🙂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: Medellin23% above, Bridgetown80% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Bridgetown
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.0K
$20.10BBD 40.20
-60.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 149.4K
$94.7BBD 189
-49.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 30.8K
$7.41BBD 14.81
33.47%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,767
$4.46BBD 8.91
-29.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 5,954
$1.53BBD 3.05
24.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,712
$1.37BBD 2.74
10.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,747
$2.45BBD 4.91
27.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 17.9K
$5.93BBD 11.86
-3.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Bridgetown
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,509
$3.98BBD 7.96
-63.82%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,759
$3.93BBD 7.87
-36.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,535
$2.94BBD 5.87
-39.80%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,235
$6.15BBD 12.30
-51.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.4K
$9.13BBD 18.27
10.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.6K
$9.47BBD 18.93
6.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 44.6K
$7.76BBD 15.52
84.28%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 12.9K
$5.61BBD 11.22
-26.20%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,019
$3.11BBD 6.22
-48.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,007
$5.36BBD 10.72
-58.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,028
$4.98BBD 9.97
-54.82%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,375
$1.82BBD 3.65
12.09%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,790
$2.35BBD 4.70
-34.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,651
$2.81BBD 5.62
-58.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,077
$3.24BBD 6.48
-59.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$10.13BBD 20.26
-61.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.7K
$13.83BBD 27.67
1.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,439
$1.79BBD 3.58
-2.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 8,956
$1.85BBD 3.70
55.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Bridgetown
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,792
$1.74BBD 3.48
-29.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 251.1K
$27.52BBD 55.0
192.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,084
$7.30BBD 14.60
-82.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,825
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.2K
$40.06BBD 80.1
-78.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,260
$2.03BBD 4.07
-32.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
$37.6KBBD 75.2K
-26.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
$34.9KBBD 69.7K
2.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Bridgetown
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 553.2K
$194BBD 388
-8.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.3K
$56.2BBD 112
-75.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 92.8K
$79.7BBD 159
-62.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Bridgetown
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 140.1K
$91.8BBD 184
-51.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 53.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.7K
$15.16BBD 30.32
-56.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Bridgetown
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.5M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 28.7M
$3,032BBD 6,064
203.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Bridgetown
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 279.3K
$52.8BBD 106
69.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 184.0K
$39.15BBD 78.3
50.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 431.2K
$99.1BBD 198
39.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 318.7K
$69.5BBD 139
46.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Bridgetown
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
$1,196BBD 2,391
-11.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$1,138BBD 2,275
-41.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 5.9M
$2,110BBD 4,220
-10.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
$2,016BBD 4,033
-49.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.1M
$3,524BBD 7,048
18.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.2M
$3,561BBD 7,121
-52.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Bridgetown
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.1M
$1,787BBD 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.