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: $1,013 in Medellin versus $389 in Bunia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $632 in Bunia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $874 in Bunia.

Living in Medellin is roughly 160% more expensive than Bunia, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 24% lower, Bunia 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

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

$1.10 COP 3,924

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$1.03 CDF 2,337

5.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$1.95 CDF 4,429

-35.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$2.05 CDF 4,652

-32.68%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$3.71 CDF 8,412

-40.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$2.98 CDF 6,757

47.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$4.98 CDF 11.3K

13.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

$5.11 CDF 11.6K

73.97%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

$4.93 CDF 11.2K

-52.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

$1.53 CDF 3,480

-30.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

$2.56 CDF 5,821

-41.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$2.05 CDF 4,648

-32.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

$2.96 CDF 6,730

-61.15%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

$2.92 CDF 6,620

-60.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

$3.88 CDF 8,810

-77.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$0.87 CDF 1,980

-3.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

$6.13 CDF 13.9K

-62.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

$2.98 CDF 6,769

-59.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

$5.03 CDF 11.4K

-50.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

$6.61 CDF 15.0K

-77.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

$5.09 CDF 11.6K

-61.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$14.95 CDF 33.9K

-48.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

$1.97 CDF 4,472

-51.78%

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

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

$82.3 COP 293.7K

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$15.23 CDF 34.6K

-37.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

$9.94 CDF 22.6K

160.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

$15.28 CDF 34.7K

24.35%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$12.84 CDF 29.1K

-69.39%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$3,540 CDF 8.0M

68.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

$30.40 CDF 69.0K

92.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

$44.50 CDF 101.0K

-27.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

$55.5 CDF 126.0K

84.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

$66.2 CDF 150.2K

63.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Bunia: June 1, 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 160% in total monthly costs ($1,013 vs $389 including rent). Bunia is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,519 in Medellin and $583 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 18% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,013 per month in Medellin versus $389 in Bunia – a 160% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $389 in Bunia versus $1,013 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 160% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.