😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,687 in Medellin versus $710 in Brovary.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,535 in Medellin versus $1,001 in Brovary.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,383 in Medellin versus $1,292 in Brovary.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 138% more expensive than in Brovary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, Brovary is 48% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Brovary
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.89COP 24.2K
$7.86₴351
0.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.53COP 136.5K
$33.80₴1,511
31.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.29COP 28.5K
$6.86₴307
35.42%
Cappuccino
$2.90COP 8,874
$1.60₴71.4
81.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81COP 5,541
$0.80₴35.59
126.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55COP 4,741
$0.59₴26.52
162.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25COP 9,962
$1.13₴50.5
187.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88COP 18.0K
$1.77₴79.1
232.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Brovary
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38COP 4,230
$1.28₴57.1
7.81%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45COP 7,517
$0.62₴27.93
295.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,617
$1.46₴65.1
3.42%
Eggs
$2.78COP 8,516
$1.73₴77.4
60.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.05COP 27.7K
$9.70₴433
-6.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.65COP 32.6K
$5.40₴241
97.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.63COP 44.8K
$8.19₴366
78.63%
Apples(1kg)
$3.97COP 12.2K
$1.21₴54.3
228.10%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,219
$1.53₴68.4
-9.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,056
$1.82₴81.3
26.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.02COP 6,185
$1.98₴88.6
2.02%
Potato(1kg)
$2.09COP 6,390
$0.66₴29.54
216.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63COP 4,996
$0.50₴22.17
226.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08COP 3,313
$1.42₴63.4
-23.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25COP 3,843
$0.62₴27.62
101.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03COP 12.4K
$3.13₴140
28.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.47COP 41.3K
$4.36₴195
208.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60COP 4,904
$0.97₴43.37
64.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00COP 9,189
$1.42₴63.5
111.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Brovary
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.18COP 3,611
$0.47₴21.12
151.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.9COP 244.9K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.61COP 4,920
$1.81₴81.1
-11.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13COP 6,533
$0.47₴21.05
353.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.52COP 26.1K
$4.28₴191
99.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35COP 4,142
$1.56₴69.8
-13.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KCOP 86.8M
$29.2K₴1.3M
-3.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KCOP 109.4M
$22.2K₴991.8K
60.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Brovary
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151COP 463.8K
$93.5₴4,179
61.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.10COP 40.1K
$6.84₴306
91.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.30COP 99.0K
$7.34₴328
340.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Brovary
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.33COP 141.9K
$26.54₴1,187
74.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.26COP 52.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.43COP 19.7K
$4.59₴205
40.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Brovary
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$835COP 2.6M
$397₴17.7K
110.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,887COP 27.2M
$5,373₴240.2K
65.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Brovary
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3COP 273.7K
$43.82₴1,959
103.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3COP 169.5K
$39.27₴1,755
40.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$137COP 418.5K
$88.8₴3,969
53.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COP 335.1K
$114₴5,112
-4.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Brovary
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$952COP 2.9M
$167₴7,470
469.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$668COP 2.0M
$135₴6,050
393.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,020COP 6.2M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,148COP 3.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,696COP 11.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,586COP 4.9M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Brovary
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$625COP 1.9M
$500₴22.3K
25.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.43
18
-42.06%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026
Last update for Brovary: August 18, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $952 in Medellin and $167 in Brovary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 25% 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: $45.00 in Medellin vs $34.00 in Brovary for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $177 per month, with Brovary 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 Brovary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and in Brovary?
Medellin and Brovary differ by about 138% in total monthly costs ($1,687 vs $710 including rent). Brovary is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Medellin or Brovary?
Average pay runs 25% higher in Medellin, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and in Brovary?
Rent for a central apartment: $952 in Medellin versus $167 in Brovary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 67% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Brovary?
All in, you'll spend $1,687 per month in Medellin versus $710 in Brovary – a 138% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $710 in Brovary versus $1,687 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Brovary but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Brovary the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Brovary?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Medellin or Brovary safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Brovary are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Medellin or Brovary?
Expats usually find Brovary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 138% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.