Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bunia Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bunia

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,031 in Medellin versus $391 in Bunia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,599 in Medellin versus $637 in Bunia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,167 in Medellin versus $882 in Bunia.

Living in Medellin is roughly 163% more expensive than in Bunia, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 23% lower, Bunia 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.05 COP 3,420

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$1.02 CDF 2,292

2.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$1.98 CDF 4,444

-34.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$1.95 CDF 4,374

-28.21%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

$3.70 CDF 8,312

-41.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$3.04 CDF 6,827

44.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$4.89 CDF 11.0K

20.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$4.87 CDF 11.0K

77.41%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

$4.93 CDF 11.1K

-53.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

$1.47 CDF 3,312

-24.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

$2.45 CDF 5,502

-37.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$2.04 CDF 4,586

-33.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$2.92 CDF 6,570

-61.30%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$3.07 CDF 6,893

-63.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$3.89 CDF 8,738

-78.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$0.88 CDF 1,979

3.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

$5.83 CDF 13.1K

-59.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

$3.08 CDF 6,911

-61.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

$4.98 CDF 11.2K

-50.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

$6.75 CDF 15.2K

-78.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

$4.99 CDF 11.2K

-61.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

$15.29 CDF 34.3K

-49.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

$1.95 CDF 4,377

-49.23%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.0K COP 58.7M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.6K COP 86.7M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$80.8 COP 263.1K

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.95 COP 32.4K

$15.12 CDF 34.0K

-34.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

$9.81 CDF 22.0K

155.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

$15.26 CDF 34.3K

25.49%

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

$12.86 CDF 28.9K

-69.05%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$305 COP 993.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

$3,448 CDF 7.7M

75.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

$29.60 CDF 66.5K

96.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

$45.13 CDF 101.4K

-28.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

$54.3 CDF 122.0K

85.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

$65.2 CDF 146.4K

65.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Bunia: July 13, 2026

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 Bunia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin and Bunia differ by about 163% in total monthly costs ($1,031 vs $391 including rent). Bunia is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,546 in Medellin and $587 in Bunia 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.

Shoppers in Medellin pay roughly 14% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,031 per month in Medellin versus $391 in Bunia – a 163% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $391 in Bunia versus $1,031 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bunia but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Bunia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Expats usually find Bunia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 163% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.