😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,003 in Medellin versus $890 in Brackenfell.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,573 in Medellin versus $1,403 in Brackenfell.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,143 in Medellin versus $1,916 in Brackenfell.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 13% more expensive than in Brackenfell, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin25% lower, Brackenfell33% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Brackenfell
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91COP 18.6K
$8.45R 139
-30.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96COP 103.8K
$22.42R 369
47.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.43COP 23.4K
$4.98R 82.0
49.20%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,207
$2.02R 33.17
-18.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,468
$1.01R 16.69
8.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,458
$0.86R 14.24
-9.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,412
$2.30R 37.83
-25.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COP 10.0K
$2.36R 38.91
34.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Brackenfell
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10COP 3,474
$0.99R 16.35
11.11%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 3,962
$1.01R 16.63
24.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,349
$1.92R 31.65
-28.13%
Eggs
$2.18COP 6,858
$2.36R 38.89
-7.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.49COP 14.1K
$8.43R 139
-46.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.79COP 18.2K
$3.46R 57.0
67.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COP 28.2K
$7.62R 125
17.72%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32COP 7,308
$1.27R 20.94
82.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,352
$1.48R 24.37
-28.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 4,774
$1.51R 24.84
0.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,270
$1.52R 25.06
-10.53%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,552
$1.12R 18.46
0.89%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,689
$1.09R 17.95
7.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90COP 2,838
$1.09R 17.89
-17.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COP 2,823
$0.88R 14.48
2.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23COP 7,034
$3.02R 49.70
-26.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.12COP 38.2K
$4.30R 70.8
181.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 3,743
$1.32R 21.72
-9.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 7,815
$1.10R 18.12
125.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Brackenfell
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85COP 2,687
$1.60R 26.41
-46.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.62COP 131.0K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,459
$1.37R 22.52
3.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.95COP 6,141
$0.80R 13.12
143.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.89COP 24.8K
$4.46R 73.5
76.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,118
$1.25R 20.52
-20.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
$14.0KR 231.2K
25.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
$19.3KR 318.1K
38.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Brackenfell
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0COP 261.4K
$63.7R 1,049
30.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70COP 30.5K
$33.16R 546
-70.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52COP 74.1K
$40.95R 674
-42.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Brackenfell
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.26COP 79.5K
$31.10R 512
-18.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10COP 60.1K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.95COP 12.4K
$6.68R 110
-40.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Brackenfell
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$316COP 994.2K
$139R 2,285
127.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,975COP 18.8M
$5,249R 86.4K
13.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Brackenfell
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0COP 188.9K
$44.25R 728
35.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 100.2K
$24.97R 411
27.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102COP 320.1K
$68.2R 1,122
49.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 338.3K
$36.65R 603
193.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Brackenfell
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$475COP 1.5M
$367R 6,041
29.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$374COP 1.2M
$339R 5,575
10.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$849COP 2.7M
$678R 11.2K
25.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$719COP 2.3M
$699R 11.5K
2.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,265COP 10.3M
$863R 14.2K
278.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441COP 4.5M
$649R 10.7K
122.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Brackenfell
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$624COP 2.0M
$1,800R 29.6K
-65.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
11.77
14.10%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Last update for Brackenfell: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $475 in Medellin and $367 in Brackenfell. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Brackenfell pays 188% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $22.00 in Brackenfell for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $169 per month, with Brackenfell 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 Brackenfell: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Brackenfell?
Brackenfell wins on cost – living expenses run 13% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Brackenfell the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or in Brackenfell?
On paper, salaries run 188% lower in Brackenfell. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin compared to Brackenfell?
Rent for a central apartment: $475 in Medellin versus $367 in Brackenfell. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Medellin and in Brackenfell?
Childcare runs $316 in Medellin versus $139 in Brackenfell. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin and in Brackenfell?
Dining out is cheaper in Brackenfell – a meal for two runs $22.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or in Brackenfell?
At $890 in Brackenfell versus $1,003 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Brackenfell but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Brackenfell the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Brackenfell?
Both work as nomad bases, but Brackenfell delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $890 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Brackenfell hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Brackenfell gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.