Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Big Bend Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Big Bend

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $157 in Big Bend, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $284 in Big Bend, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $411 in Big Bend, rent included.

Medellin costs about 545% more than Big Bend, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Big Bend are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Big Bend 88% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$1.72 SZL 28.04

248.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.2K

$19.68 SZL 322

66.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$4.00 SZL 65.3

77.25%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,105

$1.44 SZL 23.54

18.75%

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

$1.10 COP 3,918

$0.70 SZL 11.37

57.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,776

$0.40 SZL 6.57

95.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,987

$1.10 SZL 17.93

52.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 10.9K

$0.98 SZL 16.03

213.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,899

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,500

$0.75 SZL 12.32

68.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,914

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,813

$2.16 SZL 35.30

1.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.7K

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,334

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,771

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,365

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,915

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,104

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,148

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,176

$0.88 SZL 14.34

1.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,992

$0.86 SZL 14.12

-2.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,131

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 37.9K

$3.65 SZL 59.7

191.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,276

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,809

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,051

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,255

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 6,997

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,403

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

$18.1K COP 64.6M

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

$26.5K COP 94.4M

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

$82.3 COP 293.2K

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.4K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.7K

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 209.1K

$33.93 SZL 554

72.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.3K

$22.20 SZL 363

45.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 365.7K

$34.01 SZL 556

201.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 386.5K

$51.0 SZL 832

112.77%

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 9.9M

$198 SZL 3,232

1310.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$142 SZL 2,313

755.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$812 SZL 13.3K

-37.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

49.22%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Big Bend: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 59% higher in Big Bend, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $20.00 in Big Bend. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $37.00 – making Big Bend 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 Big Bend: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,013 in Medellin, $157 in Big Bend – roughly 545% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $235 in Big Bend. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $20.00 in Big Bend. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $157 in Big Bend. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Big Bend, where all-in costs run around $157, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Big Bend it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $157 in Big Bend to $1,013 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Big Bend. 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.