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: $1,013 in Medellin versus $275 in Beira.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $526 in Beira.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $778 in Beira.

Living in Medellin is roughly 269% more expensive than Beira, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 24% lower, Beira 80% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$8.00 MZN 506

-25.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

$35.32 MZN 2,234

-6.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

$3.15 MZN 199

-45.71%

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

$1.10 COP 3,924

$1.20 MZN 76.1

-8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

$0.74 MZN 47.03

5.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

$1.24 MZN 78.4

35.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

$1.91 MZN 120

60.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$1.66 MZN 105

-34.34%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$0.90 MZN 56.8

40.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$1.51 MZN 95.8

-8.61%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$1.78 MZN 112

23.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$3.05 MZN 193

84.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

$4.77 MZN 301

86.37%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

$2.78 MZN 176

-15.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

$1.98 MZN 125

-46.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

$1.96 MZN 124

-23.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$2.14 MZN 135

-35.51%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

$0.97 MZN 61.2

18.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

$0.75 MZN 47.55

54.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

$1.31 MZN 82.6

-32.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$0.76 MZN 48.35

10.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

$0.90 MZN 56.7

153.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

$8.13 MZN 514

30.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

$1.01 MZN 64.0

18.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

$2.66 MZN 168

-7.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

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

$82.3 COP 293.7K

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

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

$309 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Beira: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $35.00 in Beira. Groceries flip the comparison at $188 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 269% in total monthly costs ($1,013 vs $275 including rent). Beira is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,519 in Medellin and $412 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 $1,013 per month in Medellin versus $275 in Beira – a 269% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $275 in Beira versus $1,013 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 269% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.