Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bogo City Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bogo City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,031 in Medellin versus $740 in Bogo City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,599 in Medellin versus $1,150 in Bogo City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,167 in Medellin versus $1,561 in Bogo City.

Living in Medellin is roughly 39% more expensive than in Bogo City, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 23% lower, Bogo City 45% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Bogo City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16 COP 20.1K
$4.49 ₱276
37.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60 COP 106.1K
$15.33 ₱944
112.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.34 COP 23.9K
$2.71 ₱167
170.85%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 5,600
$1.74 ₱107
-1.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,420
$0.43 ₱26.35
144.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,515
$0.33 ₱20.48
133.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 COP 5,488
$1.59 ₱97.9
6.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.3K
$1.45 ₱89.0
118.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Bogo City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,423
$1.71 ₱105
-38.60%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COP 4,236
$1.18 ₱72.5
10.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 COP 4,544
$0.96 ₱59.1
45.83%
Eggs
$2.16 COP 7,047
$2.27 ₱140
-4.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.39 COP 14.3K
$10.45 ₱643
-57.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COP 19.1K
$3.52 ₱216
67.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 28.1K
$4.67 ₱288
85.01%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 COP 7,426
$2.65 ₱163
-13.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,604
$1.45 ₱89.5
-23.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,983
$3.43 ₱211
-55.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 COP 4,410
$2.18 ₱134
-38.07%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,674
$1.64 ₱101
-31.10%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,692
$1.81 ₱111
-37.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 2,753
$0.92 ₱56.7
-7.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 2,975
$0.51 ₱31.64
78.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 COP 7,630
$3.27 ₱202
-28.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.37 COP 40.3K
$6.36 ₱392
94.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 3,909
$1.20 ₱73.7
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 8,104
$1.73 ₱106
43.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Bogo City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,728
$0.26 ₱15.90
223.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.57 COP 132.1K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,623
$0.87 ₱53.7
63.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 COP 6,235
$0.25 ₱15.51
668.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.66 COP 24.9K
$2.63 ₱162
191.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,223
$1.13 ₱69.8
-12.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K COP 58.7M
$30.2K ₱1.9M
-40.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K COP 86.7M
$27.0K ₱1.7M
-1.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Bogo City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 COP 263.1K
$98.0 ₱6,032
-17.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95 COP 32.4K
$33.93 ₱2,089
-70.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18 COP 78.7K
$29.96 ₱1,845
-19.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Bogo City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.08 COP 81.7K
$34.25 ₱2,109
-26.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15 COP 62.3K
$4.52 ₱278
323.67%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98 COP 13.0K
$5.41 ₱333
-26.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Bogo City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 993.5K
$228 ₱14.1K
33.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,059 COP 19.7M
$3,828 ₱235.6K
58.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Bogo City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 COP 189.2K
$46.04 ₱2,834
26.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20 COP 104.8K
$23.46 ₱1,444
37.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 327.9K
$76.5 ₱4,709
31.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 350.8K
$55.7 ₱3,426
93.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Bogo City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 COP 1.6M
$263 ₱16.2K
81.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 COP 1.2M
$178 ₱10.9K
111.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 COP 2.7M
$585 ₱36.0K
44.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$730 COP 2.4M
$397 ₱24.4K
84.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,215 COP 10.5M
$2,207 ₱135.9K
45.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,372 COP 4.5M
$880 ₱54.2K
55.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Bogo City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 COP 2.0M
$159 ₱9,789
287.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
8
67.88%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Bogo City: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $477 in Medellin and $263 in Bogo City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 288% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $15.00 in Bogo City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $192 per month, with Bogo City cheaper across the board.

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 Bogo City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bogo City cheaper than Medellin?
Bogo City is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around. The 39% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Bogo City?
Average pay runs 288% higher in Medellin, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Bogo City?
Rent for a central apartment: $477 in Medellin versus $263 in Bogo City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Bogo City?
Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Bogo City?
All in, you'll spend $1,031 per month in Medellin versus $740 in Bogo City – a 39% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Bogo City?
At $740 in Bogo City versus $1,031 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Bogo City but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Bogo City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Bogo City more family-friendly?
For families, Bogo City is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Bogo City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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