Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Brahmanbaria Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Brahmanbaria

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $338 in Brahmanbaria, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $579 in Brahmanbaria, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $819 in Brahmanbaria, rent included.

Medellin costs about 205% more than Brahmanbaria, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Brahmanbaria are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Brahmanbaria 75% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Brahmanbaria
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16 COP 20.1K
$1.68 ৳207
266.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60 COP 106.1K
$15.05 ৳1,855
116.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.34 COP 23.9K
$7.35 ৳906
-0.14%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$5.79 ৳714
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.07 ৳501
-
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 5,599
$1.67 ৳206
2.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,420
$0.36 ৳44.32
191.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,515
$0.15 ৳18.33
413.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 COP 5,487
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.3K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Brahmanbaria
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,423
$0.79 ৳97.8
32.91%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COP 4,236
$0.57 ৳70.5
128.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 COP 4,544
$0.66 ৳80.8
112.12%
Eggs
$2.16 COP 7,046
$1.02 ৳125
111.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.39 COP 14.3K
$9.02 ৳1,112
-51.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COP 19.1K
$1.55 ৳191
279.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 28.1K
$7.29 ৳899
18.52%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 COP 7,425
$2.30 ৳283
-0.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,603
$1.02 ৳125
8.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,982
$2.06 ৳255
-25.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 COP 4,410
$0.81 ৳99.3
66.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,674
$0.47 ৳58.5
140.43%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,692
$0.88 ৳109
28.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 2,753
$0.38 ৳46.69
123.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 2,975
$0.25 ৳30.67
264.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$8.83 ৳1,089
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.85 ৳104
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.45 ৳179
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 COP 7,629
$2.82 ৳347
-17.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.37 COP 40.3K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 3,909
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 8,104
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Brahmanbaria
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,727
$0.20 ৳24.63
320.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.57 COP 132.1K
$10.38 ৳1,280
290.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,623
$0.85 ৳105
67.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 COP 6,235
$0.43 ৳52.8
346.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.66 COP 24.9K
$2.45 ৳302
212.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,223
$1.00 ৳123
-1.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K COP 58.7M
$33.2K ৳4.1M
-45.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K COP 86.7M
$33.5K ৳4.1M
-20.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Brahmanbaria
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 COP 263.1K
$22.53 ৳2,778
258.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95 COP 32.4K
$5.79 ৳714
71.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18 COP 78.7K
$13.13 ৳1,618
84.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Brahmanbaria
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.08 COP 81.6K
$13.49 ৳1,663
85.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15 COP 62.3K
$11.70 ৳1,442
63.68%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98 COP 13.0K
$3.30 ৳407
20.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Brahmanbaria
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 993.4K
$29.41 ৳3,626
937.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,059 COP 19.7M
$1,376 ৳169.6K
340.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Brahmanbaria
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 COP 189.2K
$20.42 ৳2,517
184.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20 COP 104.8K
$18.71 ৳2,307
72.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 327.9K
$52.7 ৳6,497
91.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 350.8K
$34.37 ৳4,237
213.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Brahmanbaria
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 COP 1.6M
$70.5 ৳8,697
575.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 COP 1.2M
$41.31 ৳5,093
810.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 COP 2.7M
$161 ৳19.8K
425.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$730 COP 2.4M
$98.7 ৳12.2K
640.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,215 COP 10.5M
$686 ৳84.5K
368.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,372 COP 4.5M
$259 ৳31.9K
430.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Brahmanbaria
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
11.67
15.08%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Brahmanbaria: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $70.5 in Brahmanbaria. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $15.00 in Brahmanbaria. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $115 – making Brahmanbaria 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 Brahmanbaria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brahmanbaria cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 205%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $508 in Brahmanbaria. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Brahmanbaria, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Brahmanbaria?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,031 in Medellin and $338 in Brahmanbaria. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 291% less in Brahmanbaria. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Brahmanbaria?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Brahmanbaria, where all-in costs run around $338, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Brahmanbaria it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Brahmanbaria more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Brahmanbaria – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Brahmanbaria. 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.

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