Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Busia Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Busia

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,687 in Medellin versus $78.7 in Busia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,535 in Medellin versus $127 in Busia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,383 in Medellin versus $176 in Busia.

Living in Medellin is roughly 2042% more expensive than in Busia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, Busia is 94% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.89 COP 24.2K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.53 COP 136.5K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.29 COP 28.5K

Cappuccino

$2.90 COP 8,874

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

$1.81 COP 5,541

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 COP 4,741

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.25 COP 9,962

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.88 COP 18.0K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 COP 4,230

$0.31 UGX 1,151

345.16%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 COP 7,517

$1.36 UGX 5,055

80.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 COP 4,617

Eggs

$2.78 COP 8,516

$1.64 UGX 6,098

69.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.05 COP 27.7K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.65 COP 32.6K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.63 COP 44.8K

$4.05 UGX 15.1K

261.23%

Apples (1kg)

$3.97 COP 12.2K

$2.70 UGX 10.0K

47.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,219

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 COP 7,056

Tomato (1kg)

$2.02 COP 6,185

$0.84 UGX 3,131

140.48%

Potato (1kg)

$2.09 COP 6,390

Onion (1kg)

$1.63 COP 4,996

$1.63 UGX 6,071

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 COP 3,313

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 COP 3,843

$0.28 UGX 1,052

346.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.03 COP 12.4K

$1.18 UGX 4,401

241.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.47 COP 41.3K

$5.29 UGX 19.7K

154.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 COP 4,904

$1.06 UGX 3,927

50.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 COP 9,189

$1.33 UGX 4,925

125.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.18 COP 3,611

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.9 COP 244.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 COP 4,920

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 COP 6,533

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.52 COP 26.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 COP 4,142

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

$28.3K COP 86.8M

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

$35.7K COP 109.4M

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

$151 COP 463.8K

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

$13.10 COP 40.1K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.30 COP 99.0K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.33 COP 141.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.26 COP 52.9K

Cinema Ticket

$6.43 COP 19.7K

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

$835 COP 2.6M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,887 COP 27.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.3 COP 273.7K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 COP 169.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$137 COP 418.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 335.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$952 COP 2.9M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 COP 2.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,020 COP 6.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,148 COP 3.5M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,696 COP 11.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,586 COP 4.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$625 COP 1.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.43

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

Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026

Last update for Busia: August 18, 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 Busia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Busia wins on cost – living expenses run 2042% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Busia the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $2,530 in Medellin and $118 in Busia 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 279% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,687 per month in Medellin versus $78.7 in Busia – a 2042% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $78.7 in Busia versus $1,687 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Busia but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Busia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Busia delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $78.7 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Busia hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Busia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2042% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.