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: $1,641 in Medellin versus $852 in Cazin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,447 in Medellin versus $1,298 in Cazin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,253 in Medellin versus $1,743 in Cazin.

Living in Medellin is roughly 93% more expensive than in Cazin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 19% above, Cazin is 38% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Cazin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04 COP 24.8K
$4.72 BAM 7.95
70.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29 COP 148.6K
$23.39 BAM 39.42
106.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.42 COP 29.0K
$8.66 BAM 14.59
8.78%
Cappuccino
$2.94 COP 9,040
$1.20 BAM 2.02
145.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 COP 5,735
$1.87 BAM 3.15
-0.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 COP 4,479
$1.31 BAM 2.21
11.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.21 COP 9,882
$1.67 BAM 2.81
92.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71 COP 17.6K
$2.63 BAM 4.44
117.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Cazin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,428
$1.23 BAM 2.08
17.07%
White Bread (500g)
$2.40 COP 7,389
$1.14 BAM 1.92
110.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,228
$2.20 BAM 3.71
-22.73%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 8,896
$2.12 BAM 3.58
36.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.06 COP 30.9K
$10.34 BAM 17.43
-2.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.97 COP 30.7K
$7.42 BAM 12.50
34.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.20 COP 43.7K
$15.07 BAM 25.39
-5.77%
Apples (1kg)
$3.98 COP 12.3K
$1.50 BAM 2.53
165.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 COP 4,878
$1.76 BAM 2.96
-10.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 COP 6,624
$1.76 BAM 2.97
22.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.30 COP 7,078
$1.71 BAM 2.88
34.50%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 COP 6,169
$1.04 BAM 1.75
92.31%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 COP 4,646
$1.18 BAM 1.99
27.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.20 COP 3,701
$1.17 BAM 1.96
2.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 COP 3,946
$0.77 BAM 1.29
66.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84 COP 11.8K
$4.11 BAM 6.93
-6.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 43.1K
$8.21 BAM 13.83
70.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 COP 5,256
$0.92 BAM 1.54
85.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 COP 8,440
$1.11 BAM 1.87
146.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Cazin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.25 COP 3,834
$1.76 BAM 2.96
-28.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.9 COP 239.7K
$36.54 BAM 61.6
113.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,016
$1.80 BAM 3.03
-27.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.17 COP 6,680
$0.93 BAM 1.56
133.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.29 COP 25.5K
$9.16 BAM 15.44
-9.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 COP 4,172
$1.66 BAM 2.80
-18.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K COP 84.5M
$24.4K BAM 41.1K
12.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5K COP 112.4M
$23.9K BAM 40.3K
52.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Cazin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 COP 519.2K
$120 BAM 202
40.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 COP 41.8K
$14.57 BAM 24.55
-6.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32 COP 87.2K
$29.23 BAM 49.24
-3.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Cazin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.71 COP 140.7K
$25.08 BAM 42.26
82.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22 COP 53.0K
$29.96 BAM 50.5
-42.52%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 20.5K
$4.52 BAM 7.62
47.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Cazin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$803 COP 2.5M
$213 BAM 359
277.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,190 COP 28.3M
$4,008 BAM 6,754
129.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Cazin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4 COP 268.8K
$41.80 BAM 70.4
109.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4 COP 182.7K
$29.81 BAM 50.2
99.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$139 COP 427.5K
$50.4 BAM 84.9
175.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 314.0K
$81.2 BAM 137
25.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Cazin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,071 COP 3.3M
$241 BAM 407
343.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$653 COP 2.0M
$175 BAM 295
273.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,925 COP 5.9M
$371 BAM 624
419.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,048 COP 3.2M
$281 BAM 473
273.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,123 COP 12.7M
$1,343 BAM 2,262
207.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,697 COP 5.2M
$1,171 BAM 1,973
44.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Cazin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$655 COP 2.0M
$718 BAM 1,211
-8.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
4.08
168.14%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Last update for Cazin: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,071 in Medellin and $241 in Cazin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cazin pays 10% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $23.00 in Cazin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $300 vs $231 per month, with Cazin 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 Cazin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and in Cazin?
Medellin and Cazin differ by about 93% in total monthly costs ($1,641 vs $852 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, salaries run 10% lower in Cazin. 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 in Cazin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,071 in Medellin versus $241 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 $23.00 versus $48.00 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 $1,641 per month in Medellin versus $852 in Cazin – a 93% 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 $852 in Cazin versus $1,641 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 93% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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