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 $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $187 in Bella Vista, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $309 in Bella Vista, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $431 in Bella Vista, rent included.

Medellin costs about 441% more than Bella Vista, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Bella Vista are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Bella Vista 86% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$1.95 ₲11.9K

207.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

$13.36 ₲81.4K

145.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

$1.97 ₲12.0K

-13.20%

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

$1.10 COP 3,924

$0.98 ₲5,950

12.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

$1.46 ₲8,925

110.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$0.83 ₲5,073

31.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$0.48 ₲2,900

162.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$1.01 ₲6,169

36.63%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$2.07 ₲12.6K

5.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$6.04 ₲36.8K

-27.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$2.96 ₲18.0K

90.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

$0.68 ₲4,169

55.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$1.01 ₲6,165

-16.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

$0.98 ₲5,967

132.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

$4.90 ₲29.9K

117.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

$0.78 ₲4,740

53.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

$1.82 ₲11.1K

35.71%

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

$17.93 ₲109.3K

358.73%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$11.94 ₲72.8K

-20.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

$19.90 ₲121.3K

21.76%

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

$373 ₲2.3M

37.11%

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 Bella Vista: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 37% 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: $188 vs $92.0 – 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 441% 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 $1,519 per month in Medellin and $281 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 $1,013 in Medellin and $187 in Bella Vista. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 105% 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 $187, than in Medellin at $1,013. 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 $187 versus $1,013 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.