Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bridgetown Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bridgetown

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,681 in Medellin versus $2,460 in Bridgetown.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,445 in Medellin versus $3,738 in Bridgetown.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,210 in Medellin versus $5,015 in Bridgetown.

Living in Medellin costs roughly 32% less than in Bridgetown, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medellin 23% above, Bridgetown 80% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Bridgetown
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02 COP 25.0K
$20.10 BBD 40.20
-60.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87 COP 149.4K
$94.7 BBD 189
-49.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.89 COP 30.8K
$7.41 BBD 14.81
33.47%
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 9,767
$4.46 BBD 8.91
-29.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 COP 5,954
$1.53 BBD 3.05
24.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 COP 4,712
$1.37 BBD 2.74
10.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.12 COP 9,747
$2.45 BBD 4.91
27.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 17.9K
$5.93 BBD 11.86
-3.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Bridgetown
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,509
$3.98 BBD 7.96
-63.82%
White Bread (500g)
$2.49 COP 7,759
$3.93 BBD 7.87
-36.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,535
$2.94 BBD 5.87
-39.80%
Eggs
$2.96 COP 9,235
$6.15 BBD 12.30
-51.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.07 COP 31.4K
$9.13 BBD 18.27
10.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.12 COP 31.6K
$9.47 BBD 18.93
6.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.30 COP 44.6K
$7.76 BBD 15.52
84.28%
Apples (1kg)
$4.14 COP 12.9K
$5.61 BBD 11.22
-26.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 COP 5,019
$3.11 BBD 6.22
-48.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,007
$5.36 BBD 10.72
-58.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,028
$4.98 BBD 9.97
-54.82%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 COP 6,375
$1.82 BBD 3.65
12.09%
Onion (1kg)
$1.54 COP 4,790
$2.35 BBD 4.70
-34.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,651
$2.81 BBD 5.62
-58.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 COP 4,077
$3.24 BBD 6.48
-59.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.2K
$10.13 BBD 20.26
-61.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 43.7K
$13.83 BBD 27.67
1.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 COP 5,439
$1.79 BBD 3.58
-2.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 COP 8,956
$1.85 BBD 3.70
55.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Bridgetown
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 COP 3,792
$1.74 BBD 3.48
-29.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$80.5 COP 251.1K
$27.52 BBD 55.0
192.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,084
$7.30 BBD 14.60
-82.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.19 COP 6,825
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.71 COP 27.2K
$40.06 BBD 80.1
-78.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 COP 4,260
$2.03 BBD 4.07
-32.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K COP 86.9M
$37.6K BBD 75.2K
-26.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K COP 111.6M
$34.9K BBD 69.7K
2.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Bridgetown
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 COP 553.2K
$194 BBD 388
-8.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88 COP 43.3K
$56.2 BBD 112
-75.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72 COP 92.8K
$79.7 BBD 159
-62.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Bridgetown
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.88 COP 140.1K
$91.8 BBD 184
-51.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12 COP 53.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 20.7K
$15.16 BBD 30.32
-56.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Bridgetown
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$813 COP 2.5M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,187 COP 28.7M
$3,032 BBD 6,064
203.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Bridgetown
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5 COP 279.3K
$52.8 BBD 106
69.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0 COP 184.0K
$39.15 BBD 78.3
50.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 431.2K
$99.1 BBD 198
39.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 318.7K
$69.5 BBD 139
46.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Bridgetown
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,062 COP 3.3M
$1,196 BBD 2,391
-11.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$663 COP 2.1M
$1,138 BBD 2,275
-41.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,888 COP 5.9M
$2,110 BBD 4,220
-10.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,027 COP 3.2M
$2,016 BBD 4,033
-49.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,183 COP 13.1M
$3,524 BBD 7,048
18.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,675 COP 5.2M
$3,561 BBD 7,121
-52.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Bridgetown
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$678 COP 2.1M
$1,787 BBD 3,574
-62.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
6.85
59.71%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Bridgetown: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,062 in Medellin and $1,196 in Bridgetown. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bridgetown pays 164% 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: $48.00 in Medellin vs $95.0 in Bridgetown for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $305 vs $407 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 Bridgetown: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Bridgetown?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 46% lower than in Bridgetown. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or in Bridgetown?
On paper, salaries run 164% lower in Bridgetown. 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 Bridgetown?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,062 in Medellin versus $1,196 in Bridgetown. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or in Bridgetown?
Supermarket bills run roughly 34% higher in Bridgetown. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to Bridgetown?
All in, you'll spend $1,681 per month in Medellin versus $2,460 in Bridgetown – a 46% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Medellin or in Bridgetown?
At $1,681 in Medellin versus $2,460 in Bridgetown, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Bridgetown. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Bridgetown?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,681 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
How safe is Medellin compared to Bridgetown?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Bridgetown are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 46% less than in Bridgetown. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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