Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Brades Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Brades

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,031 in Medellin versus $724 in Brades.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,599 in Medellin versus $1,915 in Brades.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,167 in Medellin versus $3,107 in Brades.

Living in Medellin is roughly 42% more expensive than in Brades, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 23% lower, Brades 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$18.76 EC$50.6

-67.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

$48.73 EC$132

-33.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

$7.31 EC$19.74

0.41%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

$6.43 EC$17.37

-73.25%

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

$2.45 EC$6.60

-57.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$1.41 EC$3.80

-45.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

$2.56 EC$6.92

-33.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

$4.48 EC$12.11

-29.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$3.34 EC$9.03

-68.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$2.90 EC$7.83

-55.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

$7.02 EC$18.96

-69.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$5.91 EC$15.94

-25.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$9.47 EC$25.56

-37.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$24.30 EC$65.6

-64.44%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

$3.35 EC$9.04

-31.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$4.31 EC$11.64

-68.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$2.21 EC$5.96

-48.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$5.26 EC$14.19

-83.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

$22.53 EC$60.8

-45.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

$4.34 EC$11.71

-42.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

$1.87 EC$5.05

-55.08%

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

$22.1K EC$59.6K

-18.32%

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

$16.9K EC$45.6K

57.64%

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

$41.33 EC$112

-75.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

$55.7 EC$150

-54.93%

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

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

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

$1,304 EC$3,520

-35.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

$1,304 EC$3,521

-44.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

$1,271 EC$3,432

-51.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Brades: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Brades pays 106% 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 $49.00 in Brades for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $346 per month, with Medellin 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 Brades: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brades wins on cost – living expenses run 42% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Brades the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 106% lower in Brades. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

All in, you'll spend $1,031 per month in Medellin versus $724 in Brades – a 42% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Shoppers in Medellin pay roughly 79% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

At $724 in Brades versus $1,031 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Brades but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Brades the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Brades delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $724 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Brades hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Medellin and Brades are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Brades gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.