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 $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $715 in Big Bend, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $1,405 in Big Bend, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $2,095 in Big Bend, rent included.

Medellin costs about 135% more than Big Bend, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Big Bend is 48% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.02 COP 25.0K

$4.02 SZL 65.8

99.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.87 COP 149.4K

$27.27 SZL 446

75.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 COP 30.8K

$5.07 SZL 83.0

95.07%

Cappuccino

$3.13 COP 9,767

$1.52 SZL 24.87

105.92%

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

$1.91 COP 5,954

$0.71 SZL 11.68

169.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 COP 4,712

$0.42 SZL 6.87

259.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 COP 9,747

$1.56 SZL 25.52

100.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 COP 17.9K

$1.66 SZL 27.25

246.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,509

$1.21 SZL 19.73

19.01%

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 COP 7,759

$0.90 SZL 14.77

176.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 COP 5,535

$1.57 SZL 25.63

12.74%

Eggs

$2.96 COP 9,235

$4.63 SZL 75.8

-36.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 COP 31.4K

$18.11 SZL 296

-44.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.12 COP 31.6K

$12.51 SZL 205

-19.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 COP 44.6K

$4.93 SZL 80.7

190.06%

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 COP 12.9K

$4.24 SZL 69.4

-2.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 COP 5,019

$0.64 SZL 10.49

151.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,007

$1.81 SZL 29.66

24.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,028

$1.26 SZL 20.69

78.57%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 COP 6,375

$2.52 SZL 41.17

-19.05%

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,790

$2.20 SZL 35.97

-30.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 COP 3,651

$0.94 SZL 15.31

24.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 COP 4,077

$0.89 SZL 14.52

47.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.2K

$6.01 SZL 98.4

-35.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 43.7K

$3.65 SZL 59.7

283.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 COP 5,439

$0.60 SZL 9.76

190.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 COP 8,956

$0.88 SZL 14.37

226.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 COP 3,792

$1.20 SZL 19.71

1.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 251.1K

$24.33 SZL 398

230.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,084

$1.87 SZL 30.56

-29.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 COP 6,825

$1.57 SZL 25.73

39.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.2K

$3.63 SZL 59.5

139.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 COP 4,260

$1.13 SZL 18.50

21.24%

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

$27.8K COP 86.9M

$12.5K SZL 205.0K

122.25%

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

$35.8K COP 111.6M

$18.5K SZL 303.0K

93.22%

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

$177 COP 553.2K

$128 SZL 2,097

38.35%

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

$13.88 COP 43.3K

$24.27 SZL 397

-42.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.72 COP 92.8K

$24.73 SZL 405

20.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.88 COP 140.1K

$18.65 SZL 305

140.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 53.4K

$2.40 SZL 39.33

613.33%

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 20.7K

$3.06 SZL 50.0

117.32%

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

$813 COP 2.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 28.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.5 COP 279.3K

$37.10 SZL 607

141.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 COP 184.0K

$24.81 SZL 406

137.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 COP 431.2K

$36.19 SZL 592

281.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 318.7K

$54.4 SZL 890

87.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 COP 3.3M

$110 SZL 1,796

867.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 COP 2.1M

$74.7 SZL 1,222

788.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,888 COP 5.9M

$1,096 SZL 17.9K

72.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 COP 3.2M

$746 SZL 12.2K

37.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.1M

$203 SZL 3,319

1962.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.2M

$143 SZL 2,343

1069.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$678 COP 2.1M

$793 SZL 13.0K

-14.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

21.56%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Big Bend: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $110 in Big Bend. 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 17% 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $27.00 in Big Bend. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $255 – 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: $1,681 in Medellin, $715 in Big Bend – roughly 135% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $1,072 in Big Bend. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 231% less in Big Bend. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 20% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Big Bend, where all-in costs run around $715, than in Medellin at $1,681. 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 $715 in Big Bend to $1,681 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.