Cost of Living Comparison Between Alliston and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Alliston and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,216 per month in Alliston vs $1,014 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,433 per month in Alliston vs $1,596 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,651 per month in Alliston vs $2,178 in Medellin, rent included.

Alliston costs about 118% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Alliston sits 65% above the global median, while Medellin is 25% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Alliston
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.83 CA$25.80
$6.14 COP 22.2K
206.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.6 CA$113
$33.05 COP 119.3K
150.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.14 CA$15.26
$7.32 COP 26.4K
52.19%
Cappuccino
$1.56 CA$2.13
$1.66 COP 5,987
-6.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 CA$3.04
$1.10 COP 3,987
101.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 CA$2.32
$0.78 COP 2,822
116.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.76 CA$7.89
$1.71 COP 6,188
236.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.78 CA$9.28
$3.17 COP 11.5K
113.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Alliston
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.69 CA$3.68
$1.11 COP 4,012
142.34%
White Bread (500g)
$2.72 CA$3.73
$1.31 COP 4,719
107.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.65 CA$5.00
$1.38 COP 4,980
164.49%
Eggs
$3.26 CA$4.46
$2.22 COP 8,009
46.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.31 CA$18.24
$4.34 COP 15.7K
206.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.24 CA$18.14
$5.80 COP 20.9K
128.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.25 CA$9.93
$8.98 COP 32.4K
-19.27%
Apples (1kg)
$3.93 CA$5.38
$2.26 COP 8,164
73.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 CA$1.61
$1.11 COP 4,023
5.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.27 CA$4.48
$1.46 COP 5,284
123.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.07 CA$5.58
$1.37 COP 4,929
197.08%
Potato (1kg)
$2.50 CA$3.43
$1.11 COP 4,009
125.23%
Onion (1kg)
$2.82 CA$3.86
$1.16 COP 4,199
143.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.35 CA$3.22
$0.89 COP 3,211
164.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 CA$0.95
$0.87 COP 3,124
-20.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.91 CA$20.42
$2.35 COP 8,495
534.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.37 CA$10.10
$10.86 COP 39.2K
-32.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.69 CA$3.69
$1.20 COP 4,330
124.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27 CA$4.49
$2.48 COP 8,946
31.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Alliston
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.43 CA$3.33
$0.79 COP 2,842
207.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$63.6 CA$87.1
$40.77 COP 147.2K
55.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.67 CA$5.02
$1.42 COP 5,137
158.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.76 CA$2.41
$1.91 COP 6,900
-7.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.99 CA$35.60
$7.65 COP 27.6K
239.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.00 CA$1.37
$0.97 COP 3,490
3.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.2K CA$34.5K
$18.1K COP 65.3M
39.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.6K CA$29.6K
$26.3K COP 95.0M
-17.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alliston
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$119 CA$163
$81.3 COP 293.5K
46.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.03 CA$39.76
$9.63 COP 34.8K
201.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.5 CA$73.3
$24.36 COP 88.0K
119.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Alliston
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.03 CA$37.03
$26.02 COP 93.9K
3.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.92 COP 68.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.85 CA$16.23
$3.89 COP 14.0K
204.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Alliston
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,137 CA$1,557
$304 COP 1.1M
273.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.3K CA$25.0K
$5,902 COP 21.3M
209.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Alliston
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0 CA$79.5
$58.7 COP 211.8K
-1.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.22 CA$53.7
$32.48 COP 117.2K
20.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.5 CA$121
$102 COP 367.3K
-13.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 CA$159
$108 COP 390.4K
7.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Alliston
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,293 CA$1,771
$474 COP 1.7M
172.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,176 CA$1,611
$371 COP 1.3M
217.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,038 CA$2,792
$848 COP 3.1M
140.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,238 CA$3,066
$716 COP 2.6M
212.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,776 CA$6,543
$2,871 COP 10.4M
66.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,115 CA$5,638
$1,375 COP 5.0M
199.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Alliston
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,873 CA$2,566
$542 COP 2.0M
245.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.16
13.43
-61.58%

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

Last update for Alliston: April 11, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,293 in Alliston versus $474 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 246% higher in Alliston, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $83 in Alliston versus $33 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $335 vs $190 – 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
Alliston vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Alliston?
Yes – Alliston is pricier by about 118%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,324 per month in Alliston and $1,522 in Medellin. 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 Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Alliston and Medellin?
Groceries cost about 76% more in Alliston, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Alliston or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $83.0 in Alliston and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Alliston or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,014, than in Alliston at $2,216. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Alliston it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Alliston or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Alliston makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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