Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Berkane Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Berkane

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $732 in Berkane, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,146 in Berkane, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,561 in Berkane, rent included.

Medellin costs about 39% more than Berkane, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Berkane are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Berkane 46% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Berkane
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95 COPΒ 20.8K
$4.21 MADΒ 38.98
41.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.33 COPΒ 116.3K
$23.29 MADΒ 215
43.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.23 COPΒ 25.2K
$6.75 MADΒ 62.4
7.11%
Cappuccino
$1.63 COPΒ 5,687
$1.66 MADΒ 15.33
-1.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 COPΒ 3,821
$0.59 MADΒ 5.42
84.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COPΒ 2,548
$0.32 MADΒ 3.00
128.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.74 COPΒ 6,065
$3.94 MADΒ 36.48
-55.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 COPΒ 11.3K
$3.67 MADΒ 33.98
-11.99%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Berkane
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COPΒ 3,662
$0.82 MADΒ 7.61
28.05%
White Bread (500g)
$1.29 COPΒ 4,515
$0.53 MADΒ 4.87
143.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.32 COPΒ 4,617
$1.76 MADΒ 16.26
-25.00%
Eggs
$2.27 COPΒ 7,927
$1.92 MADΒ 17.74
18.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.35 COPΒ 15.2K
$9.96 MADΒ 92.2
-56.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COPΒ 20.5K
$6.07 MADΒ 56.2
-3.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.61 COPΒ 30.0K
$10.96 MADΒ 101
-21.44%
Apples (1kg)
$2.25 COPΒ 7,844
$1.36 MADΒ 12.57
65.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COPΒ 3,733
$1.29 MADΒ 11.95
-17.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 COPΒ 5,322
$0.83 MADΒ 7.65
83.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COPΒ 4,964
$0.78 MADΒ 7.24
82.05%
Potato (1kg)
$1.17 COPΒ 4,084
$0.68 MADΒ 6.27
72.06%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COPΒ 4,077
$0.76 MADΒ 7.05
53.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COPΒ 3,096
$0.39 MADΒ 3.65
128.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 COPΒ 3,146
$0.59 MADΒ 5.50
52.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25 COPΒ 7,837
$4.12 MADΒ 38.11
-45.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.04 COPΒ 38.5K
$8.34 MADΒ 77.2
32.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 COPΒ 3,977
$2.59 MADΒ 23.93
-55.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 COPΒ 8,301
$2.75 MADΒ 25.42
-13.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Berkane
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COPΒ 2,916
$0.51 MADΒ 4.73
64.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.95 COPΒ 146.4K
$16.58 MADΒ 153
153.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COPΒ 4,912
$0.62 MADΒ 5.75
127.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.90 COPΒ 6,634
$0.48 MADΒ 4.41
295.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.75 COPΒ 27.0K
$4.37 MADΒ 40.41
77.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 COPΒ 3,509
$1.60 MADΒ 14.84
-36.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COPΒ 61.4M
$36.7K MADΒ 339.9K
-52.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K COPΒ 92.5M
$29.3K MADΒ 271.0K
-9.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Berkane
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.7 COPΒ 292.1K
$35.81 MADΒ 331
133.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.45 COPΒ 33.0K
$11.11 MADΒ 103
-14.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.11 COPΒ 84.1K
$40.24 MADΒ 372
-40.08%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Berkane
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.31 COPΒ 88.3K
$24.23 MADΒ 224
4.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COPΒ 66.8K
$23.04 MADΒ 213
-16.93%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10 COPΒ 14.3K
$6.40 MADΒ 59.2
-35.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Berkane
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$312 COPΒ 1.1M
$106 MADΒ 983
193.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,993 COPΒ 20.9M
$3,551 MADΒ 32.9K
68.76%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Berkane
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0 COPΒ 202.6K
$38.87 MADΒ 360
49.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56 COPΒ 113.6K
$40.55 MADΒ 375
-19.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.6 COPΒ 347.7K
$86.9 MADΒ 804
14.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 COPΒ 378.8K
$70.1 MADΒ 648
54.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Berkane
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 COPΒ 1.7M
$283 MADΒ 2,621
70.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COPΒ 1.3M
$173 MADΒ 1,603
119.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$837 COPΒ 2.9M
$498 MADΒ 4,608
68.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$723 COPΒ 2.5M
$308 MADΒ 2,848
134.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,840 COPΒ 9.9M
$1,480 MADΒ 13.7K
91.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,223 COPΒ 4.3M
$914 MADΒ 8,453
33.86%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Berkane
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$541 COPΒ 1.9M
$279 MADΒ 2,583
93.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
4.78
180.96%

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

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for Berkane: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $283 in Berkane. 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 94% 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 $23.00 in Berkane. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $190 in Berkane – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Berkane: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Berkane cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 39%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,097 in Berkane. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Berkane, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or Berkane?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $23.00 in Berkane. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafΓ© pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Berkane?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,017 in Medellin and $732 in Berkane. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Berkane?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Berkane, where all-in costs run around $732, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Berkane it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Berkane more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Berkane – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Berkane?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Berkane. 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.

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