Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Zepce

For one person, living is cheaper in Zepce: $1,080 a month against $1,625 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $6,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Zepce, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,625
/mo nomad
Zepce
🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina
$1,080
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Zepce

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Zepce actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,625 per month in Medellin vs $1,080 in Zepce, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,625
  • Zepce $1,080

A couple spends around $2,412 per month in Medellin vs $1,658 in Zepce, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,412
  • Zepce $1,658

A family of three spends $3,199 per month in Medellin vs $2,235 in Zepce, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,199
  • Zepce $2,235

Medellin costs about 50% more than Zepce, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Medellin sits 20% above the global median, while Zepce is 20% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Zepce
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.30 COP 26.1K
$9.84 BAM 17.17
-15.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.91 COP 147.5K
$51.5 BAM 89.9
-8.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.24 COP 29.1K
$10.98 BAM 19.15
-15.85%
Cappuccino
$3.05 COP 9,597
$1.79 BAM 3.12
70.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,660
$2.60 BAM 4.54
-30.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 COP 4,346
$1.62 BAM 2.82
-14.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 COP 10.2K
$2.46 BAM 4.30
31.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.56 COP 17.5K
$3.39 BAM 5.91
64.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Zepce
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 COP 4,721
$1.39 BAM 2.42
7.91%
White Bread (500g)
$2.37 COP 7,446
$1.18 BAM 2.06
100.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,333
$1.60 BAM 2.79
6.25%
Eggs
$2.96 COP 9,302
$2.81 BAM 4.90
5.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.22 COP 32.1K
$9.73 BAM 16.97
5.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.74 COP 30.6K
$8.85 BAM 15.44
10.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.90 COP 43.7K
$13.83 BAM 24.13
0.51%
Apples (1kg)
$4.13 COP 13.0K
$1.77 BAM 3.09
133.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,799
$1.95 BAM 3.41
-21.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.22 COP 6,994
$2.16 BAM 3.77
2.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.27 COP 7,135
$2.24 BAM 3.90
1.34%
Potato (1kg)
$1.99 COP 6,259
$0.99 BAM 1.72
101.01%
Onion (1kg)
$1.67 COP 5,242
$1.41 BAM 2.46
18.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 COP 3,711
$1.13 BAM 1.97
4.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 3,887
$0.91 BAM 1.58
36.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.87 COP 12.2K
$3.80 BAM 6.63
1.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.78 COP 43.3K
$8.29 BAM 14.47
66.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,213
$0.95 BAM 1.65
74.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 COP 7,553
$1.39 BAM 2.43
72.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Zepce
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.24 COP 3,911
$1.38 BAM 2.40
-10.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$78.2 COP 245.9K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 COP 4,011
$1.68 BAM 2.93
-23.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 COP 6,747
$1.18 BAM 2.06
82.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.37 COP 26.3K
$17.42 BAM 30.38
-51.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,252
$1.69 BAM 2.94
-20.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8K COP 109.3M
$30.0K BAM 52.3K
15.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 109.1M
$21.4K BAM 37.4K
61.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Zepce
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$167 COP 524.1K
$158 BAM 275
5.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.62 COP 42.8K
$16.18 BAM 28.23
-15.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.12 COP 91.6K
$36.75 BAM 64.1
-20.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Zepce
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.09 COP 141.8K
$32.50 BAM 56.7
38.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.18 COP 54.0K
$11.42 BAM 19.92
50.44%
Cinema Ticket
$6.97 COP 21.9K
$2.89 BAM 5.04
141.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Zepce
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$790 COP 2.5M
$288 BAM 502
174.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,041 COP 28.4M
$3,555 BAM 6,202
154.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Zepce
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.8 COP 276.1K
$83.9 BAM 146
4.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.2 COP 182.9K
$35.69 BAM 62.3
62.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$139 COP 437.1K
$106 BAM 184
31.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.9 COP 310.9K
$145 BAM 253
-31.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Zepce
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,028 COP 3.2M
$294 BAM 514
249.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$620 COP 1.9M
$239 BAM 416
159.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,881 COP 5.9M
$579 BAM 1,009
225.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,008 COP 3.2M
$356 BAM 622
182.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,988 COP 12.5M
$2,734 BAM 4,770
45.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,702 COP 5.4M
$1,777 BAM 3,101
-4.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Zepce
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$663 COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
4.44
146.40%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 19, 2026

Last update for Zepce: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$619
Zepce
$239 61.5% $381
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$298
Zepce
$244 18.1% $54
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$209
Zepce
$211 0.5% $1.2
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$173
Zepce
$167 3.6% $6.2
Eating Out
Medellin
$171
Zepce
$169 1% $1.8
Getting Around
Medellin
$95
Zepce
$13 * 86.2% $82
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$59
Zepce
$38 35.2% $21

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,028 in Medellin versus $294 in Zepce. 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 $47 in Medellin versus $52 in Zepce. Groceries tell a different story – $298 in Medellin vs $244 in Zepce – so Zepce wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇧🇦 Zepce
🕒 Local time
15:02 3:02 PM
21:02 9:02 PM
6 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
7,500
Exchange rates and currency converter

BAM, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 25, 2026: 1 USD = 3,145 COP (10,000 COP = 3.18 USD). 1 EUR = 3,523 COP (10,000 COP = 2.84 EUR).

Bosnia and Herzegovina Convertible Mark exchange rates as of October 25, 2026: 1 USD = 1.74 BAM (1 BAM = 0.573 USD). 1 EUR = 1.95 BAM (1 BAM = 0.512 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Zepce 9,810 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Zepce

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Zepce: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zepce cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 50%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in transport.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,437 per month in Medellin and $1,620 in Zepce. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Zepce, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $294 there versus $1,028 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Zepce?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin and $52 in Zepce. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Zepce?
Groceries cost about 22% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Zepce?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Zepce, where all-in costs run around $1,080, than in Medellin at $1,625. In Zepce it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Zepce more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Zepce – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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