Cost of Living Comparison Between Zepce and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Zepce and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,005 per month in Zepce vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,544 per month in Zepce vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,083 per month in Zepce vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Zepce is about 3% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Zepce and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Zepce 25% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.63 BAM 14.75

$6.16 COP 20.1K

40.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.27 BAM 70.6

$32.60 COP 106.1K

26.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.94 BAM 15.29

$7.34 COP 23.9K

21.80%

Cappuccino

$1.57 BAM 2.69

$1.72 COP 5,600

-8.72%

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

$1.99 BAM 3.40

$1.05 COP 3,420

89.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.20 BAM 2.05

$0.77 COP 2,515

55.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.12 BAM 3.63

$1.69 COP 5,488

25.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 BAM 4.92

$3.17 COP 10.3K

-9.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 BAM 2.32

$1.05 COP 3,423

29.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 BAM 2.20

$1.30 COP 4,236

-0.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 BAM 2.82

$1.40 COP 4,544

17.86%

Eggs

$2.92 BAM 5.00

$2.16 COP 7,047

35.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.26 BAM 15.84

$4.39 COP 14.3K

110.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.96 BAM 15.32

$5.88 COP 19.1K

52.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.87 BAM 20.30

$8.64 COP 28.1K

37.38%

Apples (1kg)

$1.38 BAM 2.37

$2.28 COP 7,426

-39.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 BAM 2.73

$1.11 COP 3,604

44.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.95 BAM 3.33

$1.53 COP 4,983

27.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.94 BAM 3.33

$1.35 COP 4,410

43.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 BAM 2.12

$1.13 COP 3,674

9.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.25 BAM 2.15

$1.13 COP 3,692

10.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.28 BAM 2.19

$0.85 COP 2,753

50.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 BAM 1.29

$0.91 COP 2,975

-16.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.64 BAM 6.22

$2.34 COP 7,630

55.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.36 BAM 14.30

$12.37 COP 40.3K

-32.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 BAM 1.21

$1.20 COP 3,909

-40.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.09 BAM 1.87

$2.49 COP 8,104

-56.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.77 BAM 3.02

$0.84 COP 2,728

110.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.81 BAM 59.5

$40.57 COP 132.1K

-14.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 BAM 2.46

$1.42 COP 4,623

1.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.16 BAM 1.98

$1.92 COP 6,235

-39.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.81 BAM 15.07

$7.66 COP 24.9K

15.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.53 BAM 2.62

$0.99 COP 3,223

54.55%

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

$28.4K BAM 48.6K

$18.0K COP 58.7M

57.61%

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

$27.1K BAM 46.4K

$26.6K COP 86.7M

1.88%

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

$171 BAM 293

$80.8 COP 263.1K

112.03%

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

$18.89 BAM 32.31

$9.95 COP 32.4K

89.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.98 BAM 41.02

$24.18 COP 78.7K

-0.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.94 BAM 51.2

$25.08 COP 81.7K

19.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.95 BAM 18.73

$19.15 COP 62.3K

-42.82%

Cinema Ticket

$2.88 BAM 4.93

$3.98 COP 13.0K

-27.64%

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

$236 BAM 404

$305 COP 993.5K

-22.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,638 BAM 6,222

$6,059 COP 19.7M

-39.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.7 BAM 129

$58.1 COP 189.2K

30.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 BAM 61.4

$32.20 COP 104.8K

11.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.0 BAM 150

$101 COP 327.9K

-12.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 BAM 214

$108 COP 350.8K

15.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$256 BAM 438

$477 COP 1.6M

-46.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$167 BAM 285

$376 COP 1.2M

-55.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$370 BAM 633

$845 COP 2.7M

-56.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$313 BAM 535

$730 COP 2.4M

-57.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,872 BAM 4,912

$3,215 COP 10.5M

-10.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,967 BAM 3,364

$1,372 COP 4.5M

43.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.02

13.43

-62.62%

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

Last update for Zepce: July 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $256 in Zepce versus $477 in Medellin. 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 $41.00 in Zepce versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $230 vs $193 – 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

Zepce vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 3%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,507 per month in Zepce and $1,546 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Zepce and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,005 in Zepce and $1,031 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Zepce, where all-in costs run around $1,005, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Zepce it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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