Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Buzias Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Buzias

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $1,109 in Buzias, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,735 in Buzias, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $2,362 in Buzias, rent included.

Medellin is about 10% cheaper than Buzias, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Buzias are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Buzias 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$11.66 RON 53.0

-49.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$58.4 RON 266

-43.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$8.02 RON 36.45

-7.36%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$3.39 RON 15.42

-51.33%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$2.34 RON 10.64

-52.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$2.11 RON 9.60

-63.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$3.32 RON 15.07

-48.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$4.03 RON 18.31

-21.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.72 RON 7.82

-36.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$1.29 RON 5.85

-2.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$1.83 RON 8.30

-24.59%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$3.27 RON 14.88

-33.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$10.15 RON 46.16

-55.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$7.20 RON 32.72

-19.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$12.02 RON 54.6

-25.37%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$1.20 RON 5.45

93.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$1.79 RON 8.16

-40.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$1.61 RON 7.34

-5.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$2.33 RON 10.59

-41.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$1.01 RON 4.57

11.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$0.93 RON 4.23

25.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$1.03 RON 4.69

-12.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.93 RON 4.25

-3.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$6.57 RON 29.86

-66.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$7.99 RON 36.31

51.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$1.16 RON 5.29

2.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$1.99 RON 9.03

24.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$0.68 RON 3.08

25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$20.19 RON 91.8

106.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$0.96 RON 4.35

47.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$0.82 RON 3.71

137.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$9.17 RON 41.69

-13.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.69 RON 7.68

-41.42%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$28.1K RON 127.7K

-37.32%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$26.8K RON 122.1K

-0.19%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$158 RON 719

-47.50%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$8.77 RON 39.86

10.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$9.70 RON 44.09

142.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$41.91 RON 191

-39.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$19.05 RON 86.6

0.26%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$8.24 RON 37.45

-52.06%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$478 RON 2,175

-34.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$10.8K RON 49.1K

-44.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$70.8 RON 322

-15.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$40.42 RON 184

-21.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$87.0 RON 395

16.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$98.2 RON 446

9.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$389 RON 1,770

21.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$296 RON 1,345

26.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$595 RON 2,706

42.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$441 RON 2,003

63.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$1,875 RON 8,523

74.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

$1,245 RON 5,661

15.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

5.85

129.57%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Buzias: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $389 in Buzias. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $58.0 in Buzias. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $234 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Buzias: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Buzias is pricier by about 11%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,664 in Buzias. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 106% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $316 per month in Medellin and $478 in Buzias. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Buzias at $1,109. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Buzias it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Buzias makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.