Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Cazin Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Cazin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,013 in Medellin versus $860 in Cazin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $1,261 in Cazin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $1,662 in Cazin.

Living in Medellin is roughly 18% more expensive than Cazin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 24% lower, Cazin 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Cazin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99 COPΒ 21.4K
$4.85 BAMΒ 8.17
23.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86 COPΒ 117.2K
$23.62 BAMΒ 39.80
39.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.09 COPΒ 25.3K
$8.75 BAMΒ 14.73
-18.97%
Cappuccino
$1.71 COPΒ 6,105
$1.20 BAMΒ 2.02
42.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COPΒ 3,918
$1.86 BAMΒ 3.13
-40.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COPΒ 2,776
$1.31 BAMΒ 2.21
-40.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.68 COPΒ 5,987
$1.66 BAMΒ 2.79
1.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 COPΒ 10.9K
$2.40 BAMΒ 4.04
27.92%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Cazin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COPΒ 3,899
$1.26 BAMΒ 2.13
-13.49%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COPΒ 4,500
$1.14 BAMΒ 1.91
10.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COPΒ 4,914
$2.15 BAMΒ 3.61
-35.81%
Eggs
$2.19 COPΒ 7,813
$2.14 BAMΒ 3.61
2.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.40 COPΒ 15.7K
$10.53 BAMΒ 17.74
-58.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.63 COPΒ 20.1K
$7.42 BAMΒ 12.50
-24.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.89 COPΒ 31.7K
$13.12 BAMΒ 22.10
-32.24%
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 COPΒ 8,334
$1.54 BAMΒ 2.59
51.95%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COPΒ 3,771
$1.81 BAMΒ 3.05
-41.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.50 COPΒ 5,365
$1.68 BAMΒ 2.83
-10.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.38 COPΒ 4,915
$1.76 BAMΒ 2.96
-21.59%
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 COPΒ 4,104
$1.13 BAMΒ 1.91
1.77%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 COPΒ 4,148
$1.16 BAMΒ 1.96
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COPΒ 3,176
$1.21 BAMΒ 2.05
-26.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COPΒ 2,992
$0.80 BAMΒ 1.36
5.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28 COPΒ 8,131
$3.57 BAMΒ 6.02
-36.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.64 COPΒ 37.9K
$8.32 BAMΒ 14.01
27.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COPΒ 4,276
$1.10 BAMΒ 1.85
9.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 COPΒ 8,809
$1.11 BAMΒ 1.86
122.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Cazin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COPΒ 3,051
$1.80 BAMΒ 3.03
-52.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.40 COPΒ 147.6K
$36.39 BAMΒ 61.3
13.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COPΒ 5,255
$1.49 BAMΒ 2.50
-1.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COPΒ 6,997
$0.84 BAMΒ 1.41
133.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.74 COPΒ 27.6K
$8.97 BAMΒ 15.12
-13.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 COPΒ 3,403
$1.50 BAMΒ 2.53
-36.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K COPΒ 64.6M
$24.4K BAMΒ 41.1K
-25.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K COPΒ 94.4M
$26.0K BAMΒ 43.8K
1.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Cazin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.3 COPΒ 293.2K
$117 BAMΒ 196
-29.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50 COPΒ 33.9K
$18.90 BAMΒ 31.84
-49.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23 COPΒ 86.4K
$29.71 BAMΒ 50.1
-18.44%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Cazin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.89 COPΒ 92.3K
$25.27 BAMΒ 42.57
2.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00 COPΒ 67.7K
$10.86 BAMΒ 18.29
74.95%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93 COPΒ 14.0K
$4.44 BAMΒ 7.48
-11.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Cazin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$309 COPΒ 1.1M
$252 BAMΒ 424
22.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,965 COPΒ 21.3M
$3,348 BAMΒ 5,641
78.16%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Cazin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 COPΒ 209.1K
$41.88 BAMΒ 70.6
40.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35 COPΒ 115.3K
$29.03 BAMΒ 48.92
11.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COPΒ 365.7K
$49.48 BAMΒ 83.4
107.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COPΒ 386.5K
$79.3 BAMΒ 134
36.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Cazin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$476 COPΒ 1.7M
$240 BAMΒ 404
98.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COPΒ 1.4M
$180 BAMΒ 303
110.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$838 COPΒ 3.0M
$372 BAMΒ 627
125.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$724 COPΒ 2.6M
$283 BAMΒ 477
155.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,791 COPΒ 9.9M
$1,314 BAMΒ 2,213
112.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,211 COPΒ 4.3M
$1,176 BAMΒ 1,982
2.99%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Cazin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$512 COPΒ 1.8M
$730 BAMΒ 1,229
-29.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
3.8
253.42%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Cazin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $240 in Cazin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cazin pays 43% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $24.00 in Cazin. Groceries flip the comparison at $188 vs $228, with Medellin cheaper for home cooking.

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 Cazin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and Cazin?
Medellin and Cazin differ by about 18% in total monthly costs ($1,013 vs $860 including rent). Cazin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Cazin earns 43% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and Cazin?
Rent for a central apartment: $476 in Medellin versus $240 in Cazin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Cazin – a meal for two runs $24.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Cazin?
All in, you'll spend $1,013 per month in Medellin versus $860 in Cazin – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $860 in Cazin versus $1,013 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Cazin but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Cazin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Cazin?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Medellin or Cazin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Cazin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Medellin or Cazin?
Expats usually find Cazin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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