😐A single person spends $1,687 per month in Medellin vs $1,585 in Burgos, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,535 per month in Medellin vs $2,302 in Burgos, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,383 per month in Medellin vs $3,020 in Burgos, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 6% more than Burgos, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Medellin and Burgos sit above the global median – Medellin by 23%, Burgos by 16%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Burgos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.89COP 24.2K
$18.41€15.74
-57.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.53COP 136.5K
$57.2€48.95
-22.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.29COP 28.5K
$10.33€8.84
-10.07%
Cappuccino
$2.90COP 8,874
$1.85€1.58
56.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81COP 5,541
$2.12€1.81
-14.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55COP 4,741
$1.52€1.30
1.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25COP 9,962
$3.49€2.98
-6.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88COP 18.0K
$3.50€2.99
68.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Burgos
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38COP 4,230
$1.21€1.04
14.05%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45COP 7,517
$1.14€0.98
114.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,617
$1.99€1.70
-24.12%
Eggs
$2.78COP 8,516
$2.54€2.18
9.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.05COP 27.7K
$20.71€17.71
-56.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.65COP 32.6K
$8.53€7.30
24.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.63COP 44.8K
$15.89€13.59
-7.93%
Apples(1kg)
$3.97COP 12.2K
$2.35€2.01
68.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,219
$1.68€1.44
-17.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,056
$1.71€1.46
34.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.02COP 6,185
$2.80€2.40
-27.86%
Potato(1kg)
$2.09COP 6,390
$1.40€1.20
49.29%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63COP 4,996
$2.11€1.80
-22.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08COP 3,313
$1.13€0.96
-4.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25COP 3,843
$1.06€0.91
17.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03COP 12.4K
$8.32€7.12
-51.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.47COP 41.3K
$7.30€6.24
84.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60COP 4,904
$1.12€0.96
42.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00COP 9,189
$1.84€1.57
63.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Burgos
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.18COP 3,611
$1.42€1.22
-16.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.9COP 244.9K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.61COP 4,920
$7.69€6.58
-79.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13COP 6,533
$1.40€1.20
52.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.52COP 26.1K
$22.65€19.37
-62.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35COP 4,142
$1.71€1.46
-21.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KCOP 86.8M
$37.6K€32.1K
-24.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KCOP 109.4M
$29.7K€25.4K
20.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Burgos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151COP 463.8K
$141€121
7.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.10COP 40.1K
$23.54€20.14
-44.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.30COP 99.0K
$36.20€30.96
-10.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Burgos
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.33COP 141.9K
$30.81€26.36
50.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.26COP 52.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.43COP 19.7K
$5.87€5.02
9.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Burgos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$835COP 2.6M
$437€374
90.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,887COP 27.2M
$14.1K€12.0K
-36.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Burgos
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3COP 273.7K
$99.1€84.8
-9.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3COP 169.5K
$32.96€28.19
67.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$137COP 418.5K
$70.0€59.9
95.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COP 335.1K
$149€128
-26.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Burgos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$952COP 2.9M
$796€681
19.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$668COP 2.0M
$660€565
1.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,020COP 6.2M
$1,149€983
75.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,148COP 3.5M
$808€691
42.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,696COP 11.3M
$2,276€1,947
62.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,586COP 4.9M
$2,050€1,753
-22.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Burgos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$625COP 1.9M
$2,562€2,192
-75.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.43
2.92
257.19%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026
Last update for Burgos: August 17, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $952 in Medellin versus $796 in Burgos. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 310% higher in Burgos, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Medellin versus $57.0 in Burgos. Groceries tell a different story – $297 in Medellin vs $286 in Burgos – so Burgos wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Burgos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Burgos?
Medellin costs about 6% more than Burgos, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin and in Burgos?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,530 per month in Medellin and $2,377 in Burgos. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Medellin or Burgos?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Burgos, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to Burgos?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,687 in Medellin and $1,585 in Burgos. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Medellin and in Burgos?
Kindergarten costs $835 per month in Medellin and $437 in Burgos. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or in Burgos?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Burgos, where all-in costs run around $1,585, than in Medellin at $1,687. In Burgos it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Burgos?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Burgos costs $1,585 versus $1,687 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Medellin compared to Burgos?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Medellin or to Burgos?
If budget matters most, go with Burgos. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.