πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,017 in Medellin versus $783 in Brovary.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $1,216 in Brovary.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,188 in Medellin versus $1,650 in Brovary.
πLiving in Medellin is roughly 30% more expensive than Brovary, driven mainly by Getting Around.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Medellin24% lower, Brovary42% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Brovary
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95COPΒ 20.8K
$7.92β΄356
-24.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.33COPΒ 116.3K
$33.72β΄1,515
-1.16%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.23COPΒ 25.2K
$6.08β΄273
18.91%
Cappuccino
$1.63COPΒ 5,687
$1.52β΄68.4
7.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09COPΒ 3,821
$0.67β΄30.22
62.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73COPΒ 2,548
$0.43β΄19.17
69.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.74COPΒ 6,065
$0.97β΄43.45
79.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23COPΒ 11.3K
$1.65β΄73.9
95.76%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Brovary
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COPΒ 3,662
$1.29β΄58.0
-18.60%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29COPΒ 4,515
$0.75β΄33.59
72.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32COPΒ 4,617
$1.44β΄64.8
-8.33%
Eggs
$2.27COPΒ 7,927
$1.55β΄69.8
46.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.35COPΒ 15.2K
$9.65β΄433
-54.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COPΒ 20.5K
$3.98β΄179
47.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.61COPΒ 30.0K
$7.66β΄344
12.40%
Apples(1kg)
$2.25COPΒ 7,844
$0.88β΄39.75
155.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.07COPΒ 3,733
$1.48β΄66.5
-27.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COPΒ 5,322
$1.83β΄82.1
-16.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42COPΒ 4,964
$2.23β΄100
-36.32%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,084
$0.68β΄30.39
72.06%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,077
$0.56β΄25.12
108.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,096
$1.42β΄63.8
-37.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COPΒ 3,146
$0.52β΄23.44
73.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25COPΒ 7,837
$2.62β΄118
-14.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.04COPΒ 38.5K
$5.74β΄258
92.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14COPΒ 3,977
$0.84β΄37.75
35.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38COPΒ 8,301
$1.36β΄61.2
75.00%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Brovary
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COPΒ 2,916
$0.38β΄16.95
121.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.95COPΒ 146.4K
$3.66β΄164
1046.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41COPΒ 4,912
$2.02β΄90.8
-30.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90COPΒ 6,634
$0.13β΄5.74
1361.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.75COPΒ 27.0K
$2.94β΄132
163.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COPΒ 3,509
$1.40β΄62.7
-27.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOPΒ 61.4M
$31.1Kβ΄1.4M
-43.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 92.5M
$25.0Kβ΄1.1M
5.97%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Brovary
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.7COPΒ 292.1K
$60.0β΄2,697
39.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.45COPΒ 33.0K
$5.36β΄241
76.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.11COPΒ 84.1K
$7.21β΄324
234.40%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Brovary
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.31COPΒ 88.3K
$63.1β΄2,833
-59.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14COPΒ 66.8K
$9.80β΄440
95.31%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10COPΒ 14.3K
$4.97β΄223
-17.51%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Brovary
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312COPΒ 1.1M
$288β΄12.9K
8.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,993COPΒ 20.9M
$7,846β΄352.5K
-23.61%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Brovary
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0COPΒ 202.6K
$41.21β΄1,852
40.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56COPΒ 113.6K
$24.56β΄1,103
32.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.6COPΒ 347.7K
$85.3β΄3,834
16.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COPΒ 378.8K
$85.4β΄3,838
27.04%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Brovary
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$482COPΒ 1.7M
$338β΄15.2K
42.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.3M
$244β΄11.0K
55.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$837COPΒ 2.9M
$491β΄22.1K
70.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$723COPΒ 2.5M
$390β΄17.5K
85.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,840COPΒ 9.9M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,223COPΒ 4.3M
-
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Brovary
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$541COPΒ 1.9M
$509β΄22.9K
6.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
8
67.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Last update for Brovary: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $482 in Medellin and $338 in Brovary. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Medellin pays 6% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $34.00 in Brovary. Groceries flip the comparison at $190 vs $169, with Brovary cheaper for home cooking.
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 Brovary?
Medellin and Brovary differ by about 30% in total monthly costs ($1,017 vs $783 including rent). Brovary is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Medellin or Brovary?
Medellin pays 6% more on average, 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 Brovary?
Rent for a central apartment: $482 in Medellin versus $338 in Brovary. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Medellin and Brovary?
A monthly transit pass in Brovary runs roughly 1046% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Medellin and Brovary?
Childcare runs $312 in Medellin versus $288 in Brovary. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $783 in Brovary versus $1,017 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 β 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 β expenses run 30% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.