Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Beira Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Beira

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,031 in Medellin versus $274 in Beira.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,599 in Medellin versus $526 in Beira.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,167 in Medellin versus $779 in Beira.

Living in Medellin is roughly 277% more expensive than in Beira, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 23% lower, Beira 80% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$8.05 MZN 509

-23.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

$34.64 MZN 2,191

-5.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,600

$3.17 MZN 201

-45.74%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.05 COP 3,420

$1.15 MZN 72.6

-8.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$0.77 MZN 48.55

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,488

$1.21 MZN 76.8

39.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

$1.91 MZN 121

65.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$1.65 MZN 104

-36.36%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$0.91 MZN 57.4

42.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$1.54 MZN 97.6

-9.09%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,047

$1.76 MZN 112

22.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$3.11 MZN 197

89.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$4.66 MZN 295

85.41%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,426

$2.81 MZN 178

-18.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,604

$1.93 MZN 122

-42.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,983

$1.97 MZN 125

-22.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$2.25 MZN 143

-40.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$0.93 MZN 59.1

21.51%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$0.75 MZN 47.35

50.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$1.30 MZN 82.0

-34.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$0.71 MZN 44.98

28.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,630

$0.96 MZN 60.7

143.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

$8.21 MZN 519

50.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

$0.94 MZN 59.6

27.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

$2.81 MZN 178

-11.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,728

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.0K COP 58.7M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.6K COP 86.7M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$80.8 COP 263.1K

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.95 COP 32.4K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$305 COP 993.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Beira: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $35.00 in Beira. Groceries flip the comparison at $193 vs $158, with Beira cheaper for home cooking.

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 Beira: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin and Beira differ by about 277% in total monthly costs ($1,031 vs $274 including rent). Beira is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,546 in Medellin and $411 in Beira 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.

Dining out is cheaper in Beira – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,031 per month in Medellin versus $274 in Beira – a 277% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $274 in Beira versus $1,031 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Beira but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Beira the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Beira gentler on the wallet – expenses run 277% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.