Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bella Vista Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bella Vista

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $192 in Bella Vista, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $309 in Bella Vista, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $426 in Bella Vista, rent included.

Medellin costs about 436% more than Bella Vista, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Bella Vista are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Bella Vista 86% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$2.04 ₲12.3K

201.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

$13.40 ₲80.8K

143.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

$1.99 ₲12.0K

-13.57%

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

$0.98 ₲5,920

7.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

$1.48 ₲8,911

114.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$0.83 ₲5,022

26.51%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$0.52 ₲3,131

150.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$1.02 ₲6,180

37.25%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

$2.14 ₲12.9K

0.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$5.89 ₲35.5K

-25.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$2.92 ₲17.6K

101.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

$0.73 ₲4,391

52.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$1.02 ₲6,133

-10.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

$0.98 ₲5,913

138.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

$5.11 ₲30.8K

142.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

$0.82 ₲4,955

46.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

$1.85 ₲11.2K

34.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

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

$17.73 ₲106.9K

355.78%

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

$12.11 ₲73.0K

-17.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$19.90 ₲120.0K

21.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

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 993.4K

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

$369 ₲2.2M

67.36%

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 Bella Vista: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 67% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $13.00 in Bella Vista. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $93.0 – making Bella Vista 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 Bella Vista: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 436% more than Bella Vista, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $288 in Bella Vista. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,031 in Medellin and $192 in Bella Vista. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 107% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bella Vista, where all-in costs run around $192, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Bella Vista it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bella Vista costs $192 versus $1,031 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Bella Vista. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.