Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Berwick

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,639 a month against $2,554 in Berwick, rent and utilities included – about $11,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Berwick, Australia
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Berwick
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,554
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Berwick

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Berwick actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,639 in Medellin versus $2,554 in Berwick.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • Berwick $2,554

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,413 in Medellin versus $3,747 in Berwick.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • Berwick $3,747

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,186 in Medellin versus $4,941 in Berwick.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • Berwick $4,941

Living in Medellin costs roughly 36% less than in Berwick, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medellin 20% above, Berwick 88% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Berwick
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 25.6K
$17.18 A$24.34
-52.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 148.9K
$85.2 A$121
-44.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.1K
$10.46 A$14.82
-9.18%
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,540
$4.28 A$6.07
-29.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,693
$2.84 A$4.02
-36.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,469
$2.31 A$3.28
-38.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 10.0K
$7.88 A$11.17
-59.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.2K
$7.51 A$10.64
-23.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Berwick
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,778
$1.34 A$1.90
12.69%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,524
$2.73 A$3.87
-12.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,606
$2.25 A$3.19
-21.33%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,146
$4.82 A$6.83
-40.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.2K
$10.00 A$14.16
1.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.2K
$9.44 A$13.37
4.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 44.3K
$13.09 A$18.55
6.88%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.6K
$3.80 A$5.38
4.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 4,911
$3.38 A$4.79
-54.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,907
$2.79 A$3.96
-21.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,910
$4.02 A$5.70
-45.77%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,210
$2.76 A$3.91
-28.99%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,029
$2.45 A$3.47
-35.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,625
$2.30 A$3.26
-50.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 3,934
$1.58 A$2.24
-21.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.5K
$38.06 A$53.9
-89.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 43.3K
$14.21 A$20.13
-3.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,252
$5.18 A$7.34
-67.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,145
$5.90 A$8.36
-61.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Berwick
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,696
$2.75 A$3.90
-57.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 244.8K
$80.0 A$113
-3.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,013
$3.14 A$4.45
-59.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,480
$1.70 A$2.40
20.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 27.1K
$37.45 A$53.1
-77.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,262
$1.39 A$1.96
-2.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 107.8M
$25.9K A$36.8K
31.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 109.7M
$25.0K A$35.4K
38.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Berwick
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 536.8K
$179 A$254
-5.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 42.9K
$28.59 A$40.50
-52.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 88.8K
$48.84 A$69.2
-42.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Berwick
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 138.3K
$61.2 A$86.7
-28.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 54.4K
$19.74 A$27.97
-12.92%
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 21.9K
$12.78 A$18.10
-45.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Berwick
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.5M
$2,169 A$3,073
-63.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 28.8M
$19.5K A$27.6K
-53.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Berwick
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 268.1K
$80.7 A$114
4.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 183.4K
$62.6 A$88.6
-7.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 427.1K
$94.6 A$134
42.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 309.7K
$112 A$159
-12.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Berwick
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.8M
$1,319 A$1,868
-8.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.0M
$1,291 A$1,829
-50.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.4M
$2,391 A$3,387
-15.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.2M
$2,067 A$2,928
-51.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.2M
$5,398 A$7,647
-22.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.0M
$5,260 A$7,451
-63.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Berwick
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
5.9
85.42%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Last update for Berwick: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
Berwick
$1.3K 101% $650
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
Berwick
$363 22.4% $67
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
Berwick
$257 21.6% $46
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
Berwick
$295 74.1% $126
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
Berwick
$158 6.8% $11
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
Berwick
$103 9.7% $9.1
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Berwick
$87 50.7% $29

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,208 in Medellin and $1,319 in Berwick. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $47 in Medellin vs $85 in Berwick for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $363 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇦🇺 Berwick
🕒 Local time
20:21 8:21 PM
12:21 12:21 PM
16 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
47,674
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

AUD, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 3,164 COP (10,000 COP = 3.16 USD). 1 EUR = 3,523 COP (10,000 COP = 2.84 EUR).

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 1.42 AUD (1 AUD = 0.706 USD). 1 EUR = 1.58 AUD (1 AUD = 0.634 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Berwick 14,590 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Berwick

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Berwick: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Berwick?
Medellin is about 36% cheaper overall, especially in eating out, groceries, and utilities. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You’d need roughly $2,459 in Medellin and $3,830 in Berwick to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Berwick?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,208 in Medellin versus $1,319 in Berwick. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Berwick?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $47 versus $85 in Berwick. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Berwick?
All in, you’ll spend $1,639 per month in Medellin versus $2,554 in Berwick – Medellin is about 36% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Berwick?
At $1,639 in Medellin versus $2,554 in Berwick, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Berwick. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Medellin or in Berwick?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Berwick. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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