😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,681 in Medellin versus $1,072 in Brackenfell.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,445 in Medellin versus $1,701 in Brackenfell.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,210 in Medellin versus $2,330 in Brackenfell.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 57% more expensive than in Brackenfell, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, Brackenfell is 22% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Brackenfell
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.0K
$9.51R 156
-15.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 149.4K
$24.91R 408
92.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 30.8K
$6.00R 98.2
64.83%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,767
$2.56R 41.92
22.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 5,954
$1.13R 18.43
69.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,712
$1.02R 16.69
48.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,747
$2.57R 42.06
21.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 17.9K
$2.71R 44.33
112.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Brackenfell
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,509
$1.09R 17.89
32.11%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,759
$1.20R 19.72
107.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,535
$2.18R 35.71
-18.81%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,235
$1.86R 30.51
59.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.4K
$8.58R 140
17.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.6K
$2.90R 47.54
248.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 44.6K
$7.14R 117
100.28%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 12.9K
$1.51R 24.78
174.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,019
$1.95R 32.00
-17.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,007
$1.78R 29.19
26.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,028
$1.77R 28.92
27.12%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,375
$1.39R 22.82
46.76%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,790
$1.11R 18.15
38.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,651
$0.98R 16.04
19.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,077
$1.07R 17.46
22.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$3.64R 59.7
7.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.7K
$4.46R 73.1
214.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,439
$1.37R 22.48
27.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 8,956
$2.06R 33.75
39.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Brackenfell
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,792
$1.59R 25.97
-23.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 251.1K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,084
$0.64R 10.51
104.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,825
$0.98R 15.97
123.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.2K
$5.11R 83.8
70.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,260
$1.40R 22.87
-2.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
$19.1KR 312.3K
45.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
$20.2KR 331.2K
76.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Brackenfell
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 553.2K
$118R 1,937
49.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.3K
$32.01R 524
-56.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 92.8K
$39.50R 647
-24.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Brackenfell
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 140.1K
$25.31R 414
77.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 53.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.7K
$9.13R 150
-27.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Brackenfell
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.5M
$157R 2,578
416.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 28.7M
$6,781R 111.1K
35.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Brackenfell
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 279.3K
$43.53R 713
105.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 184.0K
$23.49R 385
151.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 431.2K
$69.9R 1,145
97.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 318.7K
$50.6R 829
101.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Brackenfell
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
$668R 10.9K
59.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$403R 6,599
64.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 5.9M
$1,338R 21.9K
41.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
$931R 15.2K
10.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.1M
$880R 14.4K
375.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.2M
$681R 11.1K
146.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Brackenfell
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.1M
$1,887R 30.9K
-64.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
11.02
-0.73%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Brackenfell: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,062 in Medellin and $668 in Brackenfell. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Brackenfell pays 178% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $25.00 in Brackenfell for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $305 vs $179 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 57% 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 178% 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: $1,062 in Medellin versus $668 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 $813 in Medellin versus $157 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 $25.00 versus $48.00 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 $1,072 in Brackenfell versus $1,681 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 $1,072 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 57% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.