Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bushehr Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bushehr

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,034 in Medellin versus $496 in Bushehr.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,577 in Medellin versus $771 in Bushehr.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,120 in Medellin versus $1,046 in Bushehr.

Living in Medellin is roughly 108% more expensive than Bushehr, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 23% lower, Bushehr 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.4K

$6.06 $6.06

-2.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 118.2K

$13.75 $13.75

138.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.0K

$3.40 $3.40

111.76%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.67 $0.67

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

Cappuccino

$1.70 COP 6,140

$0.99 $0.99

71.72%

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

$1.10 COP 3,966

$0.45 $0.45

144.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,605

$1.21 $1.21

-40.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 COP 6,022

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 COP 11.2K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,809

$0.48 $0.48

120.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,497

$0.29 $0.29

331.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,022

$1.59 $1.59

-12.58%

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,168

$0.97 $0.97

132.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.6K

$1.51 $1.51

186.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.1K

$2.97 $2.97

96.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 31.9K

$9.77 $9.77

-9.62%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,099

$0.62 $0.62

261.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,882

$1.51 $1.51

-28.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,522

$0.92 $0.92

66.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,950

$0.49 $0.49

179.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,078

$0.49 $0.49

130.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,036

$0.29 $0.29

286.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,057

$0.69 $0.69

23.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,281

$0.26 $0.26

250.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.63 $0.63

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.31 $0.31

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.41 $1.41

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,414

$2.27 $2.27

2.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,309

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,553

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,838

$0.18 $0.18

338.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

$9.91 $9.91

315.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,184

$0.29 $0.29

396.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,901

$0.29 $0.29

558.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 28.9K

$1.67 $1.67

380.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,385

$0.74 $0.74

27.03%

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

$17.9K COP 64.7M

$60.1K $60.1K

-70.20%

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

$26.8K COP 96.7M

$48.3K $48.3K

-44.59%

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

$84.0 COP 303.1K

$20.21 $20.21

315.44%

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

$9.60 COP 34.7K

$2.02 $2.02

375.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.2K

$5.79 $5.79

317.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 93.4K

$15.76 $15.76

64.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 68.7K

$12.67 $12.67

50.28%

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.1K

$1.97 $1.97

98.98%

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

$306 COP 1.1M

$50.2 $50.2

510.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.4M

$593 $593

898.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 209.1K

$23.93 $23.93

142.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 114.9K

$20.94 $20.94

51.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 360.6K

$73.1 $73.1

36.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 386.8K

$41.99 $41.99

155.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

$289 $289

68.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

$199 $199

84.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

$322 $322

156.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

$317 $317

126.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

$1,060 $1,060

175.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

$621 $621

126.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 COP 2.0M

$275 $275

98.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

20.95

-35.89%

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

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Last update for Bushehr: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $487 in Medellin and $289 in Bushehr. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 98% 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 $14.00 in Bushehr for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $93.0 per month, with Bushehr 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 Bushehr: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bushehr wins on cost – living expenses run 108% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bushehr the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Medellin pays 98% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $487 in Medellin versus $289 in Bushehr. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Bushehr runs roughly 315% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $306 in Medellin versus $50.2 in Bushehr. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $496 in Bushehr versus $1,034 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Bushehr but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Bushehr the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Bushehr delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $496 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bushehr hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Medellin and Bushehr are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Bushehr gentler on the wallet – expenses run 108% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.