😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,492 in Ada, OK versus $1,031 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,602 in Ada, OK versus $1,599 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,712 in Ada, OK versus $2,167 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Ada, OK is roughly 142% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ada, OK is 87% above, Medellin is 23% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ada, OK
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.01$12.01
$6.16COP 20.1K
94.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.2$60.2
$32.60COP 106.1K
84.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.94$11.94
$7.34COP 23.9K
62.67%
Cappuccino
$4.65$4.65
$1.72COP 5,600
170.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90$1.90
$1.05COP 3,420
80.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22$1.22
$0.77COP 2,515
58.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.07$3.07
$1.69COP 5,488
81.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.06$5.06
$3.17COP 10.3K
59.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ada, OK
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.90$0.90
$1.05COP 3,423
-14.29%
White Bread(500g)
$2.84$2.84
$1.30COP 4,236
118.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.89$3.89
$1.40COP 4,544
177.86%
Eggs
$3.51$3.51
$2.16COP 7,047
62.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.06$9.06
$4.39COP 14.3K
106.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.49$9.49
$5.88COP 19.1K
61.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.52$14.52
$8.64COP 28.1K
68.06%
Apples(1kg)
$4.89$4.89
$2.28COP 7,426
114.47%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55$1.55
$1.11COP 3,604
39.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.25$3.25
$1.53COP 4,983
112.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.07$4.07
$1.35COP 4,410
201.48%
Potato(1kg)
$1.09$1.09
$1.13COP 3,674
-3.54%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12$1.12
$1.13COP 3,692
-0.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99$0.99
$0.85COP 2,753
16.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.96$1.96
$0.91COP 2,975
115.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.21$8.21
$2.34COP 7,630
250.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.63$15.63
$12.37COP 40.3K
26.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85$1.85
$1.20COP 3,909
54.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.44$4.44
$2.49COP 8,104
78.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Ada, OK
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$5.13$5.13
$0.84COP 2,728
510.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$40.57COP 132.1K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.06$3.06
$1.42COP 4,623
115.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.72$1.72
$1.92COP 6,235
-10.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.42$24.42
$7.66COP 24.9K
218.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.74$0.74
$0.99COP 3,223
-25.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.1K$24.1K
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
33.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K$26.8K
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
0.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ada, OK
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$234$234
$80.8COP 263.1K
189.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.14$49.14
$9.95COP 32.4K
393.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$79.5$79.5
$24.18COP 78.7K
228.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ada, OK
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.56$34.56
$25.08COP 81.7K
37.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.15COP 62.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.61$11.61
$3.98COP 13.0K
191.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ada, OK
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,817$1,817
$305COP 993.5K
495.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.5K$23.5K
$6,059COP 19.7M
288.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ada, OK
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.74$29.74
$58.1COP 189.2K
-48.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.48$45.48
$32.20COP 104.8K
41.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$71.2$71.2
$101COP 327.9K
-29.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104$104
$108COP 350.8K
-3.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ada, OK
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$800$800
$477COP 1.6M
67.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,377$1,377
$376COP 1.2M
266.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,876$1,876
$845COP 2.7M
122.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,359$2,359
$730COP 2.4M
222.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,522$1,522
$3,215COP 10.5M
-52.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,533$1,533
$1,372COP 4.5M
11.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ada, OK
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,610$1,610
$617COP 2.0M
161.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.5
13.43
-51.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ada, OK: July 14, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $800 in Ada, OK and $477 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ada, OK pays 161% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $60.0 in Ada, OK vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $335 vs $193 per month, with Medellin 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
Ada, OK vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ada, OK and in Medellin?
Ada, OK and Medellin differ by about 142% in total monthly costs ($2,492 vs $1,031 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Ada, OK or Medellin?
Average pay runs 161% higher in Ada, OK, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Ada, OK and in Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $800 in Ada, OK versus $477 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 73% higher in Ada, OK. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ada, OK or Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $2,492 per month in Ada, OK versus $1,031 in Medellin – a 142% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,031 in Medellin versus $2,492 in Ada, OK, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Ada, OK. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ada, OK and Medellin?
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.
Where should expats move: Ada, OK or Medellin?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 142% less than in Ada, OK. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.