🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,034 in Medellin versus $1,988 in Bunbury.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,577 in Medellin versus $3,082 in Bunbury.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,120 in Medellin versus $4,176 in Bunbury.
🙂Living in Medellin costs roughly 48% less than in Bunbury, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% below, Bunbury is 48% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Bunbury
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COP 21.4K
$16.31A$22.83
-63.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COP 118.2K
$76.8A$107
-57.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COP 26.0K
$10.35A$14.50
-30.43%
Cappuccino
$1.70COP 6,140
$3.77A$5.28
-54.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,966
$2.49A$3.49
-55.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COP 2,605
$2.02A$2.82
-64.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COP 6,022
$7.99A$11.19
-79.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COP 11.2K
$6.66A$9.32
-53.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Bunbury
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,809
$0.97A$1.36
9.28%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COP 4,497
$1.04A$1.46
20.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COP 5,022
$1.81A$2.54
-23.20%
Eggs
$2.26COP 8,168
$4.62A$6.47
-51.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COP 15.6K
$8.58A$12.01
-49.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COP 21.1K
$7.98A$11.18
-26.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COP 31.9K
$7.79A$10.91
13.35%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COP 8,099
$3.50A$4.90
-36.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COP 3,882
$3.02A$4.23
-64.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 5,522
$2.61A$3.66
-41.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,950
$4.42A$6.19
-69.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 4,078
$2.50A$3.50
-54.80%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COP 4,036
$1.78A$2.50
-37.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 3,057
$1.65A$2.30
-48.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 3,281
$0.72A$1.01
26.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COP 8,414
$24.26A$33.96
-90.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COP 40.2K
$7.26A$10.16
53.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 4,309
$3.91A$5.47
-69.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COP 8,553
$4.06A$5.68
-41.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Bunbury
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,838
$2.62A$3.67
-69.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COP 148.5K
$52.7A$73.8
-22.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COP 5,184
$4.08A$5.72
-64.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COP 6,901
$2.22A$3.11
-13.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COP 28.9K
$32.05A$44.88
-74.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COP 3,385
$1.12A$1.57
-16.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
$19.2KA$26.9K
-6.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
$17.7KA$24.7K
51.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Bunbury
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COP 303.1K
$151A$211
-44.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COP 34.7K
$28.02A$39.22
-65.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COP 87.2K
$55.7A$78.0
-56.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Bunbury
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COP 93.4K
$51.7A$72.3
-49.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COP 68.7K
$10.03A$14.05
89.83%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COP 14.1K
$12.94A$18.12
-69.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Bunbury
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COP 1.1M
$1,792A$2,509
-82.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COP 21.4M
$12.1KA$17.0K
-51.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Bunbury
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COP 209.1K
$70.7A$99.0
-18.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 114.9K
$48.60A$68.0
-34.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COP 360.6K
$101A$141
-1.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 386.8K
$88.0A$123
21.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Bunbury
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COP 1.8M
$893A$1,251
-45.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COP 1.3M
$899A$1,259
-59.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COP 3.0M
$1,682A$2,355
-50.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COP 2.6M
$1,689A$2,365
-57.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COP 10.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COP 5.1M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Bunbury
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COP 2.0M
$4,789A$6,705
-88.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
6.42
109.19%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Last update for Bunbury: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $487 in Medellin and $893 in Bunbury. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bunbury pays 778% 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: $33.00 in Medellin vs $77.0 in Bunbury for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $272 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 Bunbury: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bunbury cheaper than Medellin?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 92% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Bunbury?
On paper, Bunbury earns 778% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Bunbury?
Rent for a central apartment: $487 in Medellin versus $893 in Bunbury. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $306 in Medellin versus $1,792 in Bunbury. 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 Bunbury?
Supermarket bills run roughly 43% higher in Bunbury. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Bunbury?
At $1,034 in Medellin versus $1,988 in Bunbury, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Bunbury. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Bunbury more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Bunbury, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Bunbury?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Bunbury 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 92% less than in Bunbury. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.