🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,681 in Medellin versus $2,607 in Broken Hill.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,445 in Medellin versus $3,702 in Broken Hill.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,210 in Medellin versus $4,797 in Broken Hill.
🌍Living in Medellin costs roughly 36% less than in Broken Hill, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medellin23% above, Broken Hill91% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Broken Hill
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 24.9K
$17.82A$24.96
-54.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 148.7K
$82.2A$115
-41.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 30.7K
$11.11A$15.56
-10.98%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,725
$4.64A$6.50
-32.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 5,929
$2.93A$4.10
-34.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,692
$2.50A$3.50
-39.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,705
$7.21A$10.09
-56.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 17.9K
$8.31A$11.64
-30.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Broken Hill
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,490
$1.55A$2.17
-7.10%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,726
$2.82A$3.95
-11.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,511
$2.60A$3.64
-31.92%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,196
$4.66A$6.53
-36.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.3K
$8.77A$12.28
14.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.4K
$8.36A$11.71
21.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 44.4K
$15.61A$21.87
-8.39%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 12.9K
$4.24A$5.94
-2.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 4,997
$3.01A$4.21
-46.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 6,977
$3.22A$4.51
-30.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 6,998
$4.15A$5.81
-45.78%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,348
$3.02A$4.23
-32.45%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,770
$2.58A$3.62
-40.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,636
$2.72A$3.81
-56.99%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,060
$1.74A$2.44
-24.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.1K
$38.23A$53.5
-89.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.5K
$13.01A$18.22
7.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,416
$5.46A$7.64
-68.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 8,918
$5.27A$7.39
-45.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Broken Hill
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,776
$3.09A$4.32
-60.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 250.1K
$83.0A$116
-3.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,067
$3.84A$5.38
-65.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,796
$1.75A$2.45
25.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.1K
$36.71A$51.4
-76.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,241
$1.35A$1.89
1.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 86.5M
$30.4KA$42.5K
-8.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 111.2M
$27.3KA$38.3K
30.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Broken Hill
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 550.9K
$211A$296
-16.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.1K
$31.00A$43.42
-55.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 92.4K
$61.0A$85.4
-51.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Broken Hill
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 139.5K
$56.9A$79.6
-21.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 53.2K
$19.31A$27.04
-11.34%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.6K
$14.42A$20.20
-53.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Broken Hill
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.5M
$1,941A$2,718
-58.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 28.5M
$21.9KA$30.6K
-58.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Broken Hill
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 278.1K
$82.6A$116
8.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 183.2K
$60.3A$84.5
-2.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 429.4K
$119A$167
16.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 317.3K
$113A$159
-10.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Broken Hill
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
$1,222A$1,711
-13.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$1,133A$1,587
-41.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 5.9M
$2,562A$3,588
-26.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
$1,932A$2,706
-46.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.0M
$6,023A$8,436
-30.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.2M
$5,716A$8,006
-70.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Broken Hill
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
5.87
86.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Broken Hill: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,062 in Medellin and $1,222 in Broken Hill. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $82.0 in Broken Hill for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $305 vs $370 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 Broken Hill: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Broken Hill cheaper than Medellin?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 55% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,521 in Medellin and $3,911 in Broken Hill 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.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Broken Hill?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,062 in Medellin versus $1,222 in Broken Hill. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $813 in Medellin versus $1,941 in Broken Hill. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Broken Hill?
Supermarket bills run roughly 22% higher in Broken Hill. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Broken Hill?
At $1,681 in Medellin versus $2,607 in Broken Hill, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Broken Hill. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Broken Hill more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Broken Hill, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Broken Hill?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Broken Hill 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 55% less than in Broken Hill. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.