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 $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $152 in Big Bend, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $286 in Big Bend, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $420 in Big Bend, rent included.

Medellin costs about 578% more than Big Bend, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Big Bend are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Big Bend 89% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$1.71 SZL 28.12

260.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

$19.38 SZL 320

68.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

$3.87 SZL 63.8

89.66%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

$1.36 SZL 22.45

26.47%

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

$0.70 SZL 11.50

50.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$0.40 SZL 6.62

92.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

$1.15 SZL 18.93

46.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

$1.02 SZL 16.87

210.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$0.81 SZL 13.29

60.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

$2.18 SZL 35.96

-0.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$0.87 SZL 14.38

-2.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$0.86 SZL 14.20

5.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

$3.69 SZL 60.9

235.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

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

$305 COP 993.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

$33.02 SZL 545

76.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

$22.42 SZL 370

43.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

$34.22 SZL 564

194.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

$50.7 SZL 836

112.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

$197 SZL 3,243

1535.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

$143 SZL 2,360

859.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

$782 SZL 12.9K

-21.12%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Big Bend: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 27% 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 $19.00 in Big Bend. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $38.00 – 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: $1,031 in Medellin, $152 in Big Bend – roughly 578% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $228 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 $19.00 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 $1,031 in Medellin and $152 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 $152, than in Medellin at $1,031. 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 $152 in Big Bend to $1,031 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.