Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bucaramanga Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bucaramanga

😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 18.7% more expensive than Bucaramanga without rent, and 28.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Medellin is 43.5% more expensive than Bucaramanga without rent, and 37.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Bucaramanga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$3.16 COP 13.2K
97.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$19.11 COP 79.7K
69.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
$6.9 COP 28.8K
7.10%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$1.31 COP 5,446
31.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$0.7 COP 2,927
57.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
$0.59 COP 2,460
23.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$1.41 COP 5,877
17.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$2.04 COP 8,524
56.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Bucaramanga
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$1.17 COP 4,864
-6.84%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$1.08 COP 4,497
14.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$1.19 COP 4,958
11.76%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$2.21 COP 9,222
0.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$4.21 COP 17.5K
8.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$5.98 COP 24.9K
-4.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$7.14 COP 29.8K
20.31%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$2.49 COP 10.4K
-9.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$1.18 COP 4,936
-9.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$0.86 COP 3,570
75.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$0.87 COP 3,611
63.22%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$1.24 COP 5,170
-10.48%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$1.02 COP 4,239
15.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
$0.92 COP 3,819
-3.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$0.79 COP 3,312
6.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$1.65 COP 6,879
42.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$7.9 COP 32.9K
18.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$0.78 COP 3,248
51.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$1.5 COP 6,273
66.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Bucaramanga
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
$0.68 COP 2,826
22.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
$39.21 COP 163.5K
6.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
$1.76 COP 7,329
-19.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
$1.61 COP 6,724
21.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$5.91 COP 24.7K
32.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 4,265
$0.98 COP 4,093
4.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 73.4M
$19.2K COP 80.1M
-8.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
$28.3K COP 118M
-7.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Bucaramanga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COP 344.1K
$74 COP 308.5K
11.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$8.84 COP 36.9K
6.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
$20.51 COP 85.5K
14.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Bucaramanga
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
$23.08 COP 96.2K
11.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
$16.01 COP 66.8K
19.55%
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
$3.94 COP 16.4K
0.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Bucaramanga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
$239 COP 995.6K
27.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
$2,491 COP 10.4M
137.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Bucaramanga
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
$64.2 COP 267.7K
-9.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
$32.95 COP 137.4K
-4.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
$82.8 COP 345.2K
24.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
$37.54 COP 156.5K
181.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Bucaramanga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
$289 COP 1.2M
69.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
$241 COP 1M
57.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
$480 COP 2M
72.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
$375 COP 1.6M
94.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
$1,376 COP 5.7M
59.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
$1,140 COP 4.8M
34.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Bucaramanga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
$456 COP 1.9M
20.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
15.25
-11.93%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

Last update for Bucaramanga: October 27, 2025

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