Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Brikama Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Brikama

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,687 in Medellin versus $197 in Brikama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,535 in Medellin versus $174 in Brikama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,383 in Medellin versus $150 in Brikama.

Living in Medellin is roughly 756% more expensive than in Brikama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, Brikama is 86% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.89 COP 24.2K

$6.21 GMD 463

27.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.53 COP 136.5K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.29 COP 28.5K

Cappuccino

$2.90 COP 8,874

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

$1.81 COP 5,541

$0.71 GMD 52.9

154.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 COP 4,741

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.25 COP 9,962

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.88 COP 18.0K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 COP 4,230

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 COP 7,517

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 COP 4,617

Eggs

$2.78 COP 8,516

$2.48 GMD 185

12.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.05 COP 27.7K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.65 COP 32.6K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.63 COP 44.8K

Apples (1kg)

$3.97 COP 12.2K

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,219

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 COP 7,056

Tomato (1kg)

$2.02 COP 6,185

Potato (1kg)

$2.09 COP 6,390

Onion (1kg)

$1.63 COP 4,996

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 COP 3,313

$0.33 GMD 24.49

227.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 COP 3,843

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.03 COP 12.4K

Wine (Bottle)

$13.47 COP 41.3K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 COP 4,904

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 COP 9,189

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.18 COP 3,611

$0.32 GMD 24.11

268.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.9 COP 244.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 COP 4,920

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 COP 6,533

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.52 COP 26.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 COP 4,142

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.3K COP 86.8M

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

$35.7K COP 109.4M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$151 COP 463.8K

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.10 COP 40.1K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.30 COP 99.0K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.33 COP 141.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.26 COP 52.9K

Cinema Ticket

$6.43 COP 19.7K

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$835 COP 2.6M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,887 COP 27.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.3 COP 273.7K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 COP 169.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$137 COP 418.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 335.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$952 COP 2.9M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 COP 2.0M

$135 GMD 10.1K

394.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,020 COP 6.2M

$274 GMD 20.5K

636.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,148 COP 3.5M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,696 COP 11.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,586 COP 4.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$625 COP 1.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.43

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

Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026

Last update for Brikama: August 17, 2026

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 Brikama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brikama is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 756% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $2,530 in Medellin and $296 in Brikama to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 2545% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,687 per month in Medellin versus $197 in Brikama – a 756% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $197 in Brikama versus $1,687 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Brikama but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Brikama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Brikama is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Brikama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 756% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.