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 $1,716 per month in Medellin vs $192 in Bella Vista, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,527 per month in Medellin vs $309 in Bella Vista, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,338 per month in Medellin vs $427 in Bella Vista, rent included.

Medellin costs about 795% more than Bella Vista, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 25% above the global median, while Bella Vista is 86% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.03 COP 25.2K

$2.03 ₲12.0K

295.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.26 COP 151.7K

$13.23 ₲78.4K

264.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.77 COP 30.7K

Cappuccino

$2.91 COP 9,149

$1.96 ₲11.6K

48.47%

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

$1.94 COP 6,110

$1.01 ₲6,005

92.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 COP 4,783

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 COP 9,721

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.74 COP 18.1K

$1.54 ₲9,143

272.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 COP 4,287

$0.76 ₲4,509

78.95%

White Bread (500g)

$2.39 COP 7,505

$0.48 ₲2,852

397.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 COP 5,346

$0.97 ₲5,776

75.26%

Eggs

$2.87 COP 9,021

$2.06 ₲12.2K

39.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.94 COP 31.2K

$6.15 ₲36.4K

61.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.78 COP 33.9K

$2.95 ₲17.5K

265.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.73 COP 46.3K

Apples (1kg)

$4.09 COP 12.8K

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 COP 4,940

$0.69 ₲4,087

127.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.13 COP 6,682

Tomato (1kg)

$2.21 COP 6,959

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 COP 6,435

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 COP 4,728

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 COP 3,740

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 COP 3,640

$0.98 ₲5,819

18.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.2K

$0.98 ₲5,786

297.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.44 COP 45.4K

$4.95 ₲29.3K

191.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 COP 4,978

$0.83 ₲4,916

90.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 COP 8,889

$1.84 ₲10.9K

53.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.17 COP 3,672

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.7 COP 244.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.28 COP 4,038

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.09 COP 6,576

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.62 COP 27.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 COP 4,080

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

$27.7K COP 86.9M

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

$35.5K COP 111.6M

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

$176 COP 553.4K

$18.17 ₲107.7K

869.01%

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

$13.37 COP 42.0K

$11.98 ₲71.0K

11.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.89 COP 94.0K

$20.12 ₲119.2K

48.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.76 COP 140.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.06 COP 53.6K

Cinema Ticket

$6.20 COP 19.5K

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

$793 COP 2.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,019 COP 28.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.6 COP 269.1K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.5 COP 183.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$136 COP 428.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 COP 324.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,060 COP 3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 COP 2.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,012 COP 6.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,169 COP 3.7M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,111 COP 12.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,701 COP 5.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$665 COP 2.1M

$366 ₲2.2M

81.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

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

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Last update for Bella Vista: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 82% 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $13.00 in Bella Vista. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $303 vs $91.0 – 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 795% more than Bella Vista, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,574 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 $1,716 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 232% 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 $1,716. 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 $1,716 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.