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: $1,555 in Medellin versus $199 in Brikama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,314 in Medellin versus $174 in Brikama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,072 in Medellin versus $150 in Brikama.

Living in Medellin is roughly 684% more expensive than in Brikama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 15% above, Brikama is 85% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.59 COP 24.7K

$6.25 GMD 461

21.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.78 COP 145.7K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.24 COP 30.1K

Cappuccino

$2.95 COP 9,591

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

$1.80 COP 5,861

$0.70 GMD 51.8

157.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 COP 4,391

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 COP 9,544

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.46 COP 17.8K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 COP 4,663

White Bread (500g)

$2.39 COP 7,785

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 COP 5,209

Eggs

$2.88 COP 9,364

$2.39 GMD 176

20.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.71 COP 31.6K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.44 COP 30.7K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.24 COP 43.1K

Apples (1kg)

$3.75 COP 12.2K

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 COP 4,703

Oranges (1kg)

$2.10 COP 6,829

Tomato (1kg)

$2.13 COP 6,930

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 COP 6,259

Onion (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,984

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 COP 3,549

$0.36 GMD 26.22

202.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 COP 3,843

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.79 COP 12.3K

Wine (Bottle)

$13.16 COP 42.8K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 COP 5,337

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 COP 7,410

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.18 COP 3,825

$0.33 GMD 24.20

257.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.6 COP 239.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.28 COP 4,157

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.98 COP 6,434

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 25.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 COP 4,211

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

$26.8K COP 87.2M

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

$34.7K COP 112.9M

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

$158 COP 513.6K

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

$13.39 COP 43.6K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.28 COP 88.8K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.15 COP 143.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.99 COP 52.0K

Cinema Ticket

$6.39 COP 20.8K

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

$777 COP 2.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,800 COP 28.6M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$82.7 COP 269.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.1 COP 182.6K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$131 COP 425.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.9 COP 312.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 COP 3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$627 COP 2.0M

$136 GMD 10.1K

360.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,826 COP 5.9M

$273 GMD 20.2K

568.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$969 COP 3.2M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,907 COP 12.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,576 COP 5.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$620 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

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

Last update for Medellin: September 28, 2026

Last update for Brikama: September 27, 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 684% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $2,333 in Medellin and $298 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 2499% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,555 per month in Medellin versus $199 in Brikama – a 684% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $199 in Brikama versus $1,555 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 684% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.