K
$14.27 A$20.38
-47.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Bega NSW
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$790 COP 2.5M
$2,136 A$3,050
-63.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.3K COP 39.7M
$20.4K A$29.1K
-39.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Bega NSW
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.3 COP 278.6K
$75.8 A$108
13.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.3 COP 191.2K
$54.4 A$77.7
8.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 446.4K
$108 A$154
28.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.8 COP 318.9K
$121 A$173
-18.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Bega NSW
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,341 COP 4.3M
$1,430 A$2,042
-6.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$667 COP 2.2M
$1,217 A$1,739
-45.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,976 COP 6.4M
$2,250 A$3,213
-12.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,033 COP 3.3M
$1,830 A$2,614
-43.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,098 COP 13.2M
$5,831 A$8,327
-29.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,940 COP 6.3M
$4,961 A$7,084
-60.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Bega NSW
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$646 COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
5.9
85.42%

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

Last update for Medellin: November 2, 2026

Last update for Bega NSW: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$667
Bega NSW
$1.2K 82.5% $550
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$307
Bega NSW
$363 18.1% $56
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$222
Bega NSW
$297 33.6% $75
Eating Out
Medellin
$173
Bega NSW
$298 72.4% $125
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$172
Bega NSW
$162 6.2% $11
Getting Around
Medellin
$93
Bega NSW
$106 13.9% $13
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$57
Bega NSW
$86 50.3% $29

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,341 in Medellin versus $1,430 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 $47 in Medellin versus $84 in Bega NSW. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $307 vs $363 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇦🇺 Bega NSW
🕒 Local time
07:38 7:38 AM
23:38 11:38 PM
16 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
4,683
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

AUD, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 3,227 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,613 COP (10,000 COP = 2.77 EUR).

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 AUD (1 AUD = 0.7 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 AUD (1 AUD = 0.625 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Bega NSW 14,310 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Bega NSW

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Medellin cheaper than Bega NSW?
Yes – Bega NSW is pricier by about 49%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,538 per month in Medellin and $3,793 in Bega NSW. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Bega NSW?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $1,341 in Medellin and $1,430 in Bega NSW. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $790 per month in Medellin and $2,136 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 18% more in Bega NSW, though the gap depends on what you buy.
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 $1,692, than in Bega NSW at $2,529. 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Medellin is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 33% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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