Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bender Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bender

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,028 per month in Medellin vs $699 in Bender, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,586 per month in Medellin vs $1,056 in Bender, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,144 per month in Medellin vs $1,412 in Bender, rent included.

Medellin costs about 47% more than Bender, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Bender are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Bender 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.00 COP 20.6K

$8.53 MDL 147

-29.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.84 COP 112.9K

$17.68 MDL 305

85.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.42 COP 25.5K

$5.88 MDL 102

26.19%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,675

$1.12 MDL 19.38

47.32%

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

$1.07 COP 3,673

$0.92 MDL 15.92

16.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 COP 2,614

$0.52 MDL 9.03

46.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,925

$0.97 MDL 16.82

77.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 COP 11.0K

$2.09 MDL 36.09

53.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,607

$0.97 MDL 16.83

8.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 COP 4,492

$0.47 MDL 8.12

178.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 COP 4,604

$1.44 MDL 24.97

-6.94%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,543

$1.94 MDL 33.60

12.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.41 COP 15.2K

$3.98 MDL 68.7

10.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.69 COP 19.6K

$4.17 MDL 72.1

36.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.52 COP 29.3K

$5.21 MDL 90.0

63.53%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,046

$0.75 MDL 13.00

212.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,815

$1.83 MDL 31.60

-39.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,225

$1.70 MDL 29.35

-10.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,694

$1.56 MDL 26.89

-12.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 3,962

$0.84 MDL 14.48

36.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 COP 4,055

$0.56 MDL 9.65

110.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.84 COP 2,893

$1.33 MDL 22.91

-36.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 COP 2,940

$0.78 MDL 13.48

10.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.26 COP 7,776

$2.90 MDL 50.1

-22.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.60 COP 39.9K

$2.63 MDL 45.50

341.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,121

$0.71 MDL 12.23

69.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 8,508

$1.59 MDL 27.55

55.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,729

$0.34 MDL 5.82

132.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.83 COP 140.4K

$3.98 MDL 68.8

925.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,038

$1.12 MDL 19.37

31.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,587

$0.25 MDL 4.29

668.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.77 COP 26.7K

$1.15 MDL 19.87

575.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,474

$1.41 MDL 24.38

-28.37%

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

$17.7K COP 60.7M

$17.7K MDL 306.1K

-0.31%

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

$26.5K COP 90.9M

$18.4K MDL 317.4K

44.01%

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

$81.1 COP 278.8K

$173 MDL 2,998

-53.25%

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

$9.43 COP 32.4K

$7.38 MDL 128

27.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.86 COP 82.0K

$7.96 MDL 137

199.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.99 COP 89.4K

$23.62 MDL 408

10.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.71 COP 64.3K

Cinema Ticket

$4.09 COP 14.1K

$2.30 MDL 39.71

77.83%

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

$315 COP 1.1M

$388 MDL 6,697

-18.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,022 COP 20.7M

$7,601 MDL 131.3K

-20.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 COP 205.2K

$11.47 MDL 198

420.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.97 COP 109.9K

$26.27 MDL 454

21.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 347.9K

$114 MDL 1,973

-11.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 COP 361.3K

$120 MDL 2,078

-12.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$485 COP 1.7M

$223 MDL 3,846

118.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$365 COP 1.3M

$93.6 MDL 1,617

290.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$827 COP 2.8M

$315 MDL 5,445

162.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.5M

$225 MDL 3,897

223.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,992 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,314 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$551 COP 1.9M

$321 MDL 5,539

71.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

9.24

45.35%

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

Last update for Medellin: June 15, 2026

Last update for Bender: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $485 in Medellin versus $223 in Bender. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 72% 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 $18.00 in Bender. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $136 – making Bender 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 Bender: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 47%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,542 per month in Medellin and $1,049 in Bender. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bender, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 926% less in Bender. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $315 per month in Medellin and $388 in Bender. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bender, where all-in costs run around $699, than in Medellin at $1,028. In Bender it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bender – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Bender. 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.