Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Busan Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Busan

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 42.8% cheaper than Busan without rent, and 31.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 43.3% cheaper than Busan without rent, and 32.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Busan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$7.2 ₩9,768
-13.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$36.37 ₩49.3K
-11.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
$6.2 ₩8,418
19.19%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$4.16 ₩5,643
-58.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$1.81 ₩2,461
-39.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
$1.39 ₩1,885
-47.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$3.6 ₩4,879
-53.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$5.77 ₩7,828
-44.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Busan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$2.23 ₩3,027
-51.12%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$3.56 ₩4,830
-65.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$2.97 ₩4,027
-55.22%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$2.87 ₩3,898
-22.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$10.4 ₩14.1K
-56.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$8.29 ₩11.2K
-31.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$28.01 ₩38K
-69.33%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$8.24 ₩11.2K
-72.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$3.14 ₩4,267
-65.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$7.57 ₩10.3K
-80.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$5.31 ₩7,204
-73.26%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$5 ₩6,786
-77.80%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$2.99 ₩4,061
-60.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
$2.09 ₩2,837
-57.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$1.17 ₩1,584
-28.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$3.34 ₩4,535
-29.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$13.92 ₩18.9K
-32.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$1.75 ₩2,377
-32.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$3.46 ₩4,695
-28.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Busan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
$1.12 ₩1,520
-25.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
$43.34 ₩58.8K
-3.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
$3.58 ₩4,854
-60.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
$0.85 ₩1,160
130.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$16.71 ₩22.7K
-53.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 4,265
$1.22 ₩1,658
-16.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 73.4M
$28.2K ₩38.3M
-37.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
$24.9K ₩33.7M
5.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Busan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COP 344.1K
$189 ₩256K
-56.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$50.5 ₩68.5K
-81.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
$27.23 ₩36.9K
-13.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Busan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
$52.7 ₩71.4K
-51.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
$13.41 ₩18.2K
42.73%
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
$11.46 ₩15.6K
-65.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Busan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
$485 ₩658.4K
-37.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
$14.3K ₩19.4M
-58.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Busan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
$104 ₩141K
-44.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
$65.1 ₩88.3K
-51.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
$88.6 ₩120.3K
16.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
$119 ₩161.9K
-11.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Busan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
$500 ₩678.1K
-2.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
$319 ₩432.3K
18.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
$997 ₩1.4M
-17.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
$665 ₩901.8K
9.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
$8,901 ₩12.1M
-75.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
$7,158 ₩9.7M
-78.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Busan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
$2,514 ₩3.4M
-78.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
4.22
218.25%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

Last update for Busan: October 29, 2025

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